Find the Lift.
A California nonprofit bringing people together through soaring education, mentoring, and the next chapter of your flying journey.
Express your interest ↗ Find your starting point ↓Southern Sierra Soaring Society (S⁴) is being organized to promote the safe, educational, and recreational pursuit of soaring and aviation. Through mentorship, skill development, and community engagement, we aim to support aviation education and strengthen our connection with the Southern Sierra community. Official mission statement · Adopted October 16, 2026
Now incorporated, we are developing a welcoming society where new enthusiasts, developing pilots, returning pilots, and supporters help one another move forward.
S⁴ is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation. Our corporate foundation is in place; federal recognition, chapter affiliation, and program development are the next steps.
Soaring is flight without an engine — a glider climbs on rising air and travels for hours, using nothing but the sun, the wind and the mountains. The Tehachapi area has all three in abundance.
A tow plane takes the glider aloft and releases it a few thousand feet up. From there, the pilot hunts for lift.
Sun-warmed thermals, wind deflected off the ridges, and mountain waves can carry a glider to great heights and long distances.
Training happens in two-seat gliders with an FAA-certificated flight instructor right behind you.
S⁴’s vision complements the flight instruction and airport services already at Mountain Valley Airport (L94) in Tehachapi. Skylark North provides the training foundation through glider rides, instruction, rentals, and tows; S⁴ builds on it with continuing education, advanced soaring skills, cross-country development, and mentorship.
S⁴ has also applied to become a chapter of the Soaring Society of America, the national home of motorless flight — chapters, safety programs, scholarships, badges and records.
Choose the path that fits you. The S⁴ activities described here are proposed and in development.
Learn what soaring is, meet the community, and discover how a sailplane uses rising air to stay aloft.
First step: for a first ride or flight instruction, see Skylark North’s flight school ↗. S⁴’s role is education and community support.
For student and licensed pilots ready to build judgment and range, with advanced learning from qualified instructors.
Been away from soaring? S⁴ aims to help returning pilots reconnect with the community and refresh skills alongside qualified instructors, with flight instruction through Skylark North.
No flying experience is needed. Educators, families, volunteers, and community supporters all have a place — through youth and family learning, volunteering and outreach, and supporting scholarships.
Learning to fly a glider can be a life milestone — and it's more approachable than most people think. Here's how to get from curious to soaring.
Airplane pilots can add a glider rating with far less training than a new student — the focus is on aerotow, soaring techniques and engine-off landings. Many commercial and military pilots find soaring the most rewarding flying they do.
| Certificate | Min. age | What it allows |
|---|---|---|
| Student pilot – solo | 14 | Solo flight with instructor endorsement |
| Private pilot – glider | 16 | Fly gliders and carry passengers (not for hire) |
| Commercial – glider | 18 | Fly gliders for compensation, e.g. rides |
| Flight instructor – glider | 18 | Teach others to soar |
Requirements summarized — see the SSA ratings page and 14 CFR Part 61 for the details.
The sun heats the ground unevenly; columns of warm air rise. Pilots circle inside them to climb — often marked by cumulus clouds at the top.
Wind blowing against a mountain slope is pushed upward. Gliders fly along the ridge in that rising band of air.
Strong winds over mountains can set up smooth, standing waves downwind that carry gliders to very high altitudes.
Typical cruise is around 60 mph; high-performance sailplanes can exceed 150 mph.
Most flying is well above 1,000 feet — the lower air is reserved for launch and landing. Wave flights go much higher.
From a short lesson to all-day cross-country flights, depending on the weather and the pilot.
Like all flying, soaring rewards training and discipline. Most accidents trace to pilot decisions, which is why safety culture comes first at S⁴.
Safety is the foundation of every flight. Our members train to a high standard and keep learning long after the checkride.
Flight instruction happens with Skylark North. S⁴’s planned role builds on it: continuing education, advanced soaring and cross-country skills, safety meetings, and mentorship. Programs are in development and will be announced here.
Current FAA data for KTSP (IATA TSP · FAA LID TSP). Our home field, Mountain Valley Airport (L94), has no weather station of its own — KTSP is the closest official observation. For situational awareness only; always get an official briefing before flight.
KTSP doesn't issue a TAF; these are the nearest forecast fields. "Plain English" is built from the Aviation Weather Center's own decoding of each TAF; anything it couldn't decode is shown as filed. The FAA text is the official forecast.
Model forecast over Tehachapi (KTSP) at standard pressure levels: wind from (°) and speed (kt), and temperature. Altitudes are MSL from the model. The NWS retired its FB winds-aloft tables in Nov 2026.
National Weather Service point forecast for the airport.
From the FAA's published TFR list. Open a TFR for its exact area and times.
Notices to Air Missions from the FAA NOTAM Management Service. "Plain English" is a decoded reading made by rule — figures are read straight from the text, and anything that can't be read is listed rather than guessed. The FAA text is the authoritative notice.
Sources: aviationweather.gov (NWS Aviation Weather Center), api.weather.gov (National Weather Service), tfr.faa.gov (FAA TFR list), nasstatus.faa.gov (FAA airport status) and the FAA NOTAM Management Service. Refreshed automatically every 5 minutes while this page is open.
S⁴ is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation in Tehachapi, organized to promote the safe, educational, and recreational pursuit of soaring and aviation through mentorship, skill development, and community engagement.
Tehachapi sits where the Sierra Nevada meets the Tehachapi Range, with strong desert thermals, ridges and mountain wave. S⁴ aims to be a welcoming society where new enthusiasts, developing pilots, returning pilots, and supporters help one another move forward.
Organizational update · November 1, 2026
Incorporated October 20, 2026. The state accepted the Articles of Incorporation on October 26.
An EIN was obtained and the initial California Statement of Information was filed October 26.
Founding directors and officers are in place. The initial board meeting was held October 27.
Chapter forms and the founding roster were submitted October 30, and initial SSA membership dues were paid. Chapter recognition awaits confirmation.
The federal exemption application is being prepared and has not yet been submitted. IRS recognition has not been granted.
Dues and renewal policies, youth outreach, mentoring, and advanced-soaring opportunities are being developed.
Our plans complement Skylark North and Mountain Valley Airport. Program and provider arrangements remain subject to agreement.
Skylark North provides the training foundation through glider rides, instruction, rentals, and tows. S⁴’s planned contribution builds on that foundation with continuing education, advanced soaring skills, cross-country development, and mentorship.
Coordination with SLN/MVA and future program arrangements remain to be agreed. S⁴ does not book flights.
SSA connects pilots with the national soaring community, educational resources, and local chapters. Skylark North is listed as an SSA Business Member.
S⁴ submitted its chapter application and founding roster on October 30, 2026, and paid its initial SSA membership dues. Formal chapter recognition is awaiting confirmation.
S⁴ has completed incorporation and initial board organization. The board is finalizing membership dues and renewal policies while educational programs and operating arrangements are developed. S⁴ does not book flights.
Skylark North at Mountain Valley Airport is the flight-school starting point. Use its official website for current instruction and ride information. S⁴’s planned role is to complement that instruction with community and continued learning.
No. Students, educators, families, volunteers, and supporters are all welcome alongside experienced pilots. Formal membership follows the society’s governing documents; supporters and volunteers can contribute outside formal membership.
Tell us what sparks your interest in Southern Sierra Soaring Society. Flying experience isn’t required — educators, families, volunteers, and community supporters all have a place.
Choose any that apply. These are areas of interest, not membership classes or an application.
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SSA membership brings Soaring magazine, scholarships, insurance discounts, the online forums, badges and awards, and national advocacy for soaring.
