Discussion
I implore you to watch these two videos too, they're put together by our UK Junior Gliding team (technically under 26, but we have plenty of young-at-heart 'olds' involved, too!) - the Juniors scene is known for having plenty of fun, plenty of drinking, but also lots of high-quality flying - we're also pretty competitive on the world stage, too.
Our 2012 Season Review:
http://youtu.be/EpFaCs_3JoA
Our 2013 Season Review
http://youtu.be/SQ1jnQtCMiM
Our 2012 Season Review:
http://youtu.be/EpFaCs_3JoA
Our 2013 Season Review
http://youtu.be/SQ1jnQtCMiM
Nimbus said:
Flugzeug said:
Oh and the machines themselves are gorgeous :-)
This... I started at 16, and still as addicted today, 30 years later.
Nothing beats taking off from a winch launch, using just a cup of diesel, flying 500+ km, and landing back at 6pm for a beer.. then realising that most people have barely noticed the 'pretty clouds' that day
I used to fly from Aston Down when they still used the reverse auto tow. That was a brilliant, but somewhat flawed way, of getting airbourne. A good headwind could see 2000 ft. I've been out of the loop for some years now, but will get back to it soon enough. People who rely on engines don't often see the point and as posted somewhere above, and assume that you go around in circles for the fun of it. Keeping the aircraft up there for hours at a time is very rewarding indeed.
I had no idea that you could fly so far and then return to the same air strip in a glider. Wow!
What if you just miss the updrafts, or whatever it is that keeps you aloft?
Sounds amazing but more than an hour I will be needing the loo. Always do when I fly and then there is always a queue.
What if you just miss the updrafts, or whatever it is that keeps you aloft?
Sounds amazing but more than an hour I will be needing the loo. Always do when I fly and then there is always a queue.
croyde said:
Sounds amazing but more than an hour I will be needing the loo. Always do when I fly and then there is always a queue.
The usual method is to just wee in a freezer bag and then dispose of it, though plenty of people use 'pee tube' systems, much like a military pilot might have.Hiya. I work at Lasham. It isn't the age that restricts whether you can fly so much, but rather the size and weight. Anyone under around 5ft might not be able to be securely strapped in or be able to see our very well, and there is a minimum weight limit of around 7 stone, for weight and balance/centre of gravity limits. It is possible to circumvent the minimum weight restrictions by having her fly from the back seat, but as the cockpit edge is even higher there than in the front, she probably won't have such a great view out, which is no fun!
When I started at 12 and a half, I had to fly with a large sheet of lead underneath me to make me up to minimum weight. As I got bigger, the piece of lead got smaller, until, when I went solo on my 16th birthday, I was just over the minimum weight.
According to the instructors, my final summer was spent with them just acting as ballast and an extra pair of eyes.
As has been said, don't just turn up and demand to fly, you'll be seen as selfish and you will be ostracised very quickly. It is very much a social activity, expect to spend the entire day there for maybe only one or two flights (which may only be 4 minutes long!). You will be expected to muck in to all the duties, retrieve, wing holding, batsman, flight logging etc, if you can't give the time, maybe it's not for you.
It's not all standing around, though, I learnt to drive at the club, (I was passed out on the retrieve tractor at 14 and winch cable towing lorry at 15), bad weather gives an opportunity to learn weather forecasting, lapse rates, navigation, and as been said, after flying in the clubhouse can be like Biggles for non-RAF types. I was too young for that so have to go by the tales I got told by bleary eyed members on Sunday mornings.
According to the instructors, my final summer was spent with them just acting as ballast and an extra pair of eyes.
As has been said, don't just turn up and demand to fly, you'll be seen as selfish and you will be ostracised very quickly. It is very much a social activity, expect to spend the entire day there for maybe only one or two flights (which may only be 4 minutes long!). You will be expected to muck in to all the duties, retrieve, wing holding, batsman, flight logging etc, if you can't give the time, maybe it's not for you.
It's not all standing around, though, I learnt to drive at the club, (I was passed out on the retrieve tractor at 14 and winch cable towing lorry at 15), bad weather gives an opportunity to learn weather forecasting, lapse rates, navigation, and as been said, after flying in the clubhouse can be like Biggles for non-RAF types. I was too young for that so have to go by the tales I got told by bleary eyed members on Sunday mornings.
Another glider pilot here, Booker based, and ex-instructor. It's an addictive and a very pure form of flying. For example there are lots of red kites around the Chilterns these days and having one flying just off one's wing tip for 10-15 mins is a wonderful experience. Over the years they have become quite accepting of the gliders and sometimes fly up close out of curiosity.
Also as said, flying gliders will teach you how to handle an aircraft. Although I don't have a PPL my experience as a glider pilot allowed me to really enjoy the Tiger Moth flight that my wife bought me for a special birthday. After just a few moment familiarising myself the P1 said I could do all the flying while he looked after the throttle and carb heater.
It is time consuming though and sometimes you will spend all day at the club and not even fly if the day doesn't turn out like you expected. I guess as a novice you will go up for a launch whatever the weather but after a while you do get picky.
I recently decided to stop flying for a while but who knows, I can always go back to it!
Best bet is to give it a try...
Also as said, flying gliders will teach you how to handle an aircraft. Although I don't have a PPL my experience as a glider pilot allowed me to really enjoy the Tiger Moth flight that my wife bought me for a special birthday. After just a few moment familiarising myself the P1 said I could do all the flying while he looked after the throttle and carb heater.
It is time consuming though and sometimes you will spend all day at the club and not even fly if the day doesn't turn out like you expected. I guess as a novice you will go up for a launch whatever the weather but after a while you do get picky.
I recently decided to stop flying for a while but who knows, I can always go back to it!
