Academy glider lands on Colorado golf course

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) --  A U.S. Air Force Academy TG-15 glider landed safely on the Garden of the Gods Golf Course June 18 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The pilot, Cadet 1st Class Kurt Cloutier, landed the aircraft near the western-most hole of the golf course in a manner preventing injury to pedestrians and damage to private property. 

The course is currently closed for renovations and no civilians were in the area at the time of the landing. The Academy is located near the city of Colorado Springs.

Cadet Cloutier, an instructor pilot and a senior at the Academy, was the only person aboard the glider. Initial reports indicate he landed the glider because weather conditions caused a loss of lift, eliminating the possibility of returning to the Academy airfield.

The incident will be reviewed by officers at the Academy.

Since February 2006, the TG-15 has been the primary aircraft for the cadet cross-country advanced competition flying team. The TG-15 glider, known to civilian aviators as the "Discus," is available in single- and dual-seat models.

The Academy Soaring Program is designed to allow cadets to receive their first hands-on experience in a flying environment. Members of the 94th Flying Training Squadron execute all training associated with the soaring program, including basic soaring, instructor pilot upgrade and advanced soaring. The squadron flies more than 15,000 sorties a year, making it the largest and most active soaring operation in the United States. Sailplane training is designed as a leadership and motivational experience for the cadets. This is evident in the fact that 95 percent of the training is conducted by qualified cadet instructor pilots.

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