Any glider pilots here?

[UAV689]

Where you based? Try anglia gliding club near stowmarket, probably one of the best fleets around, cheap and quite a mixed crowd of oldies and young

[mary meagher]

Actually, if I were you, I would NOT visit the Cambridge club, or any other, on a fireworks/bonfire party....reason being they will all know each other but you would be just another stranger there for the party....

Best thing is to turn up EARLY MORNING - before 9 am, on a weekend when good weather is forecast, and HELP GET THE GLIDERS OUT! That way you can really find out what the locals are like. Furthermore, you will make a good impression.

But if you have not handled aircraft before, ask those in charge for advice; ie, don't push on trailing edge of wings, always walk around wings, never step over them, only one person to hold the wingtip to guide the glider, etc etc. It is easy to damage an aircraft when winkling it out of a crowded hangar. Once it is in the open, you come in handy, learning to hold the wingtip, drive retrieve vehicles, and so on. Always keep your eyes open for airfield traffic, don't walk or drive across approach or takeoff paths, beware of winch cables, propellors, etc.

And at the end of the day, buy your instructor a beer.....

[cats_five]

As said before, use the BGA website to look for clubs and think about when you can fly when deciding which one(s) to visit. Don't look at the distance, look at the travel time and if it's likely to be affected on busy holiday weekends. Some clubs have good facilities to stay overnight which can reduce the travelling if you are flying on two (or more) consecutive days.

Don't just turn up, ring, find out when a good time to turn up to have a look round is.

Bicester (Windrushers) is a good club, so is Husbands Bosworth which is just south of Leicester.

[Roooob]

Thanks guys. Just a few more questions-

How do clubs actually work? I know you don't just turn up, fly and go home. So lets say you turned up at your club on Saturday. Do you just stick your name on a list, then sit in the bar until it's your turn to fly (and occasionally help recovering gliders)? Or is there more to it?

Also, how many flights would you get a day? Are we talking one flight, 3 flights, or as many as you want?

And last question, how much does it roughly cost to learn? I assume it's more than normal if you're going to have an instructor with you?

Oh wait, last last question- how long do your flights last (lets say for a general winter flight). Are we talking 5 minutes, 20 minutes, an hour?

Thanks!

[Benjybh]

How do clubs actually work? I know you don't just turn up, fly and go home. So lets say you turned up at your club on Saturday. Do you just stick your name on a list, then sit in the bar until it's your turn to fly (and occasionally help recovering gliders)? Or is there more to it?

Generally speaking, you're expected to be on the airfield when you're not flying. To launch one glider you need a lot of people on the ground: A winch driver, wing-runner, a retrieve winch/cable driver, a couple of people to move you around on the launchpoint.

I think the general consensus - at least at my club - is that you either help get the kit out in the morning and help on the airfield all day and head back a bit earlier, or arrive a bit later and help put the kit away in the evening. If you do both, more the better.

In terms of how the flying works, for instruction and check flights, it will probably be best to call ahead to check availability. My club uses an online rota/timetable and an online booking system which makes life easier.

Once you're solo and want to fly the club single-seaters, then usually the 'Flying List' system operates. Basically, you all put your names down on the list, and fly in that order throughout the day. Once you get to the bottom of the list, start again.

Also, how many flights would you get a day? Are we talking one flight, 3 flights, or as many as you want?

Entirely depends on the weather. In the warmer months you might only get one flight of an hour or two, but in the winter you might get five or six circuits. Obviously the fewer people there are wanting instruction, the more you'll get - another reason why learning to fly in the winter is good.

And last question, how much does it roughly cost to learn? I assume it's more than normal if you're going to have an instructor with you?

Depends upon if you're any good or not. At a guess it would take maybe 50 or so winch launches 'on average'? I soloed off 21 aerotow launches, and then resoloed again after a four-year layoff after 32 winch launches (having never flown a winch before). Other people will have done it in more, or less.

Expenses are generally split into three categories:

Membership
Launches
Flying Fees

You'll need to look at the fees list of whatever club you're going to fly at. Most operate a 'pence per minute' system for flying fees, some offer the first 10 minutes free (for circuit practice) and a few (like mine) charge a yearly flying fee that covers all flying.

A few clubs do a 'fixed price to solo' package which may or may not be useful, have a google.

