Windhaven Gliders
Finding yourself 2,500 feet
above the ground in an aircraft without an engine would be considered an
immediate cause for a “mayday” call for most pilots. That is unless you’re Gary
Gordon, 53, owner and operator of Windhaven Gliders at the east end of Santa Ynez Airport.
On a sunny Sunday afternoon, just as he was about to take
a young rider up for his first small plane ride, the Los Alamos resident was
kind enough to spend about an hour discussing the joys of providing rides to
visitors at the glider port.
His rider was 14-year-old Jesse Glenz
of Altoona, Wisc. Jesse’s mom, Kris, told me that
this was her son’s first time in a plane — except for the plane ride out from
the Midwest to visit Uncle Rodney Raether, a Ventura
resident. Rodney had heard of Windhaven
from his trips to the valley and wanted to treat his niece and nephew to a ride
around the valley.
After giving rides to Jesse and Kris, Gordon told me how
satisfying it is to provide the flights to his customers. Placing his hand over his heart, he said, “I
just love seeing the look on their faces when they get out of the glider after
a nice flight.”
Gordon started Windhaven Gliders 16 years ago, and holds
a commercial pilot certificate for gliders. Years ago he used to instruct, but
found more pleasure in giving rides than in the instructional role. He has been flying for 27 years but has never
earned a certificate to fly powered aircraft, only gliders.
A native of Orlando, Fla., he does not restrict himself
to giving rides to paying customers. Eight years ago he started a foundation
called Project Uplift that provides rides at no charge to cancer patients.
Gordon is himself a cancer survivor. The
rides for cancer patients are set up by the Cancer Foundation of Santa Barbara,
and he generally provides about one ride per month — sometimes more.
Not being one to shy away from the opportunity to fly, I
took him up on his offer to take a glider ride. I flew a glider only once, more
than 25 years ago, and I did remember that the long wings of the glider require
much more rudder action than does a powered aircraft because