HISTORY

History of Gliding at the Hollister Airport

Regular glider operations out of the Hollister Airport started back in March of 1993. There were a few motor gliders that had been based in Hollister since the mid-80's and even a few pilots from the Fremont gliderport that sometimes flew out of Hollister in the 70's. These pilots were the first to explore the Panoche Valley area and south which is were we primarily find our best lift out of Hollister.

The move to the Hollister Airport came after the loss of the gliderport in Fremont, CA that had been there since the 1950's. Bay Area Soaring Associates (BASA) is a glider club that was originally started in 1967 at the Fremont gliderport. The club also moved down to Hollister Airport after the loss of the Fremont gliderport. The BASA club was originally started to allow the average glider pilot to have access to modern higher performance gliders that were typically too expensive for most clubs. They have achieved this goal and now have one of the best soaring club fleets in the country and at an amazingly low cost. Their club dues are just $100 a month with no hourly fees. Some of their best gliders, worth over $100,000, would rent for more per hour than their monthly dues. We are very lucky in the Bay Area to have such a great club situation. Some of the original members can still be found flying out of Hollister.

Bay Area Glider Rides has also been operating out of the Hollister Airport since 1993. They currently are the only glider ride operation providing scenic glider rides to the general public in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas. Unfortunately all the glider ride operations that were in the Napa Valley area for so long have all been closed over the years for development reasons. For the directory of all the scenic glider ride locations in the United States please visit this website directory http://www.glidersailplanerides.com

There are also a number of pilots that own there own gliders and keep them based at the Hollister Airport either year round or seasonally. HSC provides these glider pilots tows although some do not need tows since they have self launching sailplanes.

A new Hollister Jet Glider Club is forming that will be purchasing the new HpH 304S jet-powered glider. These gliders will allow a glider pilot to be over the Sierras in just 45 minutes, that's at the doorstep to some of the best soaring conditions in the world, and still have half their fuel left. This should open up amazing flight possibilities out of the Hollister Airport. It will even make it possible to ridge soar Mission Peak again for the old Fremont pilot's memories. With knowledge and practice we may even find a way to safely soar the coastal ranges. Check out the DVD called "White Gliders, Black Sands." It will make you want to find away to soar like they did down under in the video. A must see inspirational video!

Looking to take a glider ride or buy a gift?
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Since 1993 Hollister Soaring Center LLC (previously Hollister Soaring Center LLC) has provided the Bay Area a place to experience the sport of soaring. We offer glider training and glider towing services for the general public.

Please come out to try soaring today and become a member of our aviation soaring community.

You will find the sport of soaring to be a fun, adventurous and challenging form of flying, with great pilot camaraderie!