Soaring NV

Wow, what an amazing experience. I was nervous and a little cloister phobic. The staff did an amazing job making me feel safe. Also, when I started to feel a little bit of motion sickness the pilot distracted me, so fantastic. I actually made it through four loops and flew the glider on my own. The best gift my boyfriend could have ever gotten me.
Thanks soaring NV for helping us check one off the bucket list.

My brother and I decided to go gliding during our vacation in Tahoe. Booking the reservation was easy, everyone was very friendly, but more than anything the experience was unforgettable! Definitely worth it and I would recommend it to anyone. The flight is smooth, although I believe you can request more intensity. The pilot was conversational and eased any of the anxiety I might have had. I will come back next year!

I always thought gliding would be kinda boring, but I’ve always wanted to fly so my wife and I gave it a try. Completely not what I expected! Glider pilots have the ability to fly smooth and calm or downright dare-​devilish!
There is no better way to see Carson Valley, the mountains, or the lake!
It was a great experience and I will be going back.

What a great experience and a breathtaking ride! The staff was friendly informative and safety oriented. We did aerobatics and just soared with the eagles over Lake Tahoe and the amazing Carson Valley. It’s an experience you shouldn’t miss!

One of the finest flight training facilities anywhere! Russell Holtz, the Chief Instructor is as a good a flight instructor, teacher, and pilot, as one will find.
With an ATP, CFII, rated in every Category and Class of aircraft (save Airship), I’m an experienced consumer of flight instruction services. Soaring NV has a nice facility, well-​maintained gliders, and a friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable staff. I appreciate everyone’s help getting me ready for my flight instructor ride and will be back to fly again as often as possible.

Bought a soaring package for mothers day for my wife who is scared of heights. So is my son. We arrived at the airport. My son thought his mother was going up. Hah. I booked a ride for two. My wife had no idea what was to transpire after we pulled in to the parking area. She reluctantly walked in after my son was filling out the paper work, Took her a few minutes to figure out she was going to go soaring. I then told my son he was going to accompany her. The fear was a bit palatable and yet Laurie and Brads demeanors and wide smiles calmed them down. Brad who is an amazing man made them feel so comfortable. Told them what was going to transpire to the tee. Where they would soar, how far up and gave very understandable instructions and off they went. You see, both my wife and son were facing huge challenges in the days ahead and I knew that soaring and facing their fears would make their challenges ahead much easier to deal with. When they landed their smiles were so wide. They had returned from heaven, almost literally. Brad took them on a journey not only at 10,000 feet to see the most amazing sites but a journey which would allow them to face their fears in a supportive environment. They left Soaring Nevada changed people and today almost 1 month later the experience has helped them overcome their fears and much more. I am so happy to have met Laurie, Brad and staff who run the most professional operation I have ever been to and I have been soaring for many years. My dear thanks to those wonderful people and even though we are from PA and were just passing through on our way down to Silicon Valley my wife and son want to «do soar again» on our way back home in a few months. Now thats what I call transformation. We had Soaring NV take a wing mounted video of the flight and we have watched it many times. When I wrote transformational, I meant it. My wife and son faced their fears bordering on a phobia of heights and walked away smiling realizing that they can use what they experienced at Soaring NV in other areas of their lives. People write how beautiful the ride was and it definitely is. For my purposes I write about how empowered my family became. Now thats powerful. I more than recommend Soaring Nevada. Brad and Laurie will always have a special place in my heart for what they did for my family. We shall return. Michael

This company is so awesome! From the time I arrived to the time I left, I had the best experience. If you want to see Tahoe from the air, this is the way to go! Its so quiet and the views are stunning! The staff are professional, courteous and very personable! I can hardly wait to be back for another flight!

