About the Book

The Glider Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge contains all of the information that a student must learn to meet the FAA requirements, to pass the FAA written test, and to pass the SSA bronze badge written test.

  • Covers all knowledge areas required to pass the FAA written and oral tests, and the SSA Bronze Badge Test
  • Logical, ordered, and complete presentation of material
  • Clear, straightforward writing and illustrations
  • Fully indexed Glossary of soaring terms
  • 424 pages
  • 260 figures
  • 444 review questions
  • Includes a printable "Knowledge Training Progress Record"

    • At the end there are printable Review Questions that cover each section. They consist of a combination of original questions, and questions taken from the FAA Airman Knowledge Test Question bank. The book is also available in a hard copy at www.gliderbooks.com.

    About the Book

    Course Curriculum

    • 1
      INTRODUCTION
      • INTRODUCTION
      • PROGRESS RECORD (printable)
    • 2
      CHAPTERS
      • 1 | GLIDER FAMILIARIZATION
      • 2 | AIRPORT FAMILIARIZATION
      • 3 | AERODYNAMICS
      • 4 | PERFORMANCE
      • 5 | FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS AND SYSTEMS
      • 6 | WEATHER FOR SOARING
      • 7 | AVIATION WEATHER SERVICES
      • 8 | MEDICAL FACTORS
      • 9 | REGULATIONS
      • 10 | FLIGHT PUBLICATIONS
      • 11 | AIRSPACE
      • 12 | AERONAUTICAL CHARTS AND NAVIGATION
      • 13 | RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
      • 14 | PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
      • 15 | CROSS-COUNTRY SOARING
      • 16 | AERONAUTICAL DECISION MAKING
    • 3
      GLOSSARY & INDEX
      • GLOSSARY
      • INDEX
    • 4
      REVIEW QUESTIONS
      • QUESTIONS (printable)
      • ANSWERS

      About the Author

    • Russell Holtz

      Russell Holtz

      Russell is the author of two well-respected and widely-used soaring flight training books in the United States - the Glider Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge and the Flight Training Manual for Glider Pilots.

      Russell grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering.

      He obtained his Private Pilot Certificate in gliders in 1995, in airplanes in 1996, his Commercial Certificate in Gliders in 1998, and his Certified Flight Instructor rating in gliders in 1999. He completed the FAI Silver Badge requirements in 1997, and the Gold and Diamond requirements in 1998. Russell has given over 2,800 hours of primary, cross-country, contest, and aerobatic flight instruction, and has over 4,000 hours total time in gliders.

      Russell's passion for understanding and communicating soaring knowledge is evident in his teaching.