9) EXCELLENT SITE - The 52-acre LZ is easy to land in from any direction. The power lines are underground and the land is level and well groomed. Wind streamers and flags abound and are easily visible from 2,000 feet up. 

8) NEAT WILDLIFE - Soar with the eagles! Birds of prey find this area a fine place to hang out and they provide pilots with guidance as to where to find thermals. Bird watchers will find tons of other Florida bird species such as turkeys, whippoorwills and hawks. A trip to the ranch is not complete without an encounter with one of the slow-moving, docile, prehistoric-looking armadillos. Not wallabies. 

7) GOOD CAMPING - Pitch a tent and enjoy the wilderness 24 hours a day. Lie in a hammock under the Florida oaks. Take a shower whenever you like. 

6) INTERESTING PEOPLE - Wallaby Ranch draws people from everywhere. During the week I spent at the ranch I met people from England, Australia, Norway and Argentina. Take the "ranch hands" out for lunch sometime for some great fun. 

5) LOTS OF ACTIVITIES - When you aren't flying, you can take it easy on the deck by the pool. Kids love the ranch. In addition to the pool there's a trampoline, mini-bikes, ATV's and many other activities. Good restaurants are located just minutes away...(like WAFFLE House -yum, yum!). You'll never be bored at the ranch. 

4) TANDEM FLIGHTS - Don't have your aerotow rating? Malcolm will take you up for tandem flights morning or evening until you are adept at following the tug. This is definitely the easiest way to learn. 

3) GLIDER RENTALS - You can rent the latest gliders. Typically your first solo flight will be on a single-surface since they are easy to fly and I managed a 30 minute flight with one the first day. Then step up to an intermediate glider, and when you're ready, high-performance. The rental gliders are in excellent shape. 

2) YOUR FIRST THERMAL ON EACH FLIGHT IS A FREEBIE - Aerotowing has the great advantage of releasing you right in a thermal. The tug pilots, consistently towed me right to big, fat thermals and signaled when to release. 

1) EASY AIRTIME - Towing makes it convenient to get in a lot of flights without disassembling your glider. Just toss it on the dolly and roll it to the launch point. Conditions at the ranch are soarable most days of the year. 

Phil was a Novice pilot upon his arrival at the ranch in April, and he increased his airtime by 1200% in the one week he was there. (Phil likes the ranch!)