Meet the US Soaring Team - Std, Club, World

Chip Garner (55) got the soaring bug early and soloed at age sixteen at Hemet in California. Since then he has put on over 3500 gliding hours, competed in over 35 national contests frequently placing in the top three. Chip's recent wins include the 1999 Standard Class, 2001 Open Class and 2005 and 2006 Standard Class. Attracted to competitive soaring for the competitive outlet it provides and the intense mental challenge, Chip has represented the U.S. on three previous world teams. Living in Santa Fe New Mexico, Chip's local field of Moriarty provides excellent conditions. Moriarty based Albuquerque Soaring Club is first in the world in the OLC (Online Contest) League and forth in the OLC Classic. Working as a sailplane instrument designer, Chip has been able to develop some of the most compelling new instrument technologies found in most competitive cockpits. Beyond competitive soaring Chip is a member of the Albuquerque Soaring Club and holds a seat on the SSA Board of Directors. Chip will be flying a Discus 2 in Italy. Chip is looking forward to being part of a winning team and the competitive challenge Italy presents.

Standard Class
Mark Keene

Mark Keene started his flying career by flying gliders at age 11 and soloing on his 14th birthday at a small airport near Dallas, Texas. He currently flies the Airbus 320 series aircraft for US Airways. Many of his 2500 glider hours were flown in the Schweizer 1-26 and included 11 nationals (with one win and numerous top three finishes), earning the Barringer Trophy for distance flights, a Gold badge with 2 Diamonds and several state records. Since acquiring his Discus 2 he’s flown 8 Standard Class Nationals, winning in 2004 and placing in the top 5 several times. Mark is a member of The Texas Soaring Association (TSA) and currently flies at Ridge Soaring in Pennsylvania. He lives in State College, PA with his wife Rosalie, (who also soloed on her 14th birthday), and three children, Austin 7, Sophia 6 and Forrest age 3. He’s served on the Board at TSA and is a past Chairman of the SSA Club and Chapter Committee. Mark really looks forward to the highly technical aspect of flying at Rieti. “Flying in the Ridge Soaring and Mifflin area is a good warm-up for Italy”, he says.

Club Class
Jonathan Gere

Jonathan Gere (48) has been flying gliders since soloing a SGS 2-33 at age fourteen. Since then he has accumulated 3200 hours in the cockpit and flown in eleven US Nationals. As an Electrical Engineer living in Camp Hill Pennsylvania, Jonathan is a former 33 year member of the Mid-Atlantic Soaring Association (MASA). Soaring is definitely a family affair with his wife Gigi, sister and nephews all being glider pilots. A good example of give back, Jonathan has served as Regional line crew, operations director, scorer; and as club Director, Vice President and Task Day Chairman. Heading for Italy Jonathan will be flying a Standard Cirrus and competing with pilots from around the world in a legendary contest arena. His wife Gigi will be crewing for him.

Club Class
Manfred Franke

Manfred Franke comes from a well-known soaring family, his first glider ride was likely pre-natal but try as he might, the controls could not be reached, so this time could not be logged. He soloed in 1968 at the age of 17, accumulating some 2000 hours since then. The Ionia non-club, in Michigan, that well known incubator of cross country and competition pilots been the site of honing skills with and against some top notch pilots for the last twenty five years, all of whom enjoy flying to Mt. Pleasant and wave. He has flown in several National Championships, with top five finishes in three of them, and has had the honor of being a member of the club class team representing the United States in Norway. He holds US Diamond Badge Number 718 and has won Michigan's Ward Mayrand Trophy for the past eight years.

World Class
François Pin

François started soaring at age 13 in the French Alps. Now 52 years old, he lives in Knoxville, Tennessee where he works as a research scientist at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He was the program chairman of the 1999 SSA Convention in Knoxville, has written several articles for Soaring magazine, owns a PW-5 and an ASW-27, has logged about 3,000 hours in gliders, has flown in 16 U.S. Nationals and has been a member of the U.S. Team four times. He enjoys the particular strategies and challenges of racing in the one-design World Class. His wife Dottie has been an always-encouraging and gracious crew for his long flights on the Appalachian Ridges for several southeastern distance records and his 1000 Km diploma, and for many contests over the World. She is looking forward to crewing at the events in Rieti and to supporting top performance of the Team.

World Class
Pat Tucky
Airline pilot Pat Tuckey has accumulated an estimated 1,700 total gliding hours since his solo at age 16. Now 48, Pat lives in Fort Worth Texas and is a member of the Texas Soaring Association (TSA). Pat has flown in 14 US National Championships including 6 1-26 championships. Pat has been World Class National Champion four times including the last three in a row and a remarkable four time 1-26 National Champion. Pat has held both World and National speed records for 100k and 300k in the World Class. Pat is looking forward to the World Class competition in Italy. Pat say's it best, "Competitive soaring provides a unique blend of challenges and benefits, which I have not found in any other activity. There is almost no experience as emotionally "high" as climbing out above one of your competition while you fly on to finish the course, and there is no "low" to match watching one of your rivals climb above while you sit in a field in the middle of nowhere wondering how you are going to get home. And yet, no matter how keen the competition in the air, on the ground soaring builds a camaraderie that is second to none. Whenever I have seen anyone have a problem at a contest, one of his or her soaring friends is willing to help out with a loan of equipment, a helping hand, expert advice, or whatever else is needed."

Richard Maleady - Team Captain

Richard (59) began soaring a bit later in life - in 1989 - but has accumulated 1380 hours in gliders. He soloed in a 2-33 at Bermuda High Soaring in Chester, SC. He is a soon to be retired General Contractor in North and South Carolina and has operated his own business in Charlotte, NC for the past 14 years. Currently he flies his DG808S out of Bermuda High Soaring (now outside Lancaster, SC) where he served as club president for two years. He is also a member of the Carolina Soaring Association as well as the New Castle, VA Soaring Club. Richard began competing about six years ago and has competed in numerous regionals as well as 7 National Contests. He is excited about his upcoming involvement with the Junior Team in Rieti, Italy, and the opportunities to contribute to the team's success.

The view the calendar of WGC and U.S. National events see the team calendar... If you would like to learn more about prior U.S. Teams view the team archives here... For more team links see the links page.

Multi-Class Background

The Standard Class is another class that limits span to 15 meters. In addition, gliders cannot use performance increasing wing flaps, a restriction that tends to make Standard-class gliders a bit less expensive. The Club Class is the handicapped class. Gliders across a reasonably wide range of performance are allowed; each is assigned a handicap based on its performance qualities. The Club Class has its roots in the idea that gliders with mid range performance, while no longer competitive against modern designs, offer an affordable and available alternative. The World Class is the "one-design" class - all pilots must fly the PW-5 "World Class" glider. Tight equipment rules ensure that all gliders are equal in performance. The World Class is a one design class with the PW-5 as the glider of choice. The World Class concept embraces the concept of an affordable, safe and competitive glider. The PW-5 was selected after winning the World Class Glider Competition organized by the FAI.

See how the US Teams have done over the years or view the list of World Champions.

NOTICE: These pilots are those selected to US Soaring Teams using the US selection procedure. The final number of team members may be limited by the organizers or by funding availability. Team members selected before their respective Pre-Worlds have the incentive to participate or re-qualify for their team position in the year prior to their WGC. Confirmation will be made through the US Team Committee as pertinent information is available.