Welcome to the Sports Aviation Foundation

Our Mission

The purpose of the Sports Aviation Foundation is to provide educational opportunities for youth and sports aviation pilots, preserve aviation heritage, and foster national and international aviation sports. Its activities and projects will strive to stimulate the economic vitality of the local and world aviation communities in a complex that will exemplify the latest in ecological and environmental advancements.

6th Grade Aviation Education Days, 2016

The 6th grade aviation education days were held May 4, 5, 11, and 12. The purpose of the event is to encourage awareness and involvement in the learning and activities of Aviation. We invited all the 6th graders from Douglas County Elementary Schools to visit Minden Tahoe Airport to give a brief introduction to aviation and the airport and to encourage interested students to come back for more. Click HERE for more information. More pictures are available in our Photo Gallery.

Aviation Education Days for 2016

2016 Annual Banquet a Success!

75 people attended the annual meeting and banquet hosted by SAF and Soaring NV with special guest speaker Sean D Tucker at the Carson Valley Inn in Minden, Nevada. Mike Bradford emceed the event with other guest speakers including Laurie Ricardi, Don Dixon, and a report from the Perlan Project.

Local Projects Supported by SAF

Minden Build-A-Plane Project

Visit the Minden Build-A-Plane Project to learn about a local youth program promoting aviation with hands on experience building a Murphy Elite kit airplane.

The Perlan Project

The Perlan 2, designed to fly to 90,000 feet

In January the Perlan Project hosted the Minden Build-A-Plane students to bring together students and cutting edge aviation technology. During the session the students and their parents were able to see the Perlan 2 and ask questions about the program and plane to one of the pilots who will take the plane to South America and up into the stratosphere.

 Check out pictures from other Sports Aviation Foundation supported events  in our Photo Gallery

Carson Valley’s Rich Aviation History

The Sports Aviation Foundation was created in November of 2011 as the Minden-Tahoe Airport’s segment of the Douglas Economic Vitality Program.  We are a 501(c) 3 non-profit Foundation; a very young organization, still evolving at the Airport and in the Community.   There are three main components of the Foundation to enhance safety, economic vitality, aviation heritage, and excite our youth in the fields of math and science.  These three main areas are the International Soaring Complex, the Aviation Heritage Display and Memorial Garden, and the Annual Minden-Tahoe Airport Fly In and Round-Up.

The Board of the Sports Aviation Foundation understands the rich heritage and history of aviation in the Carson Valley. In a much focused effort to preserve the history and promote flying with youth and others the concept of this development project was born.  As one of the top three locations in the world for amazing and record setting glider flights the Minden-Tahoe Airport is the best location to construct this facility. Sport flying continues to grow throughout the country and this Heritage Display complex will be one of the first to showcase their contribution to the aviation industry.  The unique 80,000 square foot environmentally sensitive structure will include training areas, classrooms, offices, gift shop and snack bar. Outside a memorial garden will be developed providing honor and recognition to the pioneers and leaders within soaring and sport aviation activities. Douglas County has embraced this project and will allow it to reside on the airport for all interested persons to enjoy for years to come. Many leaders within the community have publicly stated their strong support and recognize the international scope of the project.

2015 Letter to Members