Discussion
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 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
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 
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
I daren't ask! 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
£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.
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!https://www.youtube.com/user/bviv/videos
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!
Simpo Two said:
Tine to get wifey interested too then!
(the A-frame glider on the previous page looks identical to the one we had in the CCF, though I never flew it, I was only Bungee Puller)
I'd love to, and I'll try, but she's very much a 'feet on the ground' type of woman!(the A-frame glider on the previous page looks identical to the one we had in the CCF, though I never flew it, I was only Bungee Puller)
Out of interest, can you take passengers in two seat gliders when solo rated?
I'm guessing not, and both would have to be trained?
Thread bump! Nearly a year ago already, and well, I'm no further!
My wife noticed that I'd been watching lots of videos, reading a lot etc and bought me a winch launch experience flight for my birthday.
I have had to re-arrange once due to weather, but with a bit of luck, it will be on the 15th, a week tomorrow.
I've taken the assumption I will enjoy it (why wouldn't I?!) and have looked into it a bit more. Definitely affordable now, and YGC at Sutton Bank looks good.
Then a bit of luck, join as a member in the very near future.
My wife noticed that I'd been watching lots of videos, reading a lot etc and bought me a winch launch experience flight for my birthday.
I have had to re-arrange once due to weather, but with a bit of luck, it will be on the 15th, a week tomorrow.
I've taken the assumption I will enjoy it (why wouldn't I?!) and have looked into it a bit more. Definitely affordable now, and YGC at Sutton Bank looks good.
Then a bit of luck, join as a member in the very near future.
Had my trial/experience flight yesterday.
Loved it!
The pilot asked me if I had flown before, I explained my little previous (15 years ago ATC), did a quick brief, then we went up. First launch we didn't find any rising air and landed after a quick circuit. I got a free second launch, so we were up again, gained a little altitude then he let me take over. I flew the circuit until the last turn onto final approach.
It felt so good to be in a cockpit again!
I have a month of free membership with the club, so I think I will get back down again in the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately, as nice and friendly as that club is, it is bit too far for me, so I will be looking at York I think.
Loved it!
The pilot asked me if I had flown before, I explained my little previous (15 years ago ATC), did a quick brief, then we went up. First launch we didn't find any rising air and landed after a quick circuit. I got a free second launch, so we were up again, gained a little altitude then he let me take over. I flew the circuit until the last turn onto final approach.
It felt so good to be in a cockpit again!
I have a month of free membership with the club, so I think I will get back down again in the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately, as nice and friendly as that club is, it is bit too far for me, so I will be looking at York I think.
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