It all began in March 1962 when an ad was placed in the local newspaper looking for anyone interested in starting a glider club.  At that time, nobody even owned a glider.  CSS held their very first meeting at the Cleveland Engineering Society’s Flight Room on Chester Avenue in Cleveland.  Later that year, meetings were held in the Operation’s Bldg at Burke Lakefront Airport.  Over the years, CSS held meetings in a variety of homes, offices and restaurants.

A small group of interested individuals purchased a Schwiezer 1-26 and began to learn to fly off of a winch in Erie, Pa.  Many members drove several hours just to get a few minutes of flight time off of the winch, seldom getting over 1000 ft.   It was through those few dedicated members, that CSS began to develop into a true glider club. 

The Club later began operations in Lenox, Ohio, on a grass strip operated by two women.  They owned a Schweizer 2-22 and a J3 Cub with a 85 hp engine. (They currently   run a glider operation in Florida)  A 2000’ tow was usually a 15 minute ride and much better than the short 5-8 minutes previously experienced off the winch.

In 1964 a move was made to an airstrip west of Medina.  Twelve members bought a used 1-26 and another group of 14 members bought a new K7.  Unfortunately the K7 was short lived when it encountered some trees – thus ending the K7 group.

Over the years, this dedicated glider group moved from a variety of airports.  Many members felt our move in 1980 to the Chardon Airport (now closed)  was best 12 years for the club.  The airport offered three runways and the membership soely ran the operation.  After the closure of the airport, the club was forced to move and found its next home at the Geauga County Airport in Middlefield, Ohio.  After a few years and opportunity opened to move to Warren-Skeets Airport for a much wider grass runway.  Four years later, a move was made to Freedom Airport on Rt. 303, followed by a move three years later to its current home in 2003, Miller Airport in Alliance, Ohio.  To some, it might appear as though the glider club moves from location to location like a band of gypsies, but anyone with knowledge of airports knows that many circumstances such as excessive power traffic, narrow runways, and most of all, high rental fees can mandate such moves. 

The Club rents space in the huge hangar at Miller airport for its Bellanca Scout towplane.  It also utilizes the hangar for winter storage for its four (4) sailplanes, which include two Schweizer 2-33’s, a 1-26 and a Pilatus B4. The airport offers an east/west paved runway with grass strip alongside, as well as a grass north/south runway.  In addition, the club has its private offices upstairs above the airport restaurant.

Not only the excellent facilities, but the pristine farm fields and many recreational lakes make it a wonderful setting for a gliderport.

CSS is in its fourth season at Miller and has high hopes of it becoming it’s permanent home for many years to come. 

Joni Whitten, CSS Secretary/Treasurer

Updated

March, 2007