Flight Training Manual For Gliders
by: Russell Holtz
Flight Training Manual For Gliders
By: Russell Holtz
General Description
Flight Training Manual For Gliders - Each chapter of the Flight Training Manual for Gliders addresses a separate stage of flight, such as takeoff, aerotow, or landing. Each chapter is divided into lessons that cover a specific task, skill, or maneuver.
Most lessons are explained in four parts; purpose, procedure, common errors, and completion standards. The “purpose” outlines the relevance of the task or skill. The “procedure” describes the task or skill in detail. The list of “common errors” points out the usual pitfalls. The “completion standards” are the performance criterion that must be met for the lesson to be considered mastered.
In the back of the manual, you will find review questions for each lesson. They consist of a combination of original questions, and questions taken from the FAA Airman Knowledge Test Question bank.
Inside the front cover of this manual, you will find a list of topics titled the “Flight Training Progress Record”. The progress record includes every lesson that a student must master. Every topic in the progress record corresponds to a lesson in this manual. For every topic in the progress record, there is a corresponding lesson in this manual.
- Covers every flight maneuver required for the FAA flight test
- Follows FAA lesson plan format
- Clear, straightforward writing and illustrations
- Logical, ordered, and complete presentation of material
- 252 pages
- 97 figures
- 249 review questions
- Includes "Flight Training Progress Record"
Price varies depending on selection above.
Q: I already have my license. Will these books be of any use to me?
A: If there are any knowledge areas that you don't feel you fully understand, or any flight maneuvers that you struggle with, then you will probably benefit from the material in these books.
Q: Why did you write these books?
A: Several years ago when I was the flight instructor for the Youth Soaring Academy, my students were often dismayed by the stack of books that they were required to buy and read. Even though they were only required to read a small section from some of the books, the sheer height of the stack would intimidate and discourage many students.
I was also dissatisfied with the variation in both the quality and readability of many of the existing publications. Many of the older FAA publications were especially difficult to read and understand.
I decided to try my hand at writing my own glider training textbooks. My goal was to cover all flight maneuvers required by the FAA (plus many more), and all knowledge areas required to pass the FAA written test, as well as the SSA Bronze Badge written test.
What resulted are these two books, the Flight Training Manual for Gliders, and the Glider Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. Between these two books, all required topics are covered! The books are clearly written, generously illustrated, and have been professionally edited for content, accuracy, and style.
Q: Will students need to buy a study guide for the FAA written test?
A: No. Every question on the written test can be answered by studying the Flight Training Manual for Gliders and the Glider Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. Students will find these books clearly explain the necessary concepts, thus eliminating the need for rote memorization.
Q: Are there any other books students will need to buy?
A: Yes. Students will need a pilot log book and a pilot's operating handbook for the particular glider model they will be flying.
In addition, regulations require that pilots have "access" to a copy of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs). The FARs are available at libraries, on the internet, and possibly at your glider port.
Q: Do students still need to buy the FAA's Soaring Flight Manual?
A: No. The Flight Training Manual for Gliders and the Glider Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge includes all topics covered in the FAA's Soaring Flight Manual - and more.
About Russell Holtz and Rhonda Clerkin
Brother and sister team Russell Holtz and Rhonda Clerkin both grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Russell attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. Rhonda attended Grinnell College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Technology Studies. Russell obtained his Private Pilot Certificate in gliders in 1995, in airplanes in 1996, his Commercial Certificate in Gliders in 1998, and his Certified Flight Instructor rating in gliders in 1999. He completed the FAI Silver Badge requirements in 1997, and the Gold and Diamond requirements in 1998. Russell has given over 2,800 hours of primary, cross–country, contest, and aerobatic flight instruction, and has over 4,000 hours total time in gliders. Rhonda prefers to keep her feet on the ground.
