Goal 1) Winch launch solo
Goal 2) Silver C badge

This program will culminate in the graduating member completing their FAI Silver Badge.

Winch tow
The pilot will work with an instructor to learn skill required to attain solo winch launch sign-off. Besides being a wonderful, and inexpensive launch method, the winch also is excellent in teaching anticipation and response to stress and teach emergency procedures such as simulated and real rope breaks. It also is an excellent inexpensive way to gain more experience in pattern and landing practice. This winch-launch solo provides a milepost that has an exciting goal and requires another level of skill beyond solo flight.

Cross-country program
The FAI Silver badge requirements are designed to introduce the inexperienced pilot to the delights of cross country soaring. Each Finger Lakes edgling will learn to fly the 1-26 cross country under the tutelage of an experienced cross-country mentor. The 1-26 is the ideal sailplane for learning cross-country flight because it is rugged, safe, and it can be "landed on a dime" by a skilled pilot. The Finger Lakes Soaring Club is indeed fortunate to be based at Dansville. The airport is nestled in a beautiful wide valley, it has long and wide runways, and it has minimal power traffic, which makes it ideal for launch either by winch or aero tow. The Dansville area is ideal for cross country flying, the topography makes navigation easy, the density of small airports distributed around the area make off-field landing rare, and the abundance of open fields make for safe off-field landings, even in fully-grown oats.

The Soaring 101 program attempts to stimulate cross country soaring by emulating the successful mentoring programs taught previously by Kai Gertsen and John Seymour. Each year the FLSC will recognise the edglings achieving the longest goal flight and the longest distance flight flying using the 1-26. This program will culminate in the graduating member completing their FAI Silver Badge.

The FAI Silver Badge requirements are
1) Silver altitude gain is a 1,000meter (3281ft) altitude gain above an in-flight low point.
2) Silver duration is a 5 hour fligth after tow release.
3) Silver distance is a 50 km, (31.07 sm) cross country flight.

The syllabus of the cross-country component of the Soaring 101 program includes the following:
1) Off-field landing selection practice in the Citabria
2) Off field experience by requiring landing with an instructor at a small airport.
3) Demonstrate spot landing the 1-26 at KDSV with use of slipping turns and forward slips to stop within a minimum distance of a cone. This will be a challenging requirement to improve this crucial skill.
4) Proven ability to read maps, navigation, weather sensitivity and evaluation.
5) Proven skill at soaring with an instructor in a two seat glider. Preferably this will be done in the Blanik L13 or Bergfalke to better match the capabilities of the 1-26. Demonstrate ability to estimate gliding range etc.  The student must have demonstrated five >one-hour duration soaring flights in the 1-26 prior to being released for a  xc flight.
6) Once you have demonstrated adequate skill in the above then you will be required to plan, organize, and make your first solo xc flight in the 1-26 to an airport within about 20 m of KDSV, or to off-field landing if they fail to achieve their goal. Preferably the goal will be an airport where retrieve can be by aero tow or arrange for a retrieve crew.

The Silver Badge will introduce you in a safe way to the pinnacle of soaring flight. It also is a prerequisite for being allowed to use the Grob and Pegasus for cross country flight.