Southern Gliding Day

Southern Gliding Day

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danhay

Original Poster:

7,445 posts

257 months

Wednesday 4th February 2004
quotequote all
Following on from a thread on General Gassing

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=79779&f=23&h=0&p=2

Who would be up for a day out gliding? Will possibly be going here:

www.southdown-gc.demon.co.uk/sgcfind.htm

But I haven't looked into it much yet.

julianhj

8,753 posts

263 months

Wednesday 4th February 2004
quotequote all
Depending on costs I'd certainly be up for that. Any idea how much?

danhay

Original Poster:

7,445 posts

257 months

Wednesday 4th February 2004
quotequote all
£50 for a single flight
£80 for an Aerobatic flight
£150 for a 1 day course - classroom instruction & 3 flights.

.Mark

11,104 posts

277 months

Wednesday 4th February 2004
quotequote all
I did this last year a Lasham just north of Alton, it was subsidised by the company cost was about £40.
Great fun got towed up by a plane and had about 15 - 20 mins flight time including a go at the controls.

bassfiend

5,530 posts

251 months

Wednesday 4th February 2004
quotequote all
mungo said:
Depending on when this happens I am definitely up for it!


I'm too much of a lardarse but I'm sure the wife would like it and it'd be nice to get her somewhere where she can't nag me for a bit.

Phil

danhay

Original Poster:

7,445 posts

257 months

Thursday 5th February 2004
quotequote all
Right chaps, I've been on the blower to the Gliding Club in the link above.

You can only book for Fridays, but if you turn up before 9:30am on a weekend, you are pretty much guaranteed everyone will get a flight.

Weather wise, we need a mostly dry, hopefully sunny day. Low cloud, heavy rain or winds will prevent them flying.

A single flight (£50) includes an aerotow to 3,000ft which will give you a 20-30 minute flight.

The Aerobatic option (£80) will include an aerotow to 4,000ft plus one or more of each of the following:
Loop
Barrel Roll
Stall Turn - these are v good fun, but not if you're prone to

If the costs are a bit steep, I could always try shopping around?

I'm thinking of one weekend in April, because the chances of getting good weather will have improved significantly by then.

julianhj

8,753 posts

263 months

Thursday 5th February 2004
quotequote all
Count me in. It's been years since I've done any aerobatics

danhay

Original Poster:

7,445 posts

257 months

Sunday 8th February 2004
quotequote all
OK chaps, I'm thinking the weekend before Easter (3rd & 4th) or the weekend after Easter (17th & 18th).

Any preferences?

julianhj

8,753 posts

263 months

Monday 9th February 2004
quotequote all
No preference from me. Good work Dan!

DustyC

12,820 posts

255 months

Wednesday 11th February 2004
quotequote all
A cheaper alternative in Hampshire
www.lasham.org.uk/learning/prices/prices.html

I should be doing aflight from here soon. Will tell you if its any good.

danhay

Original Poster:

7,445 posts

257 months

Wednesday 11th February 2004
quotequote all
DustyC said:
A cheaper alternative in Hampshire
www.lasham.org.uk/learning/prices/prices.html

I should be doing aflight from here soon. Will tell you if its any good.
Thanks DustyC

.Mark

11,104 posts

277 months

Wednesday 11th February 2004
quotequote all
Like I said earlier, that's the place I did mine.

Couldn't wish to meet a nicer bunch of folk and the instructors are great.

And from up there you can see for bleedin' miles, beyond Newbury to the north and right out over the IOW to the south.

When we were there there we guys coming back in and had been up as far as Doncaster for the day had been up for 8 hours or more, I'd be too nervous of going all that way without any engine power - but far more importantly what would you do if you were up over Birmingham and needed a pee??? Don't answer that!

And another thing while I'm here. You can park right outside the club house on the perimeter track but you probably won't be insured as you will be 'airside' but if you do, make sure the roof is up and you don't stand around there as when they come in from long trips they do a fly-by of the club house and jettison all the water they use as ballast!

Let me know the date and I may come and say hello.

Purple AK

343 posts

244 months

Wednesday 11th February 2004
quotequote all
Hi Guys
Have a nose at this www.sussexgliding.co.uk/vouchers.html#MOTOR GLIDER EXPERIENCE FLIGHT
Just up the road from me! seems cheaper!
Cheers Chris

danhay

Original Poster:

7,445 posts

257 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2004
quotequote all
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/3521215.stm

Inquiry after fatal plane crash

An investigation is under way after a light aircraft crashed into fields in West Sussex, killing the pilot.
The accident happened on Sunday at about 1500 GMT after the Piper Pawnee aircraft took off from Parham Park airfield in West Chiltington.

The plane was towing a glider which it released, and as the Piper headed back to the gliding club it crashed into trees and landed in the field.

Police said the pilot, who has not been named, died at the scene.

People on a nearby golf course saw the plane go out of control before it plunged into the field and burst into flames near houses in Heather Lane.

A spokeswoman for West Sussex Fire and Rescue said it was alerted to the crash at about 1456 GMT.

"The plane was destroyed on impact and then caught fire." The glider, which had a pilot and trainee on board, had been released from the aircraft safely and neither were hurt in the incident.

Local residents and golfers tried to rescue the man, but were unable to get near the debris, a Sussex Police spokesman said.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch has launched an investigation.

The Southdown Gliding Club has declined to comment about the incident.

This happened at the place we were planning to go, must admit to having 2nd thoughts?

.Mark

11,104 posts

277 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2004
quotequote all
If it's happened there once Dan it's not likely to happen again for a very long time.

Have you considered Lasham just north of Alton?

DustyC

12,820 posts

255 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2004
quotequote all
Thats where Im doing one very very soon.

danhay

Original Poster:

7,445 posts

257 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2004
quotequote all
.Mark said:
If it's happened there once Dan it's not likely to happen again for a very long time.
True...plus the people in the Glider were OK.

...Plus gliders don't carry any fuel!

bassfiend

5,530 posts

251 months

Tuesday 2nd March 2004
quotequote all
danhay said:

.Mark said:
If it's happened there once Dan it's not likely to happen again for a very long time.

True...plus the people in the Glider were OK.

...Plus gliders don't carry any fuel!


Plus gravity isn't my friend (I was built for comfort, not for speed) so I'd be on the ground anyway letting the wife go for a fly...

...let me just make sure her life insurance is up to date.

Phil

cosmoschick

7,977 posts

250 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
bassfiend said:
(I was built for comfort, not for speed)


A bit like your diesel Volvo, Phil!!

I've been gliding before but that was a long time ago. Unfortunately, over recent years I seem to have become 'afraid' of heights so I don't think I could do it again It was an amazing experience at the time although the landing was a bit scary

Cabby

3,937 posts

265 months

Monday 8th March 2004
quotequote all
How about a trade - We get to ride in a glider and in return take the pilots for a blast around the perimiter road!

Seriously, sounds like a good idea, I've always fancied giving it a go.

Paul.