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How many hours of glider flight time does a sport pilot glider certificate need without prior heavier-than-air time?

10 hours in a glider.

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  1. 3 hours
  2. 20 hours
  3. 10 hours ✔

Why: Without 20 hours in a heavier-than-air aircraft, a glider sport pilot needs 10 hours of glider flight time. With that experience the minimum drops to 3 hours.

Huh, didn't know that: Both paths require at least three training flights with an instructor.

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References

Answer: 10 hours. Without 20 hours in a heavier-than-air aircraft, a glider sport pilot needs 10 hours of glider flight time. With that experience the minimum drops to 3 hours.

  1. 14 CFR 61.313, Sport pilot aeronautical experience (eCFR) www.ecfr.gov/api/renderer/v1/content/enhanced/current/title-14?part=61&section=61.313
    Glider category privileges, and you have not logged at least 20 hours of flight time in a heavier-than-air aircraft, 10 hours of flight time in a glider
    Checked 2026-10-11.

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