Gliding is an absorbing and fascinating sport which has many different facets: from the challenge of flying further and faster on a cross country flight to the tranquility and peace of a calm evening flight.  It is a sport which, regardless of your level of ability, can always offer new experiences, provide stimulating and demanding challenges and which can offer an unrivalled sense of personal achievement and satisfaction.

Who Can Learn?

It isn't difficult to learn to fly a glider, nor does it require any great physical strength or technical ability.  In fact, gliding is a sport which can be enjoyed by men and women, young and old alike.  Whilst 16 is the minimum age for flying solo, many youngsters start training well before their 16th birthday.  There is no maximum age limit - a number of our members started gliding after retirement and have gone onto become successful solo pilots.

Provided you are reasonably fit you can to learn to glide at any age, indeed people with a variety of physical disabilities have found it possible to take up gliding.  A declaration of medical fitness together with a GP's endorsement is, however, required from anyone wishing to undertake training, examples of conditions which may preclude you from flying are epilepsy, severe head injury, insulin dependent diabetes etc.

Basic Training 

All beginners follow a common syllabus which is laid down by the British Gliding Association.  You will find that learning to glide starts with your very first flights when your instructor will explain the glider’s basic controls and then let you take control as he talks you through the first simple manoeuvres.  Having mastered the basic handling exercises you will then progress onto launches, circuits and landings.  Training doesn’t just take place in the air though and on the ground you’ll quickly learn about airfield safety and launch point activities, whilst individual and group briefings will help you to gain a knowledge of airmanship, air law, meteorology, navigation and theory of flight.  

As you progress towards your first solo flight, your skill at handling the glider will develop rapidly, you’ll start to understand how to use the air’s natural energy and you’ll learn how to plan your flights to make best use of weather conditions.  As your judgment and decision making ability develop you’ll be allowed to take responsibility for an increasing number of aspects of your flights, until at last your big day comes and you take your first solo flight, an experience you will never forget!

It's very hard to say how many launches it will take for you to reach solo standard, it may be only 50 or so but then again it may take 150 or more.   It isn't just your aptitude that affects this - how frequently you fly, the amount of airtime you accrue during those flights and even your age are all very significant factors.  One thing we can guarantee however is that you won't be sent solo until you have successfully completed all the necessary exercises and your instructors are confident that you are ready and able to cope on your own. 

Flying Lists and Launch Point Activities

On a daily basis, priority amongst similar training flights is on a first come first served basis, so do make sure that you put your name on the flying list as soon as you arrive at the club.  As a  flying member this entitles you to one training session.  This will be made up of pre and post flight briefings and, dependent on the soaring conditions at the time of your flight and the stage you have reached in your training, either one soaring flight (up to 40 minutes duration) or two or three shorter flights.  Once you have flown you may wish to put your name on the list again and take a second session later in the day.

Whilst in the air gliding is very much a solitary sport focused on personal achievement and satisfaction, on the ground however, each pilot is highly dependent on others for help and, in between your flights, you will be expected to help others just as they help you.  It may seem quite daunting at first, but don't worry under the guidance of more experienced members you'll quickly learn about handling the launch cable, manoeuvring the gliders and other launch point activities.   Members take it in turns to carry out the key operational roles with a rota for flying instructors, winch drivers and launch point supervisors and assistants.

Solo and Beyond

Achieving solo standard, however, is merely scratching the surface and, as your newly acquired skills are developed and honed, you will find that there are still lots of additional ones to learn.  How to fly cross country, how to maximise the glider’s performance and understanding the vagaries of the weather to name but a few.  Advanced post solo training is available for all solo pilots flying with the Club and this serves the dual purpose of monitoring standards as well as offering constructive advice on improving techniques and developing additional skills.

There are British and International badge awards for gliding, most of which involve making flights of defined duration, distance and height gains.  Having carried out a number of solo flights, your next goal will be to complete the British Gliding Association's Bronze C badge and Cross Country Endorsement.   These are designed to check your accuracy of flying and to develop your Cross Country flying techniques.  You will need to carry out a minimum of 50 solo flights before applying for these qualifications which also require you to complete a number of soaring flights of specific duration (½, 1 and 2 hour flights), as well as practical and written tests.   Having attained these qualifications, you will then be able to work towards the internationally recognised Silver Badge which is awarded by the Federation Aeronautique International (FAI) and which comprises of a 5 hour flight, a 50 kilometre cross country flight and a climb of over 1000 metres.  And after you've completed your Silver badge, BGA Cross Country Diplomas, FAI Gold and Diamond badges, instructing and flying in national and international competitions ensure that there are still lots of challenges available should you wish to take them.

Not all glider pilots wish to participate in the sport at such a demanding level however and for many the thrill of gliding comes from simply enjoying the freedom of the sky and sharing their enthusiasm for the sport with like minded friends.  It's important to remember that Gliding is a sport which can offer an unrivalled sense of personal achievement and satisfaction at whatever level of participation you choose, whether it be soaring locally or flying further and faster as you compete against others.  It's up to you!