Staff Report / June 29, 2025
The skies above Chemung County are set to come alive with the graceful flight of sailplanes as Harris Hill Soaring Club hosts the 2025 Club Class National Glider Competition. Running from July 1 through July 10, the event will bring 25 of the nation’s top glider pilots to compete in daily cross-country races over the Southern Tier.
Sanctioned by the Soaring Society of America, this national championship showcases unpowered aircraft navigating long distances using only natural lift from thermals and air currents. Pilots will launch each day between noon and 1 p.m. from Harris Hill, a site long regarded as the “Soaring Capital of America.”
Ahead of the main event, practice flights are scheduled for June 29 and 30. Each competition day will begin with a pilot meeting at 10 a.m. at the National Soaring Museum, which also serves as the primary viewing area for spectators.
Organizers encourage the public to attend and experience the thrill of soaring up close.