Oh wait, last last question- how long do your flights last (lets say for a general winter flight). Are we talking 5 minutes, 20 minutes, an hour?

Depends upon where you're flying from. At the flatfield sites you're looking at a five minute circuit, if you go to a ridge site then with the wind in the right direction you can spend all day up there. A friend of mine did his 5hr Silver Duration on the ridge at the Mynd in a K6e a few weeks ago.

Hope that helps.

[mary meagher]

one more thing....DRESS WARMLY! No place is colder than a windy airfield. lots of layers, long johns, warm jacket, scarf. You can always shed layers if you get too hot, but if you don't dress warmly you will suffer!

not in the glider, however, despite no heaters, there is shelter in the cockpit - unless its a T21.....!

[PaulisHome]

Hi Rooob

If you'd like to come and try flying at Cambridge, the good news is that we have bookable training (even for someone just coming to try it out). You can book a half day, or a whole day. As a non-member you pay a daily fee (£25) plus normal flying charges, which you can find on our website (Cambridge Gliding Centre). We have two students per glider and instructor. Be there in time to get the gliders out (9am) if flying in the morning, and to put the gliders away if flying in the afternoon.

To book (members can book online), phone the office (weekdays 9.30-3) on 01767 677077. We're open at weekends, and Monday, Wednesday, Friday during the winter.

Let me know if you plan to come, and I'll come out and have a chat.

Paul

[Roooob]

Paulishome- Thanks, sounds good. What time are the gliders packed away?

[Heady1977]

What time are the gliders packed away?

The rule of thumb for training aircraft at any gliding club the world over is:

• When the probability of flyable weather == 0.
• Last ray of sunlight and not a moment sooner.

Additional rule of thumb for private aircraft:

• When the bar opens.

[glider12000]

Whilst this topic is in place, what are the rules for Civilians wanting to join the VGS?

I'm pre-silver but with saving for an upcoming wedding and buying a house I am unable to afford to fly. I'd love to instruct so this would be a great way for me to give back.

Both parents have served in the Navy and I currently have a brother in the army should this help?

Thanks in advance

[Heady1977]

how much does it roughly cost to learn? I assume it's more than normal if you're going to have an instructor with you?

First thing - gliding in the UK is volunteer led and run. Some lucky big clubs have paid staff - but most do not. The club is what you yourself put into it.

Unlike power flying - for most gliding clubs the instructors volunteer their time to help you learn the skills of flying. (There are paid courses but even then; for most cases the money goes to the club not the instructor). Clubs are all very different - some cover your years flying by the annual club fees with you only paying for the launch. Others charge you for the launch and a per minute hire rate. Some clubs heavily subsidize youth flying which you at 20yrs would be able to take advantage of.

How much does it cost? Depends where you draw your yard-stick; your age and ability with usually younger being better and at what skills level you wish to acheive.

I started gliding in Sept 2011 at 33yrs and from ab-initio to solo took two weeks (8 days with ~63 flights) and a total of £1200 + food/drink & fuel. I did two 5 day courses back-to-back at a major south-west English club.

Most clubs have a skills progression system that is based off BGA, FAI, and soon to be EASA rules. My club has "pre-solo white card", "post-solo white card", "red card", "yellow card", "blue card" which dictate the skills milestones. The BGA, FAI milestones are ab-initio, solo, bronze, bronze cross-country, silver etc...

For me to get from solo through the various cards to bronze cross-country took me approx. 22 months and something like ~£200/month give or take (not including the expeditions to Spain and Australia). However, to chase the elusive silver duration - I've probably spent over £800 in about 5 attempts... I blame the weather - but it could just be me :-(

Given that at your age your still classified as youth at most clubs - you'd probably spend about half that.

how many flights would you get a day? Are we talking one flight, 3 flights, or as many as you want?

