Skylark North

Skylark North is a glider flight school offering sailplane flying lessons, glider services, and introductory rides. Its FAA Certified commercial pilots and instructors perform glider flight training for civilians as well as U.S. military personnel. In fact, many branches of the armed services conduct their primary instruction in sailplanes. Skylark North has a training contract with the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, providing lessons for nearly all of the NASA Space Shuttle pilots who have come from the Air Force.

Skylark North's location in Tehachapi takes full advantage of the lift effects of the area, which is in close proximity to the junction of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Tehachapi Mountains and the Mojave Desert. The constant breezes here are highly advantageous for soaring.

A number of different aircraft are used, including a Schleicher ASK-21, a Grob G 103 Twin Astir, and two Schweizer SGS 2-33 sailplanes. These gliders typically descend at a rate of about 100 to 300 feet every minute, but they can utilize wind currents to stay up for long periods of time and cover great distances without using gas or oil.

Skylark North is located at the Mountain Valley Airport-L94. The address is 16334 Harris Road, Tehachapi, California 93561-6324. It is open for business on Wednesday through Monday, all year round; closed on Tuesdays.