Is your ambition to learn to fly and one day become a solo glider pilot?
Then join one of our 5 day “Go Gliding” courses at the Cambridge Gliding Centre, Gransden Lodge Airfield, suited to both beginners and improvers.
You will quickly find that these courses are an enjoyable way to develop your hands-on flying skills and gain theoretical knowledge through inclusive ground school.
This could be you!
Training is carried out in the Cambridge Gliding Centre's modern, rugged, 2-seater, dual-control, high-performance gliders under the supervision of
experienced British Gliding Association (BGA) qualified instructors. Training follows the BGA's syllabus.
The Cambridge Gliding Centre is located at Great Gransden airfield, Longstowe, and is ideally located for easy access from Cambridge, Huntingdon and St
Neots. Click here for directions.
COURSE DETAILS
Start dates for 5 day courses in summer 2010, each running from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm daily, are as follows:
Course 1 - Monday 5 April
Course 2 - Monday 7 June
Course 3 - Monday 5 July
Course 4 - Monday 2 August
Course 5 - Monday 13 September
Course students can expect to make two to five flights per day, assuming flyable weather, ranging from short training flights from a winch launch, through to longer soaring flights of 30 minutes or more.
In addition to winch launches, aero-tow launches or motorglider training flights will also be available for students choosing to take higher launches. Beginners will be encouraged to take advantage of this for their early flights as this can accelerate learning of hands-on flying skills.
Ground school training will be fitted in during the week, where possible using any periods of poor weather, to introduce topics such as principles of flight, winch launching, airmanship when soaring, circuit planning and basic meteorology. Additional ground school sessions may be held if poor weather persists to introduce topics such as air law, navigation, and radio telephony.
COURSE COSTS
The course fee of £450 includes temporary membership for the week, tuition, ground school, and a credit of £350 against launch and flying charges at member rates as published on our web site.
As a guideline, a short training flight from a winch launch costs around £14, a 20 minute flight launched by aerotow costs around £45, and a 30 minute motorglider flight costs around £40. Students can review their credit in the office and can top this up if necessary to purchase additional flying beyond the course allocation. Any residual credit at the end of the course can be retained for further flying at the Club, or can be refunded if required.
Accommodation costs and meal costs are additional. For those outside of daily commuting distance and preferring to reside on-site, we are pleased to offer basic accommodation in our bunk house bookable through the office. Alternatively bed and breakfast or hotel accommodation is available locally. The kitchen in the club house is available for those wishing to self-cater or make hot drinks. Pre-packed sandwiches and snacks are available for sale from the office.
COURSE BENEFITS
During the course you can expect to increase your ability to fly and soar in our two-seater gliders. You will be shown how to fly increasing portions of each flight, from take-offs, to flying circuits and approaches/landings. You will be shown how the launch point is crewed and take turns in these roles. Advanced students can expect to progress to stalling and spinning exercises and other exercises required in preparation for solo flight.
Going solo typically requires training over a number of weeks or months and depends on instructor assessment of the readiness of each individual for solo. This will depend on the cumulative time spent airborne, number/type of launches and individual demonstrated ability.
At the end of your course, if you decide you would like to continue flying with us regularly, the basic cost of the course (£100) will be credited against your first year's full membership (normally £480, reduced to £380).
A pilot's log book and a detailed training syllabus are also included in the course package.
ENROLMENT
To enrol please contact the office on 01767 677077 or and arrange to pay your reservation fee of £100. Please advise us whether you are a beginner or if you have previous flying experience. This will enable us to tailor the course to your requirements.
Remember – Spaces on these popular courses are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis – book your place TODAY!
The 'small print'
1. Course fees are non-refundable.
2. The flying charges indicated are correct at the time of publication. However, prices are subject to change if the club tariff changes.
3. You need to weigh less than 104kg (230lb).
4. You cannot fly if 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.