Soaring or Jumping

Ddm66 said:
I’d like to get an idea of how competitive it is. Do you have any idea how many C-4’s typically try out each year ?
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Around 150 applicants show initial interest in August each year, with ~9 ultimately being selected in the February-April time frame. While these numbers may seem daunting, many self-eliminate from the tryout process for various reasons (academics, general workload, not completing the mandatory tryout tests or essay, etc.). A strong first semester and persistence through the long process will get you a long way!
 
Skipper07 said:
Sometimes I wish I went to USAFA for the airmanship focus… then I remember I would have to fly for the Air Force and I no longer have that wish.
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This is not correct. While airmanship at USAFA is a major focus and can help with being selected to fly, there is zero requirement to go pilot out of the Academy. Around 50% of each graduating class does not fly, and order to go to pilot training you must volunteer.
 
From what I gather from all the posts above. There's only a limited number of slots available for soaring therefore majority of cadets have to jump instead. What about flying the drone program as mention above ? Are those slots limited as well ?
 
Walking Tall said:
From what I gather from all the posts above. There's only a limited number of slots available for soaring therefore majority of cadets have to jump instead. What about flying the drone program as mention above ? Are those slots limited as well ?
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Slots for all programs are limited. Anecdotally, I would say that jump is the most desired, followed by soaring, and then RPAs. Azimuth(Space) is not well known as they only have had a few years of pilots at this point.
 
Aeronaut said:
My son wanted soaring but was slotted to jump for his summer after 4th year. He really wants to be a glider IP. Can he get into soaring during 3rd (sophomore) year and still become a glider IP?
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Bigrod said:
No
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This is wrong. He can still become an IP. If he can take soaring this fall he will be able to apply to be an IP and be picked up as a "springy."
The basics of the airmanship programs are as follows:
  • Powered
    • Apply for Flying Team as a freshman
    • Take AM201 (Intro to Powered Flight) which is a 4-flight class as an intro
    • Take the 14-flight solo program
    • Take the summer long course where you can earn your PPL
  • Gliders
    • Take AM251 (14-flight intro to gliders with an opportunity to solo). You can take this program from the spring of your 4-dig year to the spring of your 3-dig year
    • Apply for AM461 to become an IP. You can apply after the summer of your rising 3-dig year, or after the fall of your rising 3-dig year - if you take soaring during those times
  • Jump
    • AM490 - 5 jump program that everyone has heard of - you can take this from your rising 3-dig summer to your Firstie fall
    • Apply for AM491 if you take it during your rising 3-dig summer and join the wings of green - you will automatically become a member of the wings of blue after being on the wings of green for your whole 3-dig year
KiwiBird said:
I want to try out both the glider and parachuting programs. Are you able to do both?
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I know this question was like 1,000 years ago, but if you take soaring the spring of your freshman year and take jump during the summer of your freshman year - you can apply both to be an IP and to be on the Wings of Blue. This is really really rare, but I have a friend who did this and is now an IP.

If anyone has more specific questions about the airmanship programs, feel free to PM me. I'm a Soaring IP who has been in all three different programs we have here.
 
Based on the academic calendar the 1st summer period ends and the 2nd period begins on Saturday 6/24. Wondering what time those who are in the 2nd period need to report.

Thanks.
 
Way back when, Soaring/Jumping were a single summer program - you did both in 3 weeks. Then around '83 they became separate summer programs. In the summer, you could normally get the flights thru solo done in less than 12 days and summer parachuting wasn't weathered out either, so even though I 'gave up leave to take both, I effectively didn't lose any leave and still completed both programs.

No idea how the schedules work nowadays, but when I took parachuting in the summer, the ground training was 5? days, and the rest of the time was to get your 5 jumps. Pretty sure I did my first 4 jumps in one day and my 5th the next.

It clearly becomes more of an issue during the academic year based on your academic schedule and greater chances of inclement weather, but I went to USAFA to do things I couldn't do anywhere else, so a couple of days of missed leave was nothing.
 
When I was at the Zoo (79-83) soaring and jump were separate summer programs.
 
Ddm66 said:
Based on the academic calendar the 1st summer period ends and the 2nd period begins on Saturday 6/24. Wondering what time those who are in the 2nd period need to report.

Thanks.
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I think it was 1400 last year. Don't quote me on that though!
 
My son is taking jump during the first summer session. I am wanting to visit with him some time in early June and I am looking for an ideal time to do so. Is it possible to come up on a Thursday and be able to see him jump on Friday. I'm sure there must be a lot of variables but looking for my best chance. Any suggestions?
 
FalconFather26 said:
My son is taking jump during the first summer session. I am wanting to visit with him some time in early June and I am looking for an ideal time to do so. Is it possible to come up on a Thursday and be able to see him jump on Friday. I'm sure there must be a lot of variables but looking for my best chance. Any suggestions?
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Depends on if they have cyber first
 
Jumping has two weeks set aside for a weather dependent one week jump program and 1 week cyber added on either the first week or last week.
 
FalconFather26 said:
I believe he has something called summer program support from 6/3-6/10.
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Summer support may be the odd week-out detail(Cyber is another option). The weather is obviously a huge factor, but jumping may start on Thursday, but I'll defer to any WoG/WoB folks on here for the 'best chance analysis', in my opinion, Thursday and Friday is a decent option.
 
Hello all I am new to this forum but thought I would add my two cents and ask a few questions. I was Cadet soaring IP. I have argued with other grads as to what better prepared them for pilot training and everybody had their own biased but well supported opinion.

Be that as it may, I would have to say the flying team is your best bet if that is your goal other than the sheer Joy of flying a sailplane. ( plus it's a heck of a lot cheaper in the real world).

I would ask though, what has happened to the Soaring program? I have talked to many Cadets, and there seems to be a serious apathy or lack of motivation (amongst soaring IP upgraders). When I was in the program you went during the afternoon only. You didn't hang out at the field when the weather sucked, officers were never allowed to confiscate a cockpit from a Cadet, and academics were not gang-loaded into one day. And during summer programs everybody, I mean everybody, flew enough to solo. I know several current Cadets that flew only 5-7 times during their whole summer 3 week program.

I would love to hear from an airmanship officer as to why the program is set up the way it is now.
 
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