Gliding

[camgear]

anyone do it? How expensive is it? (complete and utter newb) anywhere good in the NW for it?

[ruaricoles]

No, but I've had some short flights in other peoples' gliders and it is a fantastic feeling. I was amazed how responsive and agile they were too. Happy searching!

Ruari

[dave_s13]

I've often thought hang-gliding would be really cool too, as long as you don't die. I'd imagine it's cheaper as well?

[AnotherClarkey]

From my experience, it is not particularly expensive - all instruction is given free and the per-minute flying costs are quite reasonable. The real issue is that of time - you can easily spend all day at the airfield and get only a couple of 10 minute flights in. Having said that, there is always something to do and the banter can be OK.

I had to give it up and put it on my 'list of things to take up again when I retire' when I realised that I simply couldn't get enough air time to keep my flying at the standard I wanted and still have a job.

[mybrainhurts]

camgear said:

anyone do it?

No, the glider does it...

HTH...

[anonymous-user]

I glide, it's brilliant. You should go for a trial flight and see if you like it. I've tried most kinds of flying and gliding is right up there in 'pure' flying experiences.

Have you considered paragliding? That's great also.

[mybrainhurts]

el stovey said:

I glide

I fall down a lot...

[ozzerr]

Once worked with a bloke that had a micro-lite he used to take the little kite up to certain height kill the engine and glide about for a while having his lunch.

[mrmaggit]

AnotherClarkey said:

From my experience, it is not particularly expensive - all instruction is given free and the per-minute flying costs are quite reasonable. The real issue is that of time - you can easily spend all day at the airfield and get only a couple of 10 minute flights in. Having said that, there is always something to do and the banter can be OK.

I had to give it up and put it on my 'list of things to take up again when I retire' when I realised that I simply couldn't get enough air time to keep my flying at the standard I wanted and still have a job.

Pretty accurate summary. If you just turn up, fly and bugger off, on a regular basis, you'll soon become like the bloke in the pub that always accepts pints but never buys his own rounds. If you want to do that, take up powered flying.

Gliding is much more a "group" thing, as it needs more people to fly them, unless everybody on the field is paid.

[elster]

Is a reasonably cheap way of flying.

Average costs

Winch Launch £5
Aerotow £20-30
Flight time/m £0.20

So dependant on conditions of thermals/ridge/wave depends how long you are in the air.

I haven't done much gliding since I was about 18, but do go for a bit when I'm on holiday (Spain /Germany)

I do love gliding, best hobby ever.

[elster]

mrmaggit said:

AnotherClarkey said:

From my experience, it is not particularly expensive - all instruction is given free and the per-minute flying costs are quite reasonable. The real issue is that of time - you can easily spend all day at the airfield and get only a couple of 10 minute flights in. Having said that, there is always something to do and the banter can be OK.

I had to give it up and put it on my 'list of things to take up again when I retire' when I realised that I simply couldn't get enough air time to keep my flying at the standard I wanted and still have a job.

Pretty accurate summary. If you just turn up, fly and bugger off, on a regular basis, you'll soon become like the bloke in the pub that always accepts pints but never buys his own rounds. If you want to do that, take up powered flying.

Gliding is much more a "group" thing, as it needs more people to fly them, unless everybody on the field is paid.

Very true. It is a community that you join.

[camgear]

Thanks for the info,

I don't mind getting my hands dirty and helping out, is it more of an old mans sport or are there some young'uns there?

[Jasandjules]

camgear said:

Thanks for the info,

I don't mind getting my hands dirty and helping out, is it more of an old mans sport or are there some young'uns there?

Plenty of Universities have gliding clubs...

[elster]

camgear said:

Thanks for the info,

I don't mind getting my hands dirty and helping out, is it more of an old mans sport or are there some young'uns there?

I started when I was 11 at local gliding club. Went to a lot of German youth camps, as lot more younger people fly in Germany than in UK.

I can list all the people I know under 25 on 1 hand.

Just go for it, what's the worst that could happen?

[mrmaggit]

camgear said:

Thanks for the info,

I don't mind getting my hands dirty and helping out, is it more of an old mans sport or are there some young'uns there?

When I went solo on my 16th birthday, most of the club were 35-50. My Dad gave up instructing at 65, but continued to fly two-up until last year, at 81.

[camgear]

elster said:

I started when I was 11 at local gliding club. Went to a lot of German youth camps, as lot more younger people fly in Germany than in UK.

I can list all the people I know under 25 on 1 hand.

Just go for it, what's the worst that could happen?

That I like it and sink all of my spare cash into it

[UncappedTag]

Where abouts are you, I'm considering going up with the London Gliding Club (Dunstaple, Bedfordshire)

An introductory flight costs £95 or £195 for a whole day.

http://www.londonglidingclub.co.uk/

[CoopR]

mrmaggit said:

AnotherClarkey said:

From my experience, it is not particularly expensive - all instruction is given free and the per-minute flying costs are quite reasonable. The real issue is that of time - you can easily spend all day at the airfield and get only a couple of 10 minute flights in. Having said that, there is always something to do and the banter can be OK.

I had to give it up and put it on my 'list of things to take up again when I retire' when I realised that I simply couldn't get enough air time to keep my flying at the standard I wanted and still have a job.

Pretty accurate summary. If you just turn up, fly and bugger off, on a regular basis, you'll soon become like the bloke in the pub that always accepts pints but never buys his own rounds. If you want to do that, take up powered flying.

Gliding is much more a "group" thing, as it needs more people to fly them, unless everybody on the field is paid.

It's usually an expensive night of drinks on you if you end up landing in a field 100 miles away and have to bribe some friends to drive down with your trailer

[Pat H]

camgear said:

anyone do it? How expensive is it? (complete and utter newb) anywhere good in the NW for it?

Not really anywhere in the NW that is especially good.

For the best gliding, try Sutton Bank, near Thirsk in N Yorkshire. It is worth travelling for.

The thermals off Sutton Bank ridge are fantastic.

When I was a young lad I spent a weekend there with my Dad. I don't think it was particularly expensive, but you do need to muck in.

[TankRizzo]

Take some motion sickness pills before you do it.

Losing your breakfast at 2000 feet in a small cockpit is not pleasant. I speak from experience.