Bill is a retired international airline captain/ instructor pilot who's been teaching flying since 1978 and in gliders at Sky Sailing since 2019. He's earned his Diamond badge with 750 Diplome and holds a Master Cross Country Instructor designation from the SSA. Bill was awarded the FAA's Wright Brother's Master Pilot award for over 50 years of accident free flying, and has was the most active instructor in the SSA's ABC Badge program for Southern California in 2022 and 2023.

He flies his own ASG-29 and loves to fly wave and cross country. He wrote the book "Understanding Air France 447" about a 2009 Airbus Α330 accident and has written articles for Soaring Magazine and produces instrucional and soaring adventure videos on his youtube channel.
Youtube channel youtube.com/billpalmer
Website: TheSoaringPage.com

My first glider ride was an Intro flight at Sky Sailing as a gift from my wife on my 40th birthday (way back in 2001). Since then, I went on to get my PPL (Private Pilot's License) for Gliders, then added on power SEL (Single-Engine Land), followed by my Glider Commercial and Glider CFI ratings.

I have been competing and flying cross-county for fun for the last 23+ years. Currently at around 2000 hours in gliders and I own an 18-meter DG-800S, and a share of a 26.5-meter Nimbus-4D (two seater), and am building an RV-8 at home. I have all my SSA badges, from the ABC's up to all 3 Diamonds. SSA Master Cross County Instructor.

While I have countless memorable flight experiences, my three favorites are: -- being the first pilot to do a 1000k out and return from Warner Springs (#2 landed shortly after me) -- being the first (and so far only) pilot to fly from Warner Springs to Mt. Whitney and back -- getting to winch launch at Torrey Pines in 2009, and passing 65 different things of a dozen different types in the air during a single pass. Everything from gliders, to hang gliders, to paramotors, to parasails, to RC gliders, to kites, and even someone working with a Falcon.
Youtube channel youtube.com/cdeerinck

Jenna recently graduated with a Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Colorado in May 2025; although she's decided she loves flying so much, she'd rather be a professional pilot. That's what brings her out to Southern California as an instructor at Sky Sailing. She's currently working on her powered ratings to achieve that goal. Flying sailplanes is a true passion of Jenna's, and she's very excited to share that with all her future students. If you're interested to see her flights and soaring adventures, look her up on WeGlide and check out her Instagram (@jennacooper14).

Today, Kurt flies his ASW-20 and is actively developing his cross-country soaring skills. Kurt believes that when we challenge ourselves, we learn to master our fears and discover we can accomplish things in life we might never have thought possible.