So you are interested in learning to fly in a glider? Here, we aim to explain how to go about it at Bidford Gliding.

There are a few options of how to take your first flight, and the first is known as a “Trial Lesson” providing an excellent opportunity to sample the delights of gliding.  Each option includes your flight/s with a fully qualified BGA Instructor, with membership to our club for a specified amount of time. Click here to view all voucher options, or call us on 01789 772606.

MEMBERSHIP

Once you have taken a trial lesson with us, you receive 6 weeks free membership of the club. This means that you can come back and fly with us as often as you want during the following month and you will pay the same rates as a regular member. The free membership enables you to spend time getting to know if you really want to learn to fly. If, at the end of your time you wish to continue flying, you will need to join as a Full Gliding Member. Full details are given on the Training Costs page.

PROGRESSING YOUR FLYING

Initially, after your first trial lesson, give us a ring to let us know when you can come in to fly again so that we can let you know if the weather is suitable. We have a professional instructor and tug pilot during the week, and at weekends, the field is run by both professional and volunteer BGA instructors and tug pilots who organise themselves on a rota, so you know there'll always be an instructor available. We operate a flying diary here, where you book in with us beforehand, to help avoid any un-necessary waiting around on your part (although when you are doing something that is so very much dependant on the weather, we cannot avoid some hanging about!!!)  Alternatively, you can just turn up, get involved and fit in some flying whilst you are here.

FLYING AT BIDFORD

At Bidford we recognise that leisure time is precious to most people and if you have free time, you'd prefer to spend it in the air flying, rather than down on the ground doing "jobs". In this respect, Bidford differs from many other gliding clubs; most of the jobs that need doing to keep the gliding operation going for example, glider maintenance, grass cutting, office activities and administration are done for you. So all you have to do, as a member, is concentrate on the flying aspects of the operation during the time that you are there i.e. getting the planes out, inspecting the gliders, flying, retrieving the gliders to the launch point, keeping the flying log updated and helping to wash the planes before they are put away. For those that qualify, a Duty Marshall session is required too, but this is usually only two half days per year, if everyone takes their turn.

FLIGHT TRAINING

As you commence your flght training, we will give you a Learner Pack which sets out the syllabus for learning to go solo in a glider and includes a Log Book to record your flights and we also recommend that you purchase a Gliding Text Book which explains all about gliding and how to do it.

Each time you fly, your instructor will review your Log Book and Progress card to see what stage you are up to, and will then tailor your next flight accordingly. It is advisable to read the relevant chapter in your Gliding Manual at home, prior to each day’s flying so that you know what to expect from a lesson. There is also some ‘ground school’ and subsequent multiple choice exams to be done as well, which we will explain to you. At the end of your flying, the instructor will write up a summary of the day’s progress in your Log Book and will tick off various sections of your Progress Card. The first major milestone for any glider pilot is to go ‘solo’ i.e. fly on your own without your instructor. The full gliding progress ladder is shown below.

During your training, you will also learn about ground handling of the aircraft and the operation for launching gliders. It is vital that members take part in these operations in order to help other members launch and then help to retrieve landed gliders back to the launch point. Launching gliders at Bidford is done only by aero-tow i.e. an aeroplane tows the glider into the air and at the desired height, the glider releases from the tow rope. The glider continues to fly and the tug plane descends ready for the next tow. The advantage of this method is that you can be towed up to any desired height and also, within reason, the tow plane can take the glider to wherever up-currents or thermals are spotted in the sky before it releases, giving the glider a much better opportunity to soar for longer.

GLIDING BADGES

In the UK you do not need a licence to fly gliders. Instead, you qualify to fly by gaining ‘badges’ with increasing attainment levels. 

For good information see the BGA Web-site: 

            Learning to Glide

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Registered Address: Bidford Gliding Ltd, Bidford Airfield, Honeybourne Road,

Bidford on Avon, Warks.  B50 4PD.  Tel: 01789 772606.  Fax: 01789 772016.

Company Registration: 5672845.  VAT Registration: 883588366.