My brief spell in the world of gliding was coloured by being used as 'launch fodder' for the club pilots. I think it was three complete dawn to dusk 2-day weekends at the club before I even got airborne! After that, the ratio of retrieve / cable tractor driving / general dogsbody to flying training convinced me slavery had not been abolished.
Even if you got a high place on the 'flying draw' for studes at 7am (having left home at silly-o'clock or kipped in the bunkhouse overnight), if it turned out to be a good day the instructors went soaring!
I stuck it for a while in the hills, realised it was me being the fool here, then left and got a PPL in 6 months down on the plain at Barton.
Never looked back!
I'm told it's not like that now. But leopards, spots, etc.....
