I had been planning a return to the Birdeye Gravel Festival in Birdeye, Arkansas, all year, but last week I got a surprise message from event organizer Ammen Jordan. He invited me to experience the Arkansas Delta from an entirely new perspective — about 2,500 feet in the air.
I’ve spent years exploring the Delta on two wheels and four, visiting friends, state parks, and soaking in the region’s unique blend of history, farmland, and river landscapes. But this time, instead of a truck or a bike, I’d be taking to the sky.
Breaking My Own Rule
At Arkansas Outside, I try to stick to human-powered adventures, or at least those that don’t rely on an engine. Sure, I’ve made exceptions for e-bikes or the occasional mention of the vehicles that get us to the trailhead, but this was something entirely different.
On Friday, I tried soaring, flying a glider without an engine, relying solely on rising air currents to maintain and gain altitude. The process begins with a tow plane that pulls the glider to a set height. Once there, the tow line is released, and the pilot uses different types of lift, thermals, ridge lift, and wave lift, to stay aloft. My pilot chose to release us just above the cloud base, around 2,500 feet.
A Peaceful Rollercoaster in the Sky
The overcast sky meant the thermals weren’t ideal, so we kept it short, about a 20-minute flight. Still, the experience was unforgettable. Once detached from the tow plane, the glider banked, dove, and rose gracefully, much like a rollercoaster without the noise or jolts. The pilot adjusted the ride’s intensity to match my comfort level, and throughout the flight, I felt completely safe and surprisingly serene.
From above, it was fascinating to drift silently over solar farms and glimpse distant wind turbines. The irony of soaring in a powerless plane over sources of renewable energy wasn’t lost on me.
The Memphis Soaring Society
The flight took place with the Memphis Soaring Society, based in Cherry Valley, Arkansas. The club offers training, test flights, and memberships for anyone curious about learning to glide. Originally located closer to Memphis, they moved west due to increasing air traffic in the city. They are one of the oldest continually active soaring clubs in the country having formed in 1947.
The club currently operates two gliders for test flights and instruction. If you’re looking for a new kind of adventure, one that’s quiet, graceful, and a little out of the ordinary, this is worth checking out.
You can find more information, including contact details and scheduling, on the Memphis Soaring Club website.
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This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens—thank you for supporting our work!
