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Gliding Experiences & Flights Nationwide

 

Discover the serenity of silent flight on a glider experience! Catching thermals and soaring is what flying in a glider is all about. We have a full range of flight durations at glider schools & clubs around the UK, offering winch launches, aerotows and self-launching motorised gliders too. Glider flights FAQs...

 

Gliding Experience (1080p)

 
 
 
 
red nosed glider
Based On 22 Reviews

Nationwide Gliding Experience

Nationwide Locations

Best Seller Buy For £115.00

Nationwide Gliding Experience
• Voucher valid at countrywide glider clubs 
• Enjoy the sensation of silent flight
• Have a go at the controls during your flight
• An explanation of glider flight included
Gliding in Colchester from Wormingford Airfield
Based On 3 Reviews

Gliding in Colchester

Wormingford Airfield, Essex

Limited Time Offers From £49.00

Gliding in Colchester
  • Gliding from Wormingford Airfield, Essex
  • Winch tows get you airborne over Colchester
  • Easy access from Suffolk and Essex areas
  • Active glider base with 8 gliders in their own fleet
gliders in snow
Based On 39 Reviews

Gliding Lessons in Kent

Near Ashford

From £115.00

Gliding Lessons in Kent
• Founded in 1930, it's one of the oldest UK clubs
• Dynamic Gliding club with over 150 active members
• Go Gliding from nr Ashford over the Kentish Downs
• Excellent clubhouse with food, rooms and camping
Clouds in the sky
Based On 22 Reviews

Gliding in Peterborough

Crowland Airfield

From £109.00

Gliding in Peterborough
• Go gliding from Crowland Airfield nr Peterborough
• Various flight options inc one mile high!
• Day course teaches you rigging & launching etc
• Subject to weather, flying offered all year round
views from a glider
Based On 11 Reviews

Gliding in Leicestershire

Husbands Bosworth Airfield, Leics/Northants Border

From £65.00

Gliding in Leicestershire
• Glider flights at Husbands Bosworth in Leics
• Winch or motorised flights available
• A long-established club with great atmosphere
• Experiences take place seven days a week
Gliding Dunstable - Fly Modern Tandem Gliders near London

Gliding in Dunstable

Near Dunstable, Bedfordshire

From £159.00

Gliding in Dunstable
  • Nearest glider club to London
  • Aerotow flights from Dunstable
  • A club run by passionate people!
  • Full day pilot training option
Plane with clouds
Based On 3 Reviews

Flying Lessons North Wales (Denbigh)

Lleweni Parc, North Wales

From £199.00

Flying Lessons North Wales (Denbigh)
  • Air experiences out of Lleweni Park near Denbigh
  • Lots of options including tours & hands-on lessons
  • Spectacular views of the North Wales Countryside
  • All flights operated by a modern motorised glider
front of glider
Based On 42 Reviews

Gliding in Yorkshire

Burn, near Selby

From £109.00

Gliding in Yorkshire
  • Gliding with Burn Gliding Club near Selby
  • Experience the 'Pennine wave'
  • See the very best of 'God's own county' from the air
  • Opportunity to take the controls during your flight
Gliding in Essex at Ridgewell Airfield
Based On 17 Reviews

Gliding Lessons in Essex

Ridgewell Airfield, near Halstead

From £45.00

Gliding in Essex
• Glider flying at Ridgewell Airfield in Essex
• Lessons based on soar time & release height
• A close-knit team of instructors & members
• It's gliders only (& the tug!) at this airfield
gliding north wales
Based On 19 Reviews

Gliding in North Wales

Near Wrexham

Buy For £135.00

Gliding in North Wales
• Winch launches to get you airborne in North Wales
• Soar over scenic Llandegla Hills on your gliding lesson
• Perfect choice for 'making a weekend' of it
• Enjoy 1 x long cruise or up to 3 x shorter flights
Plane
Based On 3 Reviews

Gliding Lessons in Devon

Eaglescott Airfield, Umberleigh

Buy For £129.00

Gliding North Devon
  • Glide gracefully over North Devon
  • Fly from Eaglescott Airfield near Umberleigh
  • Be towed up to 2000ft before being released
  • Flights in a classic Slingsby T21 Sedbergh
glider in the air
Based On 31 Reviews

Gliding in Warwickshire

Bidford Airfield, near Bidford upon Avon

From £139.00

Gliding in Warwickshire
• Soar away from Bidford Airfield in Warwickshire
• Glide over the stunning Vale of Evesham
• Tug launch up to 3000ft or a mile high (5280ft)
• All flights include 28-day club membership
man sitting in a glider
Based On 10 Reviews

Gliding over Dartmoor

Brentor Airfield, Tavistock

From £125.00

Gliding over Dartmoor
• Gliding club at Brentor Airfield near Tavistock
• Stunning views of Dartmoor as you glide
• Day course gives you a total of six glider flights
• A friendly, professional set up in South Devon
glider on ground
Based On 36 Reviews

Motorgliding in Devon

Dunkeswell Aerodrome, Honiton

From £99.00

Motorgliding in Devon
• Motorised glider flights out of Dunkeswell Airfield
• Climb under your own power, cut the engine & glide
• A choice of flight durations offered for you
• See amazing sights of the Devon & the Jurassic coast
Glider Aerobatics Flights from Dunstable Airfield

Glider Aerobatics Experience

Near Dunstable, Bedfordshire

Buy For £289.00

Glider Aerobatics Experience
• Do aerobatics in a glider!
• Powerless flight with a unique twist
• Departing from Dunstable Downs
• Fly with a expert glider pilot
Motor Glider Flights Cornwall - Flying in Cornwall

