Sarah Arnold

Sarah Arnold grew up on a farm in British Columbia, where, as a 13-year-old, she learned to fly in a single seat Quicksilver ultralight. She was instantly hooked, and thus began a lifelong passion for aviation.

In 2004, Sarah became the owner-operator of Chilhowee Gliderport in Benton, TN where she eventually met and married her husband Jason. Together they’ve worked to improve the airport, train a new generation of pilots, and host soaring camps, seminars, and contests. Sarah organized the 1st FAI Pan American Gliding Championships in 2015, and serves as treasurer on the US Team Committee. Sarah is a 2017 inductee of the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame, and will be enshrined in the US Soaring Hall of Fame in 2021.

Sarah’s first competition was the 2006 Perry Regionals with Charlie Spratt as CD. Five years later she won the Sports Class Nationals and earned a position on the US Soaring team in Club Class. She was the first woman to represent the United States at a WGC event in Argentina 2013.

Sarah maintains a take-no-prisoners attitude which has propelled her to repeated success in IGC category one competitions. Since 2013 she’s earned two bronze, one silver, and finally the coveted FAI gold medal for her 2020 WWGC Standard class win at Lake Keepit, Australia.