Fly
Just Show Up.
There is no enrollment, no membership requirement, no medical certificate, no age minimum, no charge for the instruction itself. Walk onto our grass strip on a fly day, ask for the crew chief, and if conditions allow — you fly. This page tells you everything to expect on the day you do.
A working airfield. A friendly crew. A real flight.
When you arrive, you’ll find a grass strip, a couple of hangars, a small group of volunteers, and an aircraft already being prepared for the day. This is not a flight school with a counter and a waiting room — it’s a working operation run by people who love teaching this. The crew chief will introduce you, show you around, and put you to work or in the air depending on conditions.
You’ll Meet the Crew
The crew chief sets the pace for the day. Instructors, ground crew, and other students will introduce themselves. Everyone here volunteers their time. Everyone is genuinely glad to see a new face on the field.
You’ll See How It Works
Pre-flight inspection, tow plane setup, launch sequence, glider in the air, recovery and retrieve. You’ll watch the whole cycle before youre in the cockpit yourself.
You’ll Get in the Air
Weather permitting, you’ll fly. A certified instructor in the back seat, you in the front, hands on the controls from takeoff to landing. Typical first flights run 20 to 30 minutes aloft.
Fly days. Weather permitting.
We fly on weekends when the weather cooperates. Texas weather doesnt always cooperate — high winds, low ceilings, and summer storms all ground the operation. Before you make the drive to Cresson, check in with us. We’ll tell you honestly whether it’s a flying day.
A grass airfield in Texas. Dress accordingly.
No special equipment. No flight bag. No headset. Wear what you would wear to work in a yard or walk a trail. The crew will provide everything aviation-related.
- Closed-toe shoes — the field is grass, not concrete
- Long pants — grass, dust, occasional grease
- Sunglasses and a hat — the Texas sun is real
- Water bottle — summer days run long and hot
- Sunscreen — you will be outside for hours
- Snack or light lunch — the field is not near food
- A camera or phone — you’ll want photos of your first flight
- An open afternoon — we don’t rush flying
Honest pricing. No surprises.
Brazos River Soaring Association is a volunteer-run nonprofit. Instructors donate their time. Members pay dues that cover the fixed costs of keeping the operation alive. The only per-flight expense is the tow plane — fuel, maintenance, and the pilot’s time. That cost is shared at-cost with visitors.
Instruction
Free. Every certified flight instructor on the field volunteers their time. There is no charge for the lesson itself, ever — first flight, dual instruction, or check ride preparation.
Tow Plane
At cost. The Super Cub burns fuel and the pilot deserves a small honorarium for the time. The current tow cost is posted at the field and is well below commercial rates.
Membership
Optional for visitors. If you decide to come back regularly, annual dues support the operation and unlock unlimited fly-day access. There is no obligation to join after a first flight.
Gliders run on volunteer hours, not tuition.
Every dollar that doesnt go to gas or maintenance goes back into the fleet. There is no profit motive here. There is no recruitment quota. We do this because aviation needs the next generation and the next generation needs a way in.
First-flight questions, answered.
Northeast of Cresson, Texas.
A 3,000-foot grass strip in North Texas, about an hour southwest of downtown Fort Worth and a short drive from Granbury. The exact directions and gate access are sent when you confirm a visit — rural Texas airfields don’t always show up cleanly on map apps.
Always contact us first to confirm the day is on. Weather, aircraft availability, and crew scheduling all affect whether we’re flying. A short message ahead saves you a long drive for nothing.
There is no signup. There is no commitment.
There is just a grass strip and a sky.
Reach out when you’re ready. We’ll get you on the schedule for the next workable weekend and answer any question this page didn’t. The first flight is yours whenever you want to take it.