Have you ever looked up at a hawk and wondered what it would be like to glide around up there with him? Thanks to Soaring NV my wife and I did it and it was fantastic. I mean with a real hawk. I was still buzzing from the rush a half hour after we left and still smiling the rest of the day. If you’re considering gliding, just do it… now. You won’t stop thinking about it for weeks. The staff was great and it we felt safe the entire time.

something is wrong with people who haven’t given gliding a try. go to soaringnv and you will enjoy the experience. i hadn’t given a thought about gliding until a month ago when i was up in south lake tahoe and saw an ad for this company. decided to make another trip up so my son and i could go. my son doesn’t care for heights but he doesn’t let that stop him from doing things. everybody at soaringnv is open and candid, cheerful and happy to answer questions. a neighboring business was having a hot dog BBQ and they invited everybody over, including us. brad was our pilot and happened to be the one i spoke with on the phone when i inquired about gliding and he answered any questions i had. the information brad provided about the glider and its controls as well as the area were helpful. the side-​by-​side back seating for my son and i was a tight fit even considering we each weigh 156 lbs. the take-​off was quicker than i expected. getting to altitude to unhook did take a while behind the old cropduster but it gives you time to enjoy the view and learn things from the pilot. after unhooking we caught some currents and spiraled to 11 500 feet and soared around a cloud while enjoying the views of lake tahoe and the mountains including flying over heavenly. i was amazed at how maneuverable the glider is with some of the tight turns. we buzzed the observation deck at heavenly and as much as i enjoyed that i would have loved to have been on the observation deck watching a glider come skimming over me! the day was great with the sun, clouds, a little bit of hail and the view. being familiar enough with the topography from skiing helps too but someone that is unfamiliar with the area would be really blown away by it when gliding. it is truly worth going up to minden to glide with soaringnv and the people who run it don’t make it feel like it is only a business but that it is more their passion and are happy to share it with you.

This place is AWESOME!!! My husband and I made an 11am appointment for the big sky ride on easter. We arrived at 10am. They were ready to take us up early after we filled out a quick form. Laurie and the staff were so friendly and welcoming right away. They told us about what we were going to do, and made sure we had our camera and sweatshirts all set. They got the plane and glider all set up, and off we went. Jeffery, our glider pilot, took us out to the glider on a golf cart, and gave us a little tour of the other gliders that were out there. Then we got fit into the glider and off we went. Jeff was really cool and kind of played tour guide with all of the sights. We were up there about half and hour and landed safely. It was beautiful and relaxing. Like I said every one was so friendly, and that alone is worthy of the 5 stars. Definitely recommend this place to any one looking for a fun time, scenic view, and extremely friendly staff.

I have been skillfully avoiding going on a gliding tour for a few years know, purely because of my own fears. I finally went this afternoon and I have to say it was fantastic.
I would liken the experience to an unpredictable and exciting yet gentle roller coaster ride. I went the Gabe, one of the many experienced pilots on staff, and I had every bit of confidence in him, he even encouraged me to take control of the stick for a while.
The hanger has a very welcoming and relaxing atmosphere, and the staff is knowledgeable and experienced.
I am about 6’1″ and the glider was a little cramped, and if I were a claustrophobe I may not have enjoyed it so much.
I would recommend a ride to anyone, a great alternative to skiing and other land sports in the area.

Got a voucher from
for the Glider Ride for 2 for $ 155. Here’s how it went:
1. Called the place for an appointment.
2. Almost 4-​hour drive from the bay area and we finally got to this place.
3. Only need to fill out a short form with contact information.
4. Took a trolley ride and arrived at the departure site.
5. Launcher plane and my glider was connected by a rope, and dragged us up into the air overlooking the lake and Carson City.
6. When we got to a certain height, the rope is then detached from the launcher plane, and my pilot takes control of our glider and we were up in the air for about 30 minutes total, between 60 – 70 MPH. It was a little loud because of the ventilation holes, but the ride was smooth and I didn’t feel any turbulence.
7. Safe landing.
Tip: Check ahead of time for weather make sure to bring your camera. View was alright, only get to see the plains and the mirror like Lake, nothing special. But gliding in the sky was the fun part.