What is Soaring?

The term “soaring” simply means remaining aloft for extended periods by riding on rising air generated by natural air currents.  We became aware of this phenomenon as we observed various types of birds such as turkey buzzards, gulls, hawks and California Condors, effortlessly staying up without flapping their wings (chickens were not among them).  Back in 1911, Orville Wright returned to Kitty Hawk with a special glider that he had assembled from various components of the powered aircraft that they were producing back at Dayton.  He was curious about the possibility of duplicating, with an improved glider, what he had been seeing birds doing all along – staying aloft – in this case, supported by the winds deflecting up the slopes at Kitty Hawk.  On October 24th of that year, Orville stayed up for 9 minutes and 45 seconds – to become the first man to make an actual soaring flight.  This flight was to mark the beginning of the Sport of Soaring.  We have an exact replica of Orville’s glider hanging over the Main Gallery.  

Throughout the museum, you will also see a number of more modern (and much more-sleek) designs on display.  Technically, they are all gliders, but we refer to them as “sailplanes” – a term, coined in the early 1930s, to describe gliders that are specifically designed to soar.  

Technically, that would make Orville’s glider - the first sailplane!