About

The foundation of this safe and inspiring experience is the pilot, the glider, and the airport…

Your Pilot

Mike learned to fly gliders at Twenty-nine Palms and finished his training at Lake Elsinore, CA in 2008. Mike has:

A commercial rating in gliders with a Self Launch endorsement
Over 650 hours in gliders and motorglider
Several FAI soaring achievement awards

Mike is an avid pilot, and in addition to giving rides, loves to fly his immaculate Schweizer Prototype SGS 1-26E sailplane.

The Glider

The Aeromot AMT-200 Super Ximango is a French designed (René Fournier) Brazilian-built motor glider.

Built from glassfibre, the Super Ximango is a low-wing monoplane with conventional retractable landing gear and a T-tail. Powered by a front-mounted 80hp Rotax 912A, it has an enclosed side-by-side cockpit for two. The wings fold for easy storage in a conventional hangar.

The Ximango is operated by both the U.S. Air Force Academy and by NASA as the TG-14 with the following specifications:

Length: 26.5 ft.
Wingspan: 58 ft.
Empty weight: 1,334 lb.
Max weight: 1,874 lb.
Please visit the FAQ page for maximum height & weight of passengers.

Cruise speed at 75% power: 110 mph.
Stall speed: 47 mph.
Never exceed speed: 152 mph.
Maximum glide ratio: 31/1

Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport

Thermal Airport

Thermal Airport (KTRM) is a public use airport located 23 miles east of the central business district of Palm Springs, in the Coachella Valley, California.

It is operated by the county of Riverside at an elevation of -114 feet below mean sea level. It has two runways designated 17/35 with an asphalt surface measuring 8,500′ X 150′ and 12/30 with an asphalt surface measuring 4,995′ X 100′ feet.