I have gliding in a week so I am interested in what the experience is like for those who have already done it. Anything I should expect, tips, etc. would be appreciated!
Facetious answer - it’s like flying but without an engine…
In a nutshell, it’s the closest to feeling like a bird that you’ll experience… aside from the noise at the launch and landing, about the only other noise you’ll hear is the wind and your pilot chatting to you…
You’ll feel the effects of wind, lift, thrust and friction as you move through the air - but for most people, the best bit is when you make a movement and alter the gliders path… and feel the feedback of your action…
You will have an amazing time…!
Trying to be pragmatic - just be mindful that it is an activity that is heavily dependent on the weather…
Dress warmly and take waterproofs! Make sure you’ve had a sensible breakfast and take a sensible packed lunch. Don’t drink fizzy drinks!
If you have any worries about motion sickness - try eating some ginger biscuits (or anything with ginger!) as it helps to minimise the sense of nausea…!
Enjoy the moment and “remember to talk”. Your pilot wants you to enjoy yourself - feel free to ask them anything!
Check with your staff and the VGS if you can take a camera up with you for the obligatory selfie in the air!
Last of all - when exiting the aircraft remember to shake the pilots hand and say thank you!
You’ll spend a fair amount of the day in bursts of activity and rest… so be prepared for it not being exciting all the time! (If you’ve got coursework you need to catch up on - you might be able to take it with you to do in between periods of activity!
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Just go along and enjoy it really, you show up at the VGS get all registered - weight/parachute measurements and a pull test to see if you’re strong enough to deploy the parachute (it’s really easy) then you’ll do some training on procedure which is quite simple - then when I did mine we went out to the airfield and helped with other tasks (attaching winches, running with the wings, holding canopies open etc) and we stayed out at the airfield for the whole day whilst everyone did their flights and then we headed back. It’s really fun and highly unlikely you’ll get bored
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Its better than powered flight
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Gliding makes for a much better whole day out. You get to get involved with launching and recovery of the gliders and do other things around