Motor Glider Flights Cornwall

Perranporth Airfield, Saint Agnes

From £99.00

Motor Glider Flights Cornwall
  • Fly in a Scheibe Falke motorised glider
  • 30 & 60-minute lessons available
  • Take off from Perrenporth Airfield
  • Amazing St Agnes coast views
Motor Gliding Swindon - Microlight Flying
Based On 4 Reviews

Motor Gliding Swindon

Shrivenham, Oxfordshire/Wiltshire Border

From £99.00

Motor Gliding Swindon
• Motorised gliding at Sandhill Farm near Swindon
• Fly in a Grob self-powered glider
• Choose a 30 or a 60-minute flight
• The chance to take the controls yourself
Gliding Wiltshire - Tuition
Based On 1 Review

Gliding in Wiltshire

Sandhill Farm Airfield, Oxfordshire/Wiltshire Border

From £95.00

Gliding in Wiltshire
  • Gliding on the Wiltshire / Oxfordshire border
  • Soar over the Vale of White Horse
  • Choose a 2000 or 3000ft aerotow
  • Small & friendly glider club 
New choice Image

Flyers Choice

Locations Nationwide

From £50.00

Flyers Choice
  • Choose from a wide choice of Flying Experiences
  • Locations across the UK
  • Option to top up your voucher on line
  • FREE premium packaging included worth £4.99
 

Should I buy this experience?

Who gliding is for

Going on a glider experience is a totally unique way to get airborne that should be tried at least once in your life! It's very different to flying in a light aircraft or a helicopter. After the take-off, the quietness in the cockpit (save of the sound of the wind whistling) is amazing - as are the views.

Who it's not for

If you're scared of flying, gliding might not be for you. The take-off can be quite bumpy and winch launches in particular pull the glider at a very steep angle. It's a fantastic aerial challenge to take on though!

Glider Experience FAQs

 
 

How much are glider lessons?

It all depends what type of glider flight you book. We have winch launch and aerotow flights that start under £50, all the way through to pilot taster days with multiple flights in one day.

 
 
 

How do glider planes get in the air?

Aerotow - the glider is pulled up by a tug plane using a cable, then released. Winch tow - the glider is taken up by a cable attached to a motorised winch on the airfield, then released. Motorised - the glider uses its own engine to take off, then the engine is switched off.

 
 
 

How high will the glider go?

For these trial lessons the release heights are as follows: Winch tows 1000ft, aerotows generally between 2000-2500ft and motorised gliders power to around 2500-3000ft.

 
 
 

How fast will I be flying in the glider?

Modern gliders can reach speeds of up to 150mph, but on taster flights you'll be cruising at something between 50 and 90mph.

 
 
 

What is all this talk of glider thermals about?

Thermals are the holy grail for glider pilots! If the pilot finds a pocket of air that's rising faster than you are coming down, that's uplift and you'll ascend. Catching these bubbles of warm rising air (thermals) give you lift as you circle around gaining height - just like birds with their wings stretched out do. Note that quite often trial lessons avoid thermals as the slow spiralling can set off motion sickness.

 
 
 

How long do glider flights last?

Gliders can easily stay aloft for five hours and go higher than their initial launch height, thanks to thermals. For these beginner lessons you can expect: winch glider flights to last 5-10mins, aerotow glider flights 15-20mins and motorised glider flights are generally around 25-30mins.

 
 
 

What's the take off like in a glider?

Bumpy. Gliders are on grass runways being pulled by a cable and it get pretty noisy and rattley too. Winch tow take offs are more aggressive than aerotows and motorised gliders, as the angle is more aggressive. But once you're up there, it's really peaceful and surprisingly quiet

 
 
 

How old do you have to be to fly a glider?

In the UK you can't go solo in a glider before the age of 14. Trial lessons minimum ages are usually around 13 years of age due to minimum height (5ft) and weight (45kg), but please refer to each glider lesson page for full details.

 
 
 

What are the height and weight restrictions for glider experiences?

As well as the minimums of 45kg and 5ft, there are maximums of around 100kg and 6ft2". These limits can differ according to the type of glider flown, so please check with each lesson listing.

 
 
 

Can I bring a camera?

Some pilot instructors don't allow anything loose to be in the cockpit during the flight. If you are allowed it must be attached to your via something like a lanyard or wrist band.

 
 
 

Why do I have to wear a parachute when gliding?

For safety and mainly because glider seats are designed to be sat in with a parachute on. The parachute pack weighs about 7kg. You get a full briefing on it all before your flight.

 
 
 

Is it comfortable inside the glider cockpit?

Yes. The seating position is bit like reclining in a bath and you get a great, unobstructed view. And of course there's no engine noise.Many first time glider flyers comment on how smooth and peaceful it is. It can get hot in there, even on a dull day, so suncream, sunglasses and hat (not baseball cap) are advised.

 
 
 

Where do I sit in the glider?

Training gliders are two-seater tandems. You get the prime seat in the front, with no wing struts or propellor to block your bird's eye view, whilst your pilot instructor sits behind. In some motorised gliders it's a side-by-side seat configuration.

 
 
 

Can I fly the glider during my experience?

Yes. All the training gliders used for lessons are dual controlled, so if you're up for it, you can have a go!

 
 
 

Are there glider lessons near me?

Yes! We specialise in glider experiences and have excellent relations with glider clubs and airfields around the UK. So whether you want to soar thermals over the Black Mountains, or want to look down on suburban Surrey from your glider, you can. Here are just some of the places you can glide in the UK:

  • Kent
  • Bedfordshire
  • Oxfordshire
  • Croydon
  • Essex
  • Northamptonshire
  • Hampshire
  • Warwickshire
  • Devon
  • Buckinghamshire
  • Wales - Wrexham and Powys