Elmira, New York is the home of the National Soaring Museum. This area has the needed terrain to allow for unpowered flight of gliders and is the location for national competitions for glider enthusiasts.
The museum is a comprehensive history of the history of unpowered flights and includes examples of gliders from all timelines of the sport.
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| This is one of the first designs of the Schweitzer Brothers. their Dad was most protective of the boys and did not allow them to ride bicycles as they were too dangerous, but in secret they built this glider and showed it to him just before completion and he gave his blessing to fly it. Turned out to be the start of a long history of glider manufacturing. |
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| There are some beautiful cut away models showing glider construction. |
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| They have a repair shop that works on things such as critter damage |
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| Also many fine examples of glider models |
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| Many methods are used to launch gliders. this is one method in which bungee cords are stretched by a crew while others hold the aircraft in position until the last moment |
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| Notables in the sport are highlighted |
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| Another launching method is the winch tow which rapidly accelerates a glider from a mechanism mounted in a truck bed |
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| WWII soldiers were taken into battle in gliders towed behind powered aircraft. These were brave men! |
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| Gliders can have a small engine mounted to give added endurance to flights and permit self launching |
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