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Gliding in Yorkshire

Burn, near Selby
REF: GLBRN2
Rated Based On 42 Reviews

  • 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


What's Included

  • Welcome, introduction and safety briefing
  • A powered aircraft will tow you to your chosen height for launch
  • Opportunity to take the controls during your flight
  • Enjoy stunning views of the surrounding countryside


2000ft Aerotow

  • Flights last around 15 minutes


3000ft Aerotow

  • Enjoy a longer flight time and learn more about handling the glider

What Can I Expect

Go gliding in Yorkshire with Burn Gliding Club for the winged experience of a lifetime over the hills and moors! This North Yorkshire centre is situated on an ex-WWII bomber command airfield near Burn outside Selby and offers unparalleled aerial views of the scenic surroundings and a birds-eye perspective of God's own county.

What's more, its rural location means that summertime sunshine creates plenty of localised rising currents of air (or thermals), thanks to what the Burn gliding team refers to as the 'Pennine wave', giving your glider that extra boost to keep you airborne for even longer. In winter, the plumes from the three nearby power stations of Drax, Eggborough and Ferrybridge, recreate this thermal lift effect, even when there's snow on the ground everywhere else, making this a unique setting for gliding.

All glider experience days at this Yorkshire airfield begin with a brief welcome, then it's out to the runways to find out which of the club's many twin-seater gliders you'll be flying. With an extensive range of aircraft available, including ASK13, ASK21, Janus and Astor twin seat aircraft making up Burn's expansive glider fleet, you'll be spoiled for choice.

You'll be shown the various aspects of the sailplane, before both you and one of the club's top-notch instructors climb into the cockpit for your flight. Airtime lasts between 15-30 minutes, depending on how many thermals are active to keep you soaring higher and higher. And of course, gliding time depends on your release height too, with 2000ft and 3000ft flight options available.

Flying is always an awe-inspiring experience, especially when you're in a sleek, graceful aircraft that's utterly devoid of man-made noise (there's still the wind whistling around you!). The entire event is a very different set of sensations - a bit like feeling as weightless as a bird on the wing. We could try and describe the feeling, but we think you'll love the chance to discover gliding over Yorkshire's fields, hills and dales of the White Rose county for yourself.

Availability

  • Gliding takes place Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays 
  • Flights generally take place between 11:00 and 16:00
  • During the summer months you may be able to go gliding in the evening
  • Please ensure that you book this experience well in advance to avoid disappointment
Please Note:  The booking operator is taking bookings from September 2024 onwards. 

Location

  • North Yorkshire, the airfield is five miles from the M62, providing access to the A1 and M1 motorways and one mile from Selby

Suitable For

  • The minimum age is 13
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult on the airfield
  • Maximum weight 16 stone
  • Maximum height 6'3"

Spectators

  • Spectators are welcome to come and watch you during your experience

Anything Else

  • For mile high flights: In the event of low cloud on the day, 2 aerotows may be offered instead
  • There is a clubhouse providing hot drinks and sandwiches and there are pubs and local hotel and B&B's that can also be recommended

