By KRWG News
Alamogordo – The White Sands Soaring Association is celebrating its 50-year anniversary this month.
The club, based at Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport, is for glider enthusiasts. Treasurer Art Davis says there are about 27 members right now, ranging in age from 14 to about 65 years old.
Gliders are lightweight aircraft that get into the air with a tow by a motorized plane. Once it's airborne, the glider sails high into the air.
The aircraft can stay up for eight or nine hours if conditions are favorable.
One of the longest glider flights out of Alamogordo was recorded at about 630 miles, to Fort Garland, Colo., and back.
Davis says the soaring association has three gliders, plus it owns the tow plane. Several members also have their own gliders.
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Information from: Alamogordo Daily News, http://www.alamogordonews.com
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.