1. How does a trial lesson work?

You will sit in the front of a two seat, dual control glider, with a qualified instructor behind you. Your instructor will explain how everything works and tell you what’s happening as the flight progresses.

Once you’re in the air, he will show you how the controls work and let you have a first try. But don’t worry – the instructor will be looking after things and won’t let you do anything that might cause him to breathe more quickly! Click here for more information about trial lessons.

2. How long will the flight last?

Gliding is weather dependent, so as they say… “it all depends”.
However, we always aim to give you the best experience possible and during our trial lessons our target is to give you up to 25 minutes in the air.

3. How easy is it to fly a glider?

You will be surprised just how easy it easy to fly a glider. It normally takes around 30 to 50 flights before you are ready to ‘go solo’ but this does depend on how intensive the training is, and how you absorb gliding! Many would say it is actually easier to fly a glider, than it is to drive a car.

4. Are there any health restrictions?

Yes – to fit within the glider’s weight and size limits, you must be under 6’ 4” tall and weigh less than 100Kg. You must not suffer from faintness, giddiness, fits, a serious heart condition or anything that could endanger the glider in flight. If you have a disability, that may not be a problem provided you can get out of the glider unaided.

5. What weather can you not fly in?

There are really only three things that will stop flying – rain (although, often if it’s just showers you can fly between them), low cloud and strong winds (more than 30mph!). We will always do our best to accommodate all conditions, but safety must always come first.

6. What happens when the wind stops?

You may be surprised to find out that you don’t need wind to fly! If you throw a paper aeroplane indoors, it still flies gracefully to the ground thanks to its aerodynamic shape – gliding is no different.

7. How does it fly without an engine?

Silently! But seriously, you are always coming down through the air (just like the paper aeroplane). The trick to staying up is to find air that is going up faster than you are coming down. Of course, you do need a little help to get airborne to begin with, which takes place in the form of an aerotow of the glider from the Club’s powerful tug aircraft (we only do this at Banbury Gliding Club) or winch.

8. How many can fit in a glider?

There are two-seat gliders (which are used for instruction) and there are single-seat gliders (which you move onto once you are solo!).