The Albuquerque Soaring Club (ASC), established in 1960 in Albuquerque, New Mexico,
is currently headquartered at the Moriarty Municipal Airport located in Moriarty, New Mexico.
Moriarty is located in the heart of the Estancia Valley, 35 miles east of Albuquerque.
The club has approximately 80 active members, has two Piper Pawnee tow planes, four club gliders
including a Schweizer 2-33A, a Grob 103, a Schweizer 1-26E, and a Libelle 201. Club members also
own approximately 40 private ships ranging from 1-26s to a Duo-Discus.
Moriarty boasts some of the finest year round soaring conditions in the United States, including
15 knot thermals to 22,000 ft, mountain wave to 34,000 ft, and orographic lift off the Manzano, Sandia,
Ortiz, and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges. Many flights in excess of 300 miles are recorded each year.
ASC has hosted two SSA Conventions in 1991 and 2000, the 1996 National Standard Class Championships,
the 1995, 2005 & 2009 1-26 Association National Championships and two Region 9 Championships. The ASC also
heavily supported two Region 9 Super Regionals held in 2011 and 2012. At the 1995 1-26 Championships, the
highest contest speed ever recorded, 65 mph, over the longest task ever called, 138 mi., was set. Many
pilots have achieved all of their soaring diamonds out of Moriarty, including three pilot who earned all
three diamonds in 1-26s.
Moriarty airport is also home to the United States Southwest Soaring Museum,
and has a commercial glider operation, Sundance
Aviation.
The principal mission of the Albuquerque Soaring Club is to:
- Promote the sport of soaring
- Provide the facilities necessary to allow Albuquerque area glider rated
pilots the opportunity to soar
- Provide safe and reasonably priced equipment to it's members
- Provide ongoing training and education to it's members
- Provide for the growth of the ASC by recruiting and training new members
- Promote fellowship through club sponsored social events
- Be a "good neighbor" to the town of Moriarty and its residents
ASC 50 Year History (presented at the Feb 2010 by Renny Rozzoni)
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