Glider Pilot Training Overseas - October / November?
Discussion
Where’s a good place to learn to fly a sailplane, for me and a fourteen year old boy?
I learned to paraglide twenty years ago in the UK, and it was a hugely frustrating experience . . . took about two years to rack up fifteen hours in the air. Weather!
I went to Australia to skydive - utterly predictable weather in Queensland, and kangaroos to surprise on landing (they don’t seem to look up?).
So fancy going somewhere weather reliable in late October to learn to fly sailplanes - any thoughts?
(Added: accessible from the UK for occasional weeks, so Australia and West Coast of US rule themselves out?).
I learned to paraglide twenty years ago in the UK, and it was a hugely frustrating experience . . . took about two years to rack up fifteen hours in the air. Weather!
I went to Australia to skydive - utterly predictable weather in Queensland, and kangaroos to surprise on landing (they don’t seem to look up?).
So fancy going somewhere weather reliable in late October to learn to fly sailplanes - any thoughts?
(Added: accessible from the UK for occasional weeks, so Australia and West Coast of US rule themselves out?).
Edited by Octoposse on Sunday 21st July 19:11
A lot depends upon what sort of gliding you actually want to do. If it is to reach solo standard ASAP, you need to do lots of take offs and landings, so a winch launching site would be the cheaper way to do it. If you want to go soaring, and going solo is secondary, then an aerotow site, and ideally one near hills or mountains so you can stay up in non-thermic conditions, is probably a better option.
If you were to go to one of the larger clubs like Lasham or Dunstable and have a chat with the pilots there, you will be able to get the first hand opinions of pilots who have flown the different sites around the world. Asking the same question on gliderpilot.net would also be worthwhile.
If you were to go to one of the larger clubs like Lasham or Dunstable and have a chat with the pilots there, you will be able to get the first hand opinions of pilots who have flown the different sites around the world. Asking the same question on gliderpilot.net would also be worthwhile.
Edited by GliderRider on Monday 22 July 12:40
How about Scotland? Portmoak airfield used to be Scottish gliding union but I think they changed their name. Winch and aero tow launches, accommodation bar and restaurant .
They used to do week long courses, hill nearby to get lift and if you are lucky on a wave day you can get great soaring flights.
It is how I got started
They used to do week long courses, hill nearby to get lift and if you are lucky on a wave day you can get great soaring flights.
It is how I got started
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