GLIDING |
Soaring amongst the clouds |
When I am not travelling in far-flung places, or working to pay to travel to far-flung places, and I have a pass from my wife, this is where I will be.
A few things you might not know about gliding:
| Just before take off in an ASH25 |
How much does it cost to learn?
- Annual subscriptions for gliding clubs are in the range £200 - £400.
- Winch launches in a training aircraft are in the range £5-£7. Typically this includes the launch and the first 10 minutes of soaring. Instruction is usually free.
- Aerowtow launches are more expensive, typically £20 to 2000'.
- Typically, it takes 50-80 winch launches to go solo.
- Many clubs do a fixed price to solo package for around £500 (good value)
| Climbing on a winch launch |
Why gliding is better than power flying
| At 3000' over the river Severn |
Getting started
There are numerous gliding sites dotted around the country, from the north of Scotland to the Isle of Wight. You can find your nearest club from the BGA website (see links sections below). If you want to try before you buy, most clubs offer a trial lesson for between £30 and £60, depending on whether they use winch or aerotow launches. Some clubs offer one day courses for ~£150 - this is probably a better way to gain an appreciation of what gliding is all about. During the summer, many clubs also offer week long holiday courses - these are also a good way to get started.| Hunting for wave lift at 4000' |
British Gliding Association www.gliding.co.uk
Cotswold Gliding Club (best club in the country!) www.cotswoldgliding.co.uk
Glider Pilot Network (adverts, gliding chat) www.gliderpilot.net
WeatherJack (weather forecasts for glider pilots) www.itadvice.co.uk/weatherjack/STARS.htm
Extreme Gliding (wow wee photos from around the world) www.extremegliding.com
| Waiting for first launch in a gliding competition |
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| © All text and photos copyright Tim Barnes 2004 |