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The same way every other airplane does — it flies off the ground! The difference, of course, is how this is achieved:
- Aero tow. The glider is towed into the air behind another airplane. This is the most common method of launch, and is the type used most often at Sandhill. (Aero tow is also formation flying, giving "bragging rights" to the sailplane pilot so inclined.)
- Winch launch. The glider is rapidly pulled into the air on a long cable by a winch. Not as common as aero tow in the US, but widely used in other countries due to lower costs.
- Self-launch. For sailplanes with an auxiliary engine (motorgliders) it doesn't get any easier. This class of soaring aircraft is becoming increasingly popular for just this reason.
There are other methods for getting a glider airborne (towing behind a vehicle, for example, once a standard method of training pilots), but these are rarely seen today.