Yes Chris ...
I think the air law one was a club thing ... but you certainly had to pass all the exams for bronze C. I flew gliders in Germany too where they have licences but no insistance was given to pass any exams before flying, which as a UK non licence holder always puzzled me. So I guess the law regarding gliders in other countries is a bit uncertain too.
Things have certainly changed though as I found out when I went gliding with the flyer list a couple of years ago ... there I was waggleing my fingers for "take up slack" and "all out", to be told ... "Oh we don't do that anymore"
I dread to think how the new regs will effect things when (if) they come in.
Some things don't change however, gliding or better still soaring is still a wonderful way to fly and if anybody here hasn't tried it ... they really must! It's like sail boats compared to power boats ... but more so! Nothing ... and I mean nothing! in flying compares to the buzz of setting off cross country knowing that only your skill and a certain amount of luck will decide wether you reach your goal! LONG MAY THE BGA AND FREEDOM OF SELF REGULATED GLIDING IN THE UK SURVIVE OVER TIN POT POLITICS OF EUROLAND!!!
SS