Learn to fly at the Cambridge Gliding Centre

Cambridge Gliding Centre offers trial lessons to non-members whenever we are operating. Come along and join us for a morning or afternoon, or even make a day of it and bring the whole family.

We can get very busy so we recommend that you book in advance. We also suggest that you contact the Club before leaving home to confirm that we are flying and that a glider and instructor will be available for you. Rain, high winds and poor visibility can restrict our activities.

We provide two ways of getting airborne. You can either be launched by a winch or towed up behind a light aircraft. Both offer a fantastic experience. Once you are airborne your instructor will demonstrate the use of the controls, and show you how a glider flies. You will be encouraged to handle the controls as much as possible during this first flight.

On arrival at the airfield, go to the clubhouse office where you will be welcomed and asked to complete the necessary paperwork, which includes a declaration that you are fit to fly. With the paperwork over you will receive a short safety briefing and then be taken to the launch point and introduced to an Instructor or the Launch Marshall. The latter is responsible for the efficient running of the launch point – they will also ensure that you go gliding!

Your instructor will make your experience as pleasurable as possible: If you have an aerotow you could ask to experience a loop although it is certainly not mandatory! Click on the video below to see a Radio Cambridge reporter enjoying the experience:

Gift vouchers

We offer gift voucher packages which will provide the experience of a lifetime. All the following will include a thorough safety briefing before your flight or flights.

Single aerotow 2000

An aerotow to 2,000 feet with up to 30 minutes flying time depending on weather conditions. Handle the controls or just enjoy the experience.
Price - £80

Single aerotow 3000

An aerotow to 3,000 feet with up to 40 minutes flying time depending on weather conditions.
Price - £95

Each of the above flights can be taken at weekends throughout the year, and on weekdays during our summer season from April to September.

Introductory course

The package includes a safety briefing, three aerotows to 2,000 feet and initial instruction. This forms the first part of the full BGA syllabus. Price - £175

Because the club is very busy at weekends, introductory courses are only run Monday to Friday.

Gliding tokens

You can by a token for any value from £99. This can be used towards the cost of flight training, membership and our non-member flexible training package.

Evening flying

Groups or organisations, particularly those in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire can take advantage of our evening trial instructional flight programme which runs from early April to end September. Between 10 and 25 people can come and have an evening's flying with exclusive use of one or more 2 seater gliders and, of course, qualified instructors to go with them! Launches are by winch only and a typical flight lasts 8 minutes. Clubhouse facilities are made available for self-catering by these groups or, by special arrangement, a barbecue can be provided.

These evenings, which the club has been running successfully for many years, are very popular and so can become oversubscribed very quickly.

Cost

A deposit of £50 per group is payable on booking. First flight costs £24 whilst second and subsequent flights are half price.

Some things that would prevent you from attending a course:

• You are under 12 years old.
• You weigh over 109Kg (240lbs).
• You are subject to sudden disabling health attacks such as epilepsy. If you satisfy the medical requirements for a normal UK driving licence you will be fine.

Payment

Payment may be made by cash, cheque or credit card (Visa or Mastercard) in the office. Credit card payments will be accepted by telephone.