About to start gliding lessons
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About to start gliding lessons
Hi,
I am new to this sport, although I have been interested in aviation all my life. I am joining my local Gliding club after Christmas to begin my new hobby and can't wait!!
Can anybody here suggest anything I might need to buy (equipment, books etc) wise in advance? Only with Christmas coming up people keep asking me what I want/need for presents!
Many thanks!
I am new to this sport, although I have been interested in aviation all my life. I am joining my local Gliding club after Christmas to begin my new hobby and can't wait!!
Can anybody here suggest anything I might need to buy (equipment, books etc) wise in advance? Only with Christmas coming up people keep asking me what I want/need for presents!
Many thanks!
And an alarm clock to make sure that you get there in time to fly before it gets dark again.
Actually, it was a long time ago, but I learnt in the Winter and most of my fellow students were just as mad as me. We had a great time together. It was interesting how the spirit of the launch point changed as soon as the warmer weather arrived.
Actually, it was a long time ago, but I learnt in the Winter and most of my fellow students were just as mad as me. We had a great time together. It was interesting how the spirit of the launch point changed as soon as the warmer weather arrived.
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Thermal underwear. And good boots.
Good choice of hobby. It really is an excellent sport.
Hope you enjoy it.
Good luck.
A few books perhaps. I see the BGA handbook is there and a book by Derek Piggott, one of the oldest names in the game.
Amazon.co.uk: gliding
Good choice of hobby. It really is an excellent sport.
Hope you enjoy it.
Good luck.
A few books perhaps. I see the BGA handbook is there and a book by Derek Piggott, one of the oldest names in the game.
Amazon.co.uk: gliding
Log book.
Second the warm clothing - also recommend wrap-around shades / clear glasses to protect your eyes from the wind.
A shooting stick can be very handy for hanging around the launch point when you can't sit on the grass!
FBW
Second the warm clothing - also recommend wrap-around shades / clear glasses to protect your eyes from the wind.
A shooting stick can be very handy for hanging around the launch point when you can't sit on the grass!
FBW
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"Beginning Gliding" by Derek Piggot is a must. Get one from Santa and by the New Year your enthusiasm will be boiling over.
I spent many happy years standing around the launch point all day in cold freezing conditions to manage a 10 minute flight every weekend!! Eventually bought into a syndicate Pilatus B4 then spent 30 minutes at launch point for 5 hours flying per day!!.............a great way to get into flying and far better than worrying about an engine in the front....enjoy
I spent many happy years standing around the launch point all day in cold freezing conditions to manage a 10 minute flight every weekend!! Eventually bought into a syndicate Pilatus B4 then spent 30 minutes at launch point for 5 hours flying per day!!.............a great way to get into flying and far better than worrying about an engine in the front....enjoy
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Any of the Piggott books are good but my recommendation would be Gliding, A Handbook on Soaring Flight as it goes beyond the pre-solo stuff.
A subscription to Sailplane & Gliding gives you an idea of gliding post solo (and has lots of pretty pictures.).
A subscription to Sailplane & Gliding gives you an idea of gliding post solo (and has lots of pretty pictures.).
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Second the good boots. Waterproof preferably. And a pair of very light sneakers for the moment you actually get into the aircraft. Personally I prefer a pair of zip-the-legs-off outdoor trousers, t-shirt or polo shirt and a windbreaker fleece. No points are awarded for clothing style in the gliding scene!
Bring a backpack with the stuff you need throughout the day (lunch, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat or cap, warm clothing, book, you name it). There is usually no opportunity to get back to the clubhouse to fetch stuff throughout the day unless you fancy a long walk.
A logbook and a pen is necessary but make sure you get the correct one. (The logbook that is - normally any pen will do.) The club can advise. (On the logbook.)
And for the rest, bring patience. What you'll find is that there's one instructor and one plane for each three to five students or so. You'll be spending a lot of time on the ground and during that time are supposed to help hook up the aircraft to be launched, and retrieve the aircraft from the landing field. Do get a proper briefing before you join in those activities though!
Bring a backpack with the stuff you need throughout the day (lunch, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat or cap, warm clothing, book, you name it). There is usually no opportunity to get back to the clubhouse to fetch stuff throughout the day unless you fancy a long walk.
A logbook and a pen is necessary but make sure you get the correct one. (The logbook that is - normally any pen will do.) The club can advise. (On the logbook.)
And for the rest, bring patience. What you'll find is that there's one instructor and one plane for each three to five students or so. You'll be spending a lot of time on the ground and during that time are supposed to help hook up the aircraft to be launched, and retrieve the aircraft from the landing field. Do get a proper briefing before you join in those activities though!
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I have a camelbak! Great to use in flight as it can be put behond your seat and the tube sits on top of your chute. Also holds a lot of liquid so good at the launchpoint too!
Have a great time in this wonderful sport!
Have a great time in this wonderful sport!
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Thanks for all the constructive replies, I really appreciate it as there does seem to be a lot to take in and learn!
BackPacker, you mention I should ensure I get the correct log book, I didn't realise there were different types!
All, thanks for the advise on books, I'll look into the ones you have recommended and make sure Santa brings one or two!
BackPacker, you mention I should ensure I get the correct log book, I didn't realise there were different types!
All, thanks for the advise on books, I'll look into the ones you have recommended and make sure Santa brings one or two!
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Well, the legal requirement is that you log your hours. Aerodrome, take-off time, landing time, aircraft type, class, callsign, flight conditions, the capacity you acted in and possibly a few more bits and pieces. How you do that is technically your responsibility. But people seem to be very picky about your logbook style and will point out that you've got the "wrong" one.
