Originally Posted by
Heady1977
Does anyone know how I can experience a soaring flight to allow me to answer my nagging question? There doesn't seem to be a "soaring" experience option on any of the web-sites for any of the local glider clubs.
It's a bit difficult to advertise a "soaring experience" because of the variability of the weather. If you mean staying airborne for longer than a guaranteed 15 minutes then there either needs to be thermals or a hillside with a suitable wind blowing onto it. If you mean flying some distance cross-country (and out of range of the home gliding site) then the conditions need to be suitable to give a fair chance of making it back. It's not generally considered good form to take someone who doesn't have any gliding experience cross-country and land in a field. Likewise many people begin to feel motion sick on their first couple of flights of anything long than 20 minutes, so it's a good idea to not go too far away from the gliding site in case a hasty retreat is needed.
EDIT (after thinking about it!)
Booker GC, who I glide with, offers 1/2 and one day intro courses which will include soaring when conditions permit (try and stop the instructors form climbing in a good thermal!). This might suit your needs:
Here with Booker GC we offer a v
Also, the Club provides the ability for you to do an intro course and if you like it upgrade to a basic or intensive training package. Take a look at the link for details. It's a reasonably sized and friendly club (and I instruct there, so it can't be bad) and is located to the West of London at Wycom,be Air Park (near High Wycombe).