Albuquerque Soaring Club (ASC), established in 1960 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is currently headquartered at Moriarty Airport, Moriarty, New Mexico in the heart of the Estancia Valley, 35 miles east of Albuquerque. The club has approximately 70 active members, has two Piper Pawnee tow planes, five club ships including a Schweizer 2-33A, a Grob 103, a Schweizer 1-26E, a Libelle 201, and a Grob Astir, and has about 40 private ships ranging from 1-26s to ASW 27s.

Moriarty boasts some of the finest year round soaring conditions in the United States, including 15 knot thermals to 22,000 ft, mountain wave to 34,000 ft, and orographic lift off the Manzano, Sandia, Ortiz, and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges. Many flights in excess of 250 miles are recorded each year.

ASC has hosted two SSA Conventions in 1991 and 2000, the 1996 National Standard Class Championships, the 1995 and 2005 1-26 Association National Championships, and two Region 9 Championships. At the 1995 1-26 Championships, the highest contest speed ever recorded, 65 mph, over the longest task ever called, 138 mi., was set. Many pilots have achieved all their soaring diamonds out of Moriarty, including three in 1-26s.

Moriarty airport is also the home the newly formed United States Southwest Soaring Museum, and has a commercial glider operation, Sundance Aviation.

The principal mission of the Albuquerque Soaring Club is to:

• Promote the sport of soaring
• Provide the facilities necessary to allow Albuquerque area glider rated pilots the opportunity to soar
• Provide safe and reasonably priced equipment to it's members
• Provide ongoing training and education to it's members
• Provide for the growth of the ASC by recruiting and training new members
• Promote fellowship through club sponsored social events
• Be a "good neighbor" to the town of Moriarty and its residents

ASC Brief History (presented at the Jan 2003 Banquet by Ken Harper)