The flight school I went to sold me one of those "professional" flying logbooks with enough pages and columns to last me a lifetime and then some. Caused quite a few looks at the motor flying club and the gliding flying club who use a more "compact" form. On the other hand - I've got all my hours in one place with room to spare.
The flight school I went to sold me one of those "professional" flying logbooks with enough pages and columns to last me a lifetime and then some. Caused quite a few looks at the motor flying club and the gliding flying club who use a more "compact" form. On the other hand - I've got all my hours in one place with room to spare.
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You just need a BGA log book for UK gliding. The club will most likely have them available when you get there. Otherwise you can get one from the BGA shop @ £4
British Gliding Association - Online Shop
Heated insoles for boots are a great investment.
Have fun!
Alastair
British Gliding Association - Online Shop
Heated insoles for boots are a great investment.
Have fun!
Alastair
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The paperback British Gliding Association logbook is fine. Tip though is to keep it between hard covers (e.g. the cover off an old hardback A3 diary) because otherwise your first logbook will end up looking very tatty - reason being that you need to carry it around pre-solo as the instructors generally like to write-up your daily progress. This is an aid (or warning!) to your next instructor.
Welcome to gliding
Welcome to gliding
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Ahh I see ok thanks for the tip. I've spoken with the club and they have told me they will provide me with a joining pack which includes a log book so it looks like I don't need to worry about that.
Can't wait to start now!
Can't wait to start now!
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Don't forget these
Hi Chillindan,
One thing no one else has mentioned; all leather industrial gloves. This is for two reasons.
1) If you are going to work a cable launch site, you will have to heave steel cables about the place. These are heavy and have to be pulled hard. Cable wire invariably has strands with sharp loose ends which can scratch your hands quite badly when you get hold of the cable and start to pull.
2) Likewise, when towing a glider back or forth between the hangar and the launch point, if you are wingman during the tow then your hands will be exposed to the wind all the way to the launch point. This trek has to take place at walking pace and can easily take twenty-five minutes.
People have mentioned warm and waterproof clothing. I would agree, but add that this needs to be old clothing. With most gliders, you have to lie on your back to connect the cable, so you don't want to be lying in the mud in your best new Goretex waterproof or fleece.
I would also suggest that you check with the club whether your boots need to have a definite sole and heel, rather than the straight through combined sole/heel unit currently used in climbing/walking boots. This is because you will probably also have to drive a tractor when towing gliders and you don't want your foot slipping off the clutch or brake pedals at the wrong moment.
Have a good time!
Broomstick.
One thing no one else has mentioned; all leather industrial gloves. This is for two reasons.
1) If you are going to work a cable launch site, you will have to heave steel cables about the place. These are heavy and have to be pulled hard. Cable wire invariably has strands with sharp loose ends which can scratch your hands quite badly when you get hold of the cable and start to pull.
2) Likewise, when towing a glider back or forth between the hangar and the launch point, if you are wingman during the tow then your hands will be exposed to the wind all the way to the launch point. This trek has to take place at walking pace and can easily take twenty-five minutes.
People have mentioned warm and waterproof clothing. I would agree, but add that this needs to be old clothing. With most gliders, you have to lie on your back to connect the cable, so you don't want to be lying in the mud in your best new Goretex waterproof or fleece.
I would also suggest that you check with the club whether your boots need to have a definite sole and heel, rather than the straight through combined sole/heel unit currently used in climbing/walking boots. This is because you will probably also have to drive a tractor when towing gliders and you don't want your foot slipping off the clutch or brake pedals at the wrong moment.
Have a good time!
Broomstick.
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A boiler suit keeps you clean and is nice and warm - especially when oily. Wear an ex-RAF flying suit and the p*** will most likely be taken!
Cotton Traders do a boot with the bottom half welly boot and the top half sort of fur lined flying boot. They fit better than wellies and are much warmer.
Cotton Traders do a boot with the bottom half welly boot and the top half sort of fur lined flying boot. They fit better than wellies and are much warmer.
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Thanks again, I've added strong leather gloves to my wish list..
Something like these?
DeWalt Tools Leather Palm Rigger Gloves Large Riggers on eBay (end time 30-Nov-09 10:01:49 GMT)
Something like these?
DeWalt Tools Leather Palm Rigger Gloves Large Riggers on eBay (end time 30-Nov-09 10:01:49 GMT)
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Personally I would not add expensive leather gloves to my list just yet. The gliding club I was used some sort of mylar/dyneema/whatever rope which could easily be handled safely with your bare hands.
Wait and see what type of cable is in use, and what others are wearing. Perhaps bare hands are OK, perhaps just a pair of cheap work gloves from the DIY store.
If the weather gets cold, a pair of windbraker fleece gloves with some rubber pieces for grip may work just as well. They will certainly suffice for the trek from the hangar to the launch point.
Wait and see what type of cable is in use, and what others are wearing. Perhaps bare hands are OK, perhaps just a pair of cheap work gloves from the DIY store.
If the weather gets cold, a pair of windbraker fleece gloves with some rubber pieces for grip may work just as well. They will certainly suffice for the trek from the hangar to the launch point.
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Full fingered cycling gloves with rubber grip bits on the fingers and palm are best. A good combination of warmth, windproof, grip and feel.
There's no reason why you, as a beginner, should be handling lots of steel cable.
There's no reason why you, as a beginner, should be handling lots of steel cable.
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And you'll need a silly, frilly hat.
Mens - Hats & accessories - Beanie/Bucket Hat - It's a wing thing - Gliding clothing & flying toys
This is a serious post.
Mens - Hats & accessories - Beanie/Bucket Hat - It's a wing thing - Gliding clothing & flying toys
This is a serious post.