FINALLY :D
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Thank you Buttino. How many hours did you pass in? I may take you up on the offer of PMing at some point. Only 2 hours before my flight 
, and the METAR looks pretty good:
25013KT CAVOK 21/07 NOSIG
, and the METAR looks pretty good:25013KT CAVOK 21/07 NOSIG
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You'll be fine today, yesterday was a bit bumpy. I'm flying tomorrow night from there after hours in ECAF.
I passed in 54 hours aged 41 with a 3 month break late 2013 due to finances.
I passed in 54 hours aged 41 with a 3 month break late 2013 due to finances.
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Yes indeed, Barrow in Furness...weather can be unkind.
But good folks, all the same. It will do you no harm to find a gliding club near where you live and check it out....weather in the midlands is best, and Shenington is in the middle of the midlands! 7 nautical miles NW of Banbury. though the fog has been known to creep up from the valley now and then. But we do have a ridge that works well in a NW wind, and you can fly cross country without too much airspace problem.
Have a look at our website, the flying blogs tell what we've been up to lately.
This coming weekend we have 60 junior pilots visiting from all over the UK...juniors include ages 25 and a few as young as 14 now the rules have changed. Should be a lively weekend.
To find a gliding club nearest to where you live, check out the BGA (British Gliding Association) website.
But good folks, all the same. It will do you no harm to find a gliding club near where you live and check it out....weather in the midlands is best, and Shenington is in the middle of the midlands! 7 nautical miles NW of Banbury. though the fog has been known to creep up from the valley now and then. But we do have a ridge that works well in a NW wind, and you can fly cross country without too much airspace problem.
Have a look at our website, the flying blogs tell what we've been up to lately.
This coming weekend we have 60 junior pilots visiting from all over the UK...juniors include ages 25 and a few as young as 14 now the rules have changed. Should be a lively weekend.
To find a gliding club nearest to where you live, check out the BGA (British Gliding Association) website.
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Thank you everyone.
Awesome flight. Apparently, I picked it up quite quickly after being rusty at the beginning. It was quite turbulent. I was in Alpha Foxtrot. Nice plane, if a tad noisy.
Next session is next Wednesday, bright and early. And yep, I will find a local gliding club and see what's happening there
Awesome flight. Apparently, I picked it up quite quickly after being rusty at the beginning. It was quite turbulent. I was in Alpha Foxtrot. Nice plane, if a tad noisy.
Next session is next Wednesday, bright and early. And yep, I will find a local gliding club and see what's happening there
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Wormingford is the closest gliding school to Colchester, I went there last year for a day. I was somewhat annoyed to see two members having a full blow stand up argument, wasn't too sure what it was about but it didn't leave a good impression. Didn't bother going there again.
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I was somewhat annoyed to see two members having a full blow stand up argument
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Sorry you walked into a family fight at wormingford, Buttino! and Thing, you always have a moan about gliding clubs....they are all different, my dears. But the difference between a gliding club and a power flying organisation is that we do get to know each other very well and make friends (and enemies too, just like your family!).....
Flying power you don't have to spend any time at all interacting with other people, just do your own ....thing! (oops, sorry! couldn't resist!)
Flying power you don't have to spend any time at all interacting with other people, just do your own ....thing! (oops, sorry! couldn't resist!)
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I love gliding but fall into a very typical glider demographic ... Young / old pilots.
I had time to fly gliders when I was younger and hope to fly them again when (if) I retire or semi retire. In the meantime it's just not possible to give up a day at a time regularly enough to make it work. It's common at many gliding clubs to find that the vast majority of the membership are made up of young and old, with not so many in middle age. Those that are middle aged, tend to be in well paid jobs with regular weekends off.
Maybe times have changed? But that's how I remember it when I was gliding. Don't let that put you off though as gliding is the purist form of flight IMHO and one I'd recommend to anyone.
SS
I had time to fly gliders when I was younger and hope to fly them again when (if) I retire or semi retire. In the meantime it's just not possible to give up a day at a time regularly enough to make it work. It's common at many gliding clubs to find that the vast majority of the membership are made up of young and old, with not so many in middle age. Those that are middle aged, tend to be in well paid jobs with regular weekends off.
Maybe times have changed? But that's how I remember it when I was gliding. Don't let that put you off though as gliding is the purist form of flight IMHO and one I'd recommend to anyone.