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars

Average Rating: 4.9
Total Reviews: 42

Find out what other customers think of the experience

Reviews

  based on 42 reviews

Rating: 5 stars
dorrinda
2 Months ago
Had a fabulous gliding experience, the club members were all so friendly,knowledgeable and made our...
Rating: 5 stars
A Curran-Smirk
3 Months ago
Had a fab experience my instructor George(i think) his name was great Beautiful day beautiful fli...
Rating: 5 stars
Gliding experience
3 Months ago
Excellent was amazing Highly recommend to anyone Loved every minute of it Friendly staff
Rating: 4 stars
charles
5 Months ago
I really enjoyed this. The instructor was excellent, and gave me three mini "lessons" - of increas...
Rating: 5 stars
Fay Berry
5 Months ago
It was a great experience and everyone was very friendly.
Rating: 5 stars
Sue Engledow
The gliding experience was amazing,with very knowledgeable instructors. I thoroughly enjoyed it, ho...
Rating: 5 stars
Ann Page
I loved every minute of it weather good views amazing. All staff very friendly and helpful.
Rating: 5 stars
Colin Watson
Everyone involved were polite, very informative and made you feel relaxed from the beginning. Neil ...
Rating: 5 stars
Terry Whitaker
All at the gliding club were very helpful and determined that I would enjoy the gliding experience
Rating: 5 stars
Brian Small
The team were friendly, and ensured the experience was tailored to make my flights enjoyable and ...
Rating: 5 stars
Amanda Inglesfield
What a fantastic experience, my partner really enjoyed it and we are thinking of doing it again.
Rating: 5 stars
John White
A great time gliding, the pilot was both friendly and informative. All the other club members made ...
Rating: 5 stars
Martin Lawton
Fantastic experience. Totally hooked. Great pilot who took the time to explain things in detail and...
Rating: 5 stars
Tom
It’s was a surprise 40th present from my wife. Everyone e one of the volunteers were friendly and r...
Rating: 5 stars
Karen
Excellent ! The staff at into the blue were great reissuing vouchers due to covid. The actual ex...
Rating: 5 stars
Debbie Valentine
I was part of the party that cane to watch Rob have his first glider experience for his 50h Birthda...
Rating: 5 stars
Karen
The whole experience for my dad was brilliant. The staff at Burn airfield were amazing and so fri...
Rating: 5 stars
Stephen Hall
Would put this in my top 5 experiences of all time. Every one of the club members was very friendly...
Rating: 5 stars
Phil Jackson
Brilliant experience. All were friendly and welcoming . They were professional throughout and I fe...
Rating: 5 stars
Dave Williams
Everything was handled very professionally & efficiently from start to finish. Everyone was keen to...
Rating: 5 stars
Jennifer McNish
This was a brilliant experience and I had such a good time. Good instructions and safety briefing ...
Rating: 5 stars
Jonathan
This was excellent! The guys at the gliding club were fantastic. They really knew their stuff, prof...
Rating: 5 stars
Nigel Cook
The guys at the glider club near Selby were brilliant. Friendly and helpful from booking to flight....
Rating: 5 stars
Gordon Seaman
Gliding trip was a gift for my 80th birthday in advance with a year to take it up; decided to get o...
Rating: 5 stars
Ian Barrett
Excellent experience, easy to find. But it is windy. So wrap up. Can see my going back for more
Rating: 5 stars
Dave Mould
A great experience. The club members were very welcoming and friendly. The flight was great and Ge...
Rating: 5 stars
Stephen Jones
A fantastic experience i would recomend it to everyone and the people at the gliding club were exce...
Rating: 5 stars
MIchael
Fabulous experience and would highly recommend it to anyone - such a friendly bunch of people too. ...
Rating: 5 stars
Anne Swales
My dad had the best time ever, all his children paid for the mile high flight for his 80th birthday...
Rating: 5 stars
Robert
Brilliant afternoon.
Rating: 5 stars
Derek Scott.
my glider experience was excellent, the group where very friendly and organised the flights very we...
Rating: 5 stars
Sharon
What a great experience my gliding lesson was. The guys at the club were so friendly I wish it coul...
Rating: 5 stars
Steve Gill
The gliding club are a very well organised and welcoming group. The pilots are group of very experi...
Rating: 5 stars
Ann Whatcott
Very enjoyable overall. My husband had the flight. Last 10 minutes were extremely exciting as the g...
Rating: 5 stars
Trevor
An excellent experience. The weather didn't allow us to go a mile high so instead I had three takeo...
Rating: 5 stars
J Holland
Absolutely Brilliant, the people who run this were so friendly and helpful and even got the whole f...
Rating: 5 stars
Leanda Smith
Very welcoming, friendly and helpful people. The actual glider flight was amazing.
Rating: 5 stars
Cameron Elworthy
The instructor I had was really friendly and, even though it was my first time ever flying in a gli...
Rating: 5 stars
Tracy Harrison
What a Fantastic time we had, a great location, and the staff / pilot was amazing, guiding us throu...
Rating: 5 stars
Peter B
A fantastic experience Plenty of free parking. The airfield is easy to find. Staff very friendly...
Rating: 5 stars
Jason
The guys at the gliding centre were excellent. Very professional and friendly. Alister, my pilot wa...
Rating: 5 stars
john kirkham
After being given a glider flight for Christmas 2020 my idea was to leave it until later in the yea...