Best bet is to give it a try...
Big News said:
THX said:
Wait, is this thread telling me I could get into an aircraft and go flying for less than a grand?
Because flying something would be a little dream come true...
Affirm. Whereabouts in the country are you?Because flying something would be a little dream come true...
Here's a few photos of mine to whet your appetite...
Flying in wave lift at Portmoak a couple of weeks ago:
About 3 hours into a 5 and a half hour flight last year, all for the cost of a £5 winch launch:
On final glide back to Lasham in a Discus after a quick 150k to Salisbury and back:
6000 feet above sea level over Shropshire in a K8 (my back still hurts) earlier this summer:
Edited by Big News on Monday 27th October 10:22
That looks absolutely amazing. I'm in!
But, and I'm not questioning how much fun it is (I mean, it's obviously amazing) but if it's so affordable, how comes everyone in the country isn't doing it?! Is it like some kind of secret?!
If you could going flying for the same cash as a reasonable night on the town, why would you not be doing it every weekend?!?!
Edited by THX on Monday 27th October 21:06
I started this sport in springtime, at the start of the soaring season. By the time winter came I was hooked and I found that flying through the winter with no lift and only 6 or 7 minute circuits to be had was really good for my training. Strong crosswinds, low level cloud and sub-zero temperatures made summer flying feel like a doddle.
Starting this sport in the winter must be a whole different experience. If you're the type that's easily put off then I'd wait for the spring before joining a club.
Starting this sport in the winter must be a whole different experience. If you're the type that's easily put off then I'd wait for the spring before joining a club.
THX said:
But, and I'm not questioning how much fun it is (I mean, it's obviously amazing) but if it's so affordable, how comes everyone in the country isn't doing it?! Is it like some kind of secret?!
If you could going flying for the same cash as a reasonable night on the town, why would you not be doing it every weekend?!?!
Firstly it is a bit of a secret isn't it, I mean everyone wants to be Biggles but not many people even know where their local gliding club is - there's about 92 of them in the UK.If you could going flying for the same cash as a reasonable night on the town, why would you not be doing it every weekend?!?!
As has been said it's not for everyone and some people actually do want to turn up at a prescribed time and fly, a bit like booking a driving lesson or calling a taxi. Gliding is an amateur sport and clubs can be frustrating places at a times, when learning the process of getting an instructor and a glider together at the launch point when there's a tuggie ready etc. etc. can be enough to test the patience of a saint!
Cost wise; well you've got club membership, say £600 (£50mth) launch fees say £30 2000' tow or £6.50 winch and glider hire fees (no idea 'cos I have my own) but say £35/hr. so an hours flight could cost £60-£70. So say 4 flights a month (more in summer less in winter) is £250/mth plus club fees you're looking at £3,500 year but reckon on more like £5,000 because once you're hooked you'll do more than 48 launches in a year
RichB said:
THX said:
But, and I'm not questioning how much fun it is (I mean, it's obviously amazing) but if it's so affordable, how comes everyone in the country isn't doing it?! Is it like some kind of secret?!
If you could going flying for the same cash as a reasonable night on the town, why would you not be doing it every weekend?!?!
Firstly it is a bit of a secret isn't it, I mean everyone wants to be Biggles but not many people even know where their local gliding club is - there's about 92 of them in the UK.If you could going flying for the same cash as a reasonable night on the town, why would you not be doing it every weekend?!?!
As has been said it's not for everyone and some people actually do want to turn up at a prescribed time and fly, a bit like booking a driving lesson or calling a taxi. Gliding is an amateur sport and clubs can be frustrating places at a times, when learning the process of getting an instructor and a glider together at the launch point when there's a tuggie ready etc. etc. can be enough to test the patience of a saint!
Cost wise; well you've got club membership, say £600 (£50mth) launch fees say £30 2000' tow or £6.50 winch and glider hire fees (no idea 'cos I have my own) but say £35/hr. so an hours flight could cost £60-£70. So say 4 flights a month (more in summer less in winter) is £250/mth plus club fees you're looking at £3,500 year but reckon on more like £5,000 because once you're hooked you'll do more than 48 launches in a year
I mean, yeah it's a bit of a secret. As I said earlier in the thread, flying is a bit of a dream of mine but I always assumed it well out of reach. Never considered gliding (probably in the same way I've always wanted to race cars, but could never afford it so didnt give it a second thought. But then discovered go-karts; same fun, nowhere near the expense of cars)
Will look into this in the new year, I think. If the opportunity to actually FLY something is there... Good God, I'm excited already! Ha.
RichB said:
For example there are lots of red kites around the Chilterns these days and having one flying just off one's wing tip for 10-15 mins is a wonderful experience.
I'll never forget being in turning line astern with a seagull. The bird kept looking over its shoulder at me as we circled in a thermal. 
My first experience of "gliding" was in one of these when I was 14. Although not very aerodynamic by today's standards I got the bug and by the time I was sixteen, I had earned my gliding wings through the ATC at 662 VGS, RNAS Condor, and then served as a Staff Cadet and eventually an instructor at 661 VGS Kirknewton during the 1970s where we flew Kirby Mk IIIs and Sedberghs.
Wow, that looks... precarious!
Thank you for the responses everyone.
I think I have a new recreational direction in life!
The only difficulty I see is committing full days. Or, to re word it, being allowed to commit full days by my wife. We pass like ships in the night as it some times.
Now to get house moves out of the way and get some money together!
Thank you for the responses everyone.
I think I have a new recreational direction in life!
The only difficulty I see is committing full days. Or, to re word it, being allowed to commit full days by my wife. We pass like ships in the night as it some times.
Now to get house moves out of the way and get some money together!
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