SS
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Sorry you walked into a family fight at wormingford, Buttino! and Thing, you always have a moan about gliding clubs....they are all different, my dears. But the difference between a gliding club and a power flying organisation is that we do get to know each other very well and make friends (and enemies too, just like your family!).....
Flying power you don't have to spend any time at all interacting with other people, just do your own ....thing! (oops, sorry! couldn't resist!)
Flying power you don't have to spend any time at all interacting with other people, just do your own ....thing! (oops, sorry! couldn't resist!)
I too have experienced the bloated egos & opinionated views by glider pilots who think the rest of us can't see where we are going.
I have also witnessed a C172 cruising gaily up the winch line just as I was about to connect the wire. There are faults on both sides, I just wish we could all get on together.
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and Thing, you always have a moan about gliding
No I don't, gliding in general is a great sport. How many times have I favoured the view that PPL studes should solo on a glider first? I'm simply stating a fact that as you say, people tend to turn up and fly then go home at powered clubs whereas at gliding clubs you are thrown together all day with all sorts of people. I know you've never met me but I can assure you that I can spot an argument brewing from 100 paces and prefer to walk away. I just got fed up with feeling embarassed for visitors on trial flights etc when yet another 'You don't tow the cables out like that' 'Yes I do I've been here 452 years and that's the way we do it' spat brews up and sadly it's usually the older members who do it. Then there's always the guy/gal who like the sound of their own voice and shouts criticism across an airfield at someone to let people know that they are important. I'm sure not all clubs are like that but I've been a member of four in different parts of the country and that's been my experience.
I love gliding, 95% of the people involved are great but you have to interact with the numpties, who tend to be the loudest and most opiniated. I used to be able to ignore them but I'm too old and too fed up with folk who do their damndest to spoil what should be an enjoyable and relaxed day out for people; so I just don't put myself in that situation anymore. In a powered club you just turn up and fly; land, fill out the tech log and go home if you want to, or you can interact around the t bar and swap stories. Which is often as good if not better than actually aviating sometimes.
There are faults on both sides, I just wish we could all get on together.
But the difference between a gliding club and a power flying organisation is that we do get to know each other very well and make friends
Last edited by thing; 17th Apr 2015 at 12:48.
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Spooky...
Reading this thread is a bit spooky, having grown up in the south lakes myself and moved to Essex. I have spent many happy hours gliding from Wormingford (but not recently so can't comment about members having an argument), I have also flown a Capstan at Walney a couple of times.
If you do fly from Earls Colne, try not to land at Wormingford by mistake, wouldn't be the first time!
I can't comment on either of the flying clubs, but both left me with a good impression when I popped in to enquire about flying lessons. I would be interested to know how you get on as these are the two clubs I would be most likely to use if I ever get round to flying lessons...
David
If you do fly from Earls Colne, try not to land at Wormingford by mistake, wouldn't be the first time!
I can't comment on either of the flying clubs, but both left me with a good impression when I popped in to enquire about flying lessons. I would be interested to know how you get on as these are the two clubs I would be most likely to use if I ever get round to flying lessons...
David
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I can answer number 2. HR200s are good enough for PPL/LAPL training, they’re light on the controls and easy to fly, they aren’t particularly stable and don’t have a good tech reputation but I’d happily fly another, I passed my PPL in one of these. Although I still miss the rounded glass canopy and those views
Also if you can afford to live and afford to fly/train then IMO that’s a good position.
Also if you can afford to live and afford to fly/train then IMO that’s a good position.
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A nice aircraft, some criticise it for being a bit 'Twitchy' but this might be because they are pretty light.
they aren’t particularly stable
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Davydine, where abouts in Essex are you? I might pop to wormingford for some gliding at some point. My flight from Earls Colne on Wednesday was very enjoyable, and it felt fantastic to be back in the air after such a large break.
Squidy, I too found that it was a little twitchy, but once I got used to it, it was easy enough to fly. Just having some difficulty keeping it trimmed correctly, and flying with my left hand. A very strange sensation.
foxmoth, possibly very true, but with my limited experience, I cannot comment
Squidy, I too found that it was a little twitchy, but once I got used to it, it was easy enough to fly. Just having some difficulty keeping it trimmed correctly, and flying with my left hand. A very strange sensation.
foxmoth, possibly very true, but with my limited experience, I cannot comment
