In 1937 the ChicagoLand Glider Council was formed with the charter

"To organize under the name of the "Chicagoland Glider Council" a group of active glider clubs and individuals interested in the promotion and development of Motorless Flight in this territory. The territory of Chicagoland is spoken of as the area within an approximate radius of 150 miles from Chicago, Illinois."

Northern Illnois has been home to soaring and gliding pilots for over 100 years. From Chanute's and Herring's glider flights in 1896 to the areas clubs and commercial operations of today, Chicago area residents have seen it all. The ChicagoLand Glider Council is one of the oldest soaring organizations in the United States having been formed in 1937.

Come and explore this rich history of soaring in the midwest. The history of the Glider Council from it's founding in 1937 to the present day has been compiled by Simine Short. Other newspaper articles from the 1890's can be found by clicking on the sidebar Historical Artilces link. Explore the other links on this page and discover the extent of current events, attend one of our monthly meeting, or visit your nearest Chicago area soaring site and take a ride that will change your life.

The CLGC is an umbrella organizations that unites all the glider clubs and commercial operators in the greater Chicago area. The council has been the proud sponsor of two (2) national SSA conventions (1979 and 1994) and numerous Regional contests (the recent 1999 Region 7 contest held at Chicago Glider Club and Hinckley). We hold monthly meetings during the winter months (October to April) to discuss soaring, safety and other issues. During the rest of the year, we have fun flying our sailplanes for badges and local contests.