Soaring NV - Minden Sailplane Instruction and Rentals


	Devin Bargainnier Devin took up soaring in Ohio. Cross-country flying became his passion not long after he earned his private pilot glider license, and he has developed extensive skill flying in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nevada, California, New Mexico, and Arizona. As a flight instructor in Minden several years ago Devin shared his passion for flying with students and passengers alike. In 2008 he joined the Soaring NV team as a cross-country flight instructor and tow pilot. At the convention of the Soaring Society of America in 2008 he was honored with this year’s Kolstad Award. He competes in regional and national competitions around the country. When not in the air Devin is a student at Kent State University in Ohio where he is studying aeronautics.

	Fred LaSor Fred began flying gliders in 1966, but a career that took him allover the world found him frequently in places where there was no glider flying to be done. Since retirement in 1997 he has finished his instructor’s rating and worked as an instructor and tow pilot in Ohio, Virginia and Nevada. He has trained pilots for new and add-on glider ratings, and focused particularly on cross-country training. He came to Minden in 2003 for the soaring, and fell in love with the location and the soaring.

	Gabe Bourbeau Gabe has been a flight instructor for over 30 years. He started instructing glider students in the Minden area four years ago after retiring from the State of Missouri where he flew the Governor. He restored his J-3 Cub. He is also a 1-26 owner and club member. He enjoys all aspects of glider instruction and especially teaching power pilots who are working on a glider rating. He and his wife still reside in Missouri were he flies a corporate jet part-time. He spends about half his time in the Minden area and plans to move here permanently in the near future. When not flying, Gabe loves to ski and cycle.

	Richard Walters Rick has been soaring for 36 years and racing since 1985. He has won US National championships in Sports, Standard, 15 meter, and 18 meter classes. 2008 will see him flying in the 18 m class in his fourth World Championships, in Luesse, Germany. A resident of Minden, Nevada since 1991, many of his 3500 gliding hours have been spent in the high desert and mountains of Nevada and California. Holder of Diamond badge and 1000km diploma. Rick is interested in sharing cross country technique in the form of cloud reading, speed to fly, polars, field selection, ballast, and all the other factors that make soaring so challenging.

	Laurie Harden Laurie took her first glider ride as a teenager and finally learned to fly a glider 2 1/2 years ago when she moved to Carson Valley. She brings her experience in high-tech sales and marketing to SoaringNV. She has two teenage sons, and several pets. On her days off, she like to ride her horse. She looks forward to welcoming you to Minden, one of the greatest soaring locations in the world.

	Jack Harkin Jack has been a cross country soaring instructor since 1968. He is a lifetime member of the SSA, former owner and operator of Atlanta Sailplanes. He has enjoyed cross country soaring in the Great Basin since 1999. He has logged more than 35,000 total flying time, with 2000+ hours of that time logged in sailplanes, mostly instructing. In the past five years he has flown over 20,000 kilometers in his sailplane adventures. Jack is currently flying an ASH-25, Duo Discus X and ASW-27. He is a Delta Airlines International Captain emeritus.

Cross Country Adventure
Five days of a cross country adventure with a variety of our skilled staff. Find out more.