Gliding.

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Discussion

marksx

Original Poster:

5,052 posts

189 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Does anyone on here do this regularly?

I want to fly regularly, I always have, but unless my circumstances change massively I'm never going to be able to afford a PPL and flying costs associated with powered flight.

On the face of it, it looks an affordable hobby. Flying once or twice a month using club aircraft. But I may be kidding myself. (I do it a lot where money is concerned!)

My local gliding club is York, and is only 35 minutes away so I could probably just go and ask, but I'd like to hear from anyone on here about costs etc.

Thanks

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

254 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
I was going to take up gliding.

When I discovered they can't bomb France, I lost interest.

smile

Simpo Two

85,149 posts

264 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
marksx said:
My local gliding club is York, and is only 35 minutes away so I could probably just go and ask
This would seem to be a sensible idea.

schuey

705 posts

209 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
I have a (now none current,bloody recession) PPL,however I started out flying gliders having won a scholarship as a youngster at Pocklington gliding club. Brilliant fun,and it is a hell of lot cheaper than powered flying but a bit more involved as you can't just turn up and go flying,you need to hang out and help all day pretty much when you aren't flying,which is no bad thing as it's all a good fun social sport. I'm seriously considering a return to it as I miss flying but currently have no chance of getting my ppl sorted out anytime soon! If you do go and get in to it,it will make you a much better pilot when you get round to doing a ppl.

Simpo Two

85,149 posts

264 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
schuey said:
If you do go and get in to it,it will make you a much better pilot when you get round to doing a ppl.
After a few gliding lessons I thought that having an engine was cheating...

dudleybloke

19,718 posts

185 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
mybrainhurts said:
I was going to take up gliding.

When I discovered they can't bomb France, I lost interest.

smile
but the landings are a bit easier now they've got rid of the asparagus.

Quattromaster

2,904 posts

203 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
I live approx 1 mile from a gliding club in north Essex, and although it looks quiet and graceful when they come over, they do seem to spend 80-90% of their time going round in circles.

Can't really see the appeal myself.

Flugzeug

14 posts

113 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Please excuse a newbie :-)
I flew gliders regularly from 16 until quite recently. Schuey is spot on, it's wonderful, affordable flying but can be very time consuming, and can take a lot of time and perseverance to get the experience required to exploit the really best bits of the sport. So wether it's right for you will depend on your situation and just how much you get bitten by the bug.

What I mean is, when I started gliding, just the fact that I was airborne, steering an aircraft around, was more than enough to keep me addicted. But as I progressed and leant more and more, I started to realise that there was something called "cross country" and competitions, or that I could become a 'basic' instructor quite quickly and teach people basic stuff like effects of controls. Few people who go for a trial flight are ever aware of how much there is to this sport, and many people have had the air cadet sled rides when they were young, and that's as far as it goes. There is so much more to it than meets the eye, I've always seen gliding as one of aviations most closely guarded secrets :-)

I'll bore you no longer, but what I will say, is that flying a glider, across country, particularly in a competition, is quite simply the purest, most spectacular, and rewarding flying I've ever experienced. You set off in the morning, feel the conditions build as the day gets going, cover hundreds of kilometres under incredible skies, and as the day starts to wind down and the conditions weaken, you struggle home, and sometimes it's touch and go but most of the time you make it back. It's pure, seat of your pants flying, every day is different, you are never sure quite what is going to happen, and the sense of satisfaction and fun is unique.

Oh and the machines themselves are gorgeous :-)


Nimbus

1,176 posts

227 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
marksx said:
Does anyone on here do this regularly?

I want to fly regularly, I always have, but unless my circumstances change massively I'm never going to be able to afford a PPL and flying costs associated with powered flight.

On the face of it, it looks an affordable hobby. Flying once or twice a month using club aircraft. But I may be kidding myself. (I do it a lot where money is concerned!)

My local gliding club is York, and is only 35 minutes away so I could probably just go and ask, but I'd like to hear from anyone on here about costs etc.

Thanks
Affordable is a relative term, you can easily spend as much gliding as power flying, ask me how I know wink

but... you can also spend a relative fraction..