Depends on you and the club... Some clubs have a strict 3 flights at a time to share resources and give the instructors a break. Other clubs allow you and the instructor to do what is safe. Some days I've only accomplished 1 flight - typically 3 - the highest within a day was I think 13.

if I started now, would I get much flying in over the winter, or is it more of a summer sport

Gliding is mainly a summer sport - but if you can deal with being on a freezing cold & windy airfield - best to learn in the winter and solo in the winter so you can start doing serious solo flights at the beginning of the summer season and work your way through the skills milestones as the soaring season improves. That's what I tried to achieve - and was reasonably successful in accomplishing that.

how long do your flights last (lets say for a general winter flight). Are we talking 5 minutes, 20 minutes, an hour

When learning - in the UK in winter at a flat-land site - expect training flights to last for 5-8mins. In Australia the training flights at the club my bother-in-law is learning at are an hour summer or winter...

two clubs near me ... (Both a fair drive away,

Most gliding clubs have on-site accommodation - some more plush/expensive than others. For the last few seasons at my club there has been a young female pilot that lives on the coast four+ hours away - she travels by public bus to the airfield - stays the two or three nights in the on-site accommodation - flys during the day - and then travels back home via public bus. I take my hat off to her for her dedication. There is nothing stopping you from doing the same - depends on your motivation.

What about Lasham ... They are the biggest in Europe, there should be someone of the right age etc there!

Any of the bigger clubs close to large population centers (and especially close to Universities) should have an active youth scene. Lasham has a youth corp - about 30 young people at full strength from 13 to 24yrs with 60:40 mix of genders. When the iGC and/or Southampton University group(s) are at full strength you can add another 12 young people. Over winter the youth corp are active Saturdays and so too are the University group(s).

[Piper.Classique]

What time are the gliders packed away?
The rule of thumb for training aircraft at any gliding club the world over is:
When the probability of flyable weather == 0.
Last ray of sunlight and not a moment sooner

Er. No at least not in France. More like, we start after an early lunch, and stop when the thermals do.

[PaulisHome]

Paulishome- Thanks, sounds good. What time are the gliders packed away?

At Cambridge, in the winter, around the time it gets dark, unless we stop flying earlier.

In the summer, quite often there's an evening session, and then the evening group pack them away. Otherwise around 6pm.

Paul

[astir 8]

No-one along the way seems to have discussed winch launching versus aerotowing.

Some sites do only winch launching, some only do aerotows and some do both.

Winch launches generally cost in the region of £7.50. Aerotows are in the range £25 - 35 (all depending on the club used).

Depending on the site (length of run) and weather conditions (wind direction and strength) winch launches average 1000 - 1800 feet. Aerotows are generally to 2000' with the option of going higher for a bit more money.

The OP asked the question about how long flights last. The comments about c. 8 minute flights in winter clearly refer to winch launches to 1500 - 1800 feet. 1000 feet launches = about 4 minutes! 2000 foot aerotows in still air (winter, no thermals and no ridge available) would give flights in the range 12 - 20 minutes including the tow time and depending on the exercises done in-flight.

As to the best system, initially more time in the air gives better grasp of basic flying manoeuvres but the launch and landing are the trickier bits which come later and need practice. With aerotows you tend to do fewer launches and landings (cost!).

So a club which has both launch systems might be the ideal. Before joining a club a few pertinent questions about launch systems and flight times would be advisable.

Generally 7 day week clubs = paid staff = more expense but better availability of flying. Weekend-only clubs = unpaid personnel = lower costs but a higher frustration ratio

You pays your money and takes your choice

[discobolus]

I suspect the original enquiry has been answered. This is a more general response to where to glide. The key factors are:
Professional staff, so you aren't driving winches or mowing the grass
Large airfield, which is much safer
Winch and aerotow launches
Well-drained airfield, ie always open
364 days a year operation
Large heavily-subsidised youth contingent
Restaurant & bar
Large fleet of well-equipped and maintained two-seaters and single-seaters, plus a big team of instructors so you don't hang around waiting
Reliable equipment such as new winches
Bookable training

Judge the various gliding sites using these criteria, but include Lasham in Hampshire in your search. It has 132 members under the age of 26.

[cockney steve]

Just a slight aside.....nobody has said a word about SLMG

(Self-Launching Motor Gliders) If i've got it right?....seems to be an ideal compromise in that you "carry your own tow" so to speak.- a "get out of jail " card, if you can't find lift or are unsure about a "forced" landing. apart from the weight-penalty, I see only advantages,

Curious how the costs compare, what are the licensing requirements? are they so bound-up in red-tape that they're sidelined?

[Heady1977]

Does anyone who is part of a gliding club (doesn't have to be the two mentioned above) know if there are any young people around my age that go?

Just noticed the "UK Juniors" have uploaded their yearly season video.

Does this answer your question?

UK Junior Gliding TV - The 2013 Season Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ1j...3037701780D32A