I reckon from nothing to solo is around the £800 mark, flying every other weekend in club aircraft once solo is going to come in around the £1000 a year mark, ( 20-30 hrs a year and taking aerotows, it can be much cheaper winching ), including memberships and tows.

The main thing is to give it a go and see if you like it first.. then worry about the cost.

All clubs offer 3 months free membership with their trial lessons, so that gives you plenty of time to find out how the club really operates, and if it works for you.

I'd recommend starting with a trial lesson, and make it clear to them, ( and especially to whoever takes you up on the day ), that you are there to learn, and not just for a 'jolly', and then go from there.

Now is the perfect time to learn, you should be solo for the spring and the decent weather again.

As an aside, although Pocklington appears your nearest club, and I dont know where you are based, dont rule out the Yorkshire Gliding club at Sutton Bank, it might be a bit further to travel, but its got a great ridge, ( brilliant fun getting below the walkers on the white horse at 100+ kts), and easy access to the Pennine wave, ( not that hard to get connected and to 10-20k ft over the Pennines from a winch launch on the right day), that means you'll spend your winter soaring rather than doing circuits, and they've a great manager and bar smile


Nimbus

1,176 posts

227 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
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 smile

marksx

Original Poster:

5,052 posts

189 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
This would seem to be a sensible idea.
It does, but I don't like to just wander into places. Especially clubs. Dunno why.

Flugzeug said:
I'll bore you no longer,
Please, carry on! The last time I sat in a cockpit was in the ATC. Quite possibly in a Vigilant motor glider. That or a Grob anyway. And that was about 15 years ago! Far too long!

Nimbus said:
Affordable is a relative term, you can easily spend as much gliding as power flying, ask me how I know wink

but... you can also spend a relative fraction..

I reckon from nothing to solo is around the £800 mark, flying every other weekend in club aircraft once solo is going to come in around the £1000 a year mark, ( 20-30 hrs a year and taking aerotows, it can be much cheaper winching ), including memberships and tows.

The main thing is to give it a go and see if you like it first.. then worry about the cost.

All clubs offer 3 months free membership with their trial lessons, so that gives you plenty of time to find out how the club really operates, and if it works for you.

I'd recommend starting with a trial lesson, and make it clear to them, ( and especially to whoever takes you up on the day ), that you are there to learn, and not just for a 'jolly', and then go from there.

Now is the perfect time to learn, you should be solo for the spring and the decent weather again.

As an aside, although Pocklington appears your nearest club, and I dont know where you are based, dont rule out the Yorkshire Gliding club at Sutton Bank, it might be a bit further to travel, but its got a great ridge, ( brilliant fun getting below the walkers on the white horse at 100+ kts), and easy access to the Pennine wave, ( not that hard to get connected and to 10-20k ft over the Pennines from a winch launch on the right day), that means you'll spend your winter soaring rather than doing circuits, and they've a great manager and bar smile
I daren't ask!

£800 is about what I spent getting my motorbike license so definitely doable again. Also, I was thinking of spending ~£1000/yr on golf membership. I now know where I would rather spend that money!

It won't happen immediately anyway, but I like to plan ahead. (1 year old, studies, house move, work. All a bit busy at the moment!)

I'm just about on J40 of the M1 by the way. Sutton bank is just over an hour from me.

Thank you for the replies.

Simpo Two

85,149 posts

264 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
quotequote all
marksx said:
Simpo Two said:
This would seem to be a sensible idea.
It does, but I don't like to just wander into places. Especially clubs. Dunno why.
Agreed, but they must have a telephone or a website/e-mail...?


Alternatively just burst in dressed as the pilot in the Monty Python sketch and shout 'Monkeys on the ceiling! Grab your egg and fours and let's get the bacon delivered!'

Andy RV

303 posts

129 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
quotequote all
Have a look at some of this guys videos for some gilder action;

https://www.youtube.com/user/bviv/videos

marksx

Original Poster:

5,052 posts

189 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
quotequote all
Andy RV said:
Have a look at some of this guys videos for some gilder action;

https://www.youtube.com/user/bviv/videos
There goes a few hours!

Nimbus

1,176 posts

227 months

Big News

1,937 posts

178 months

Monday 27th October 2014
quotequote all
I may be a touch biased, as I currently work at a large gliding club in the SE, but...just do it. You 100% won't regret getting involved with gliding. It's hard to add to what Nimbus (2? 3? 4DM?!) has already said, but there's nothing like the feeling of scrabbling around looking for lift to get you home when BANG, you feel the unmistakable surge of a meaty thermal, crank the glider right over and start turning in it, going up like you're in an elevator. Or finding a 'cloud street' that's sitting right on track, and doing 50km at a time without turning or losing height.

The social life is great too: Everyone piling into the bar in the evening after a long day's flying, discussing their flights and using those fighter pilot "he was here, and I just tucked right in behing him" hand signals, barbecues throughout the summer, parties and celebrations for seemingly everything. And then there's competitions - nine days racing against 50 of the best pilots in the country, all heading off around the same 300/400/500km task and trying to get round in the fastest time. It's a real buzz just to be around at a comp too - be it crewing or just helping out with the running.

Winter is a great time to get loads of training in whilst it's quieter (less of a queue for instruction) and the weather isn't as great for soaring (which means plenty of circuit practice, which is what you'll need to be doing). With a decent amount of continuity (you really notice the big breaks during training) you should be solo in time to enjoy the soaring season - roughly April to September.

Any more questions, just ask!

elster

17,517 posts

209 months

Monday 27th October 2014
quotequote all
marksx said:
Does anyone on here do this regularly?

I want to fly regularly, I always have, but unless my circumstances change massively I'm never going to be able to afford a PPL and flying costs associated with powered flight.

On the face of it, it looks an affordable hobby. Flying once or twice a month using club aircraft. But I may be kidding myself. (I do it a lot where money is concerned!)

My local gliding club is York, and is only 35 minutes away so I could probably just go and ask, but I'd like to hear from anyone on here about costs etc.

Thanks
I started gliding 20 years ago at Rufforth.

One of the best ways to throw yourself into it is by doing a weeks course. Usually by the end of it you will be close to going solo. If not going weekend by weekend is good. There is a very much a community in gliding as you can't just turn up and pay. There always needs to be people to help. Someon to hold the wing, someone to signal, someone to drive the winch, someone to pull the winch cable, someone to fly the tug. Then also you have to get the aircraft out and to the right end of the airfield wind dependent.

Rufforth is a good place to learn at as it is a big airfield with both tarmac and grass available. The terrain makes it easy to learn with reasonable thermalling in Summer. In Autumn Winter it is very much dependant on wave as well from the Pennines.

If you are interested don't get a trial flight, it is bloody expensive. Just start flying with an instructor, who are also all volunteers. They fly on Wednesdays Saturdays and Sundays. With Wednesdays being the old boys club, as most are retired.

Charges are here http://www.yorkglidingcentre.co.uk/Members/prices....

To start with you will be wanting an aerotow for a first flight so it gives you plenty of time in the air, but can be an expensive way. After that you will be wanting to get lots of landing practice so winch launch is always good. However this can sometimes end in Up round and down.

It is a cheap way of flying and is very much a community as well. Instead of turning up at your booked slot at some airfields. There has to be volunteers to help get everything out in the morning, launch and pack away in the evening.

Whatever you do don't let them flog you a trial flight for £90, if you definitely want to do it join as a member. Works out cheaper.

EDIT - changed since I started and Introductory membership is included in a trial flight.

ETA - bit of reading for you here is the members handbook. Explains a few of the things you need to know and the training car [urlhttp://www.yorkglidingcentre.co.uk/Members/Pdf/NewMemberHandbook.pdf[/url]

Edited by elster on Monday 27th October 08:46

THX

2,348 posts

121 months

Monday 27th October 2014
quotequote all
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...

Simpo Two

85,149 posts

264 months

Monday 27th October 2014
quotequote all
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...
Less than that: 'Winch launch: £6.50'

Having to hire the glider by the minute as well is a new one to me - 37p/min - but on a cold day you'll be back on the ground in about 10 minutes! You'll have to try it - it's absolutely nothing like an aeroplane.

Big News

1,937 posts

178 months

Monday 27th October 2014
quotequote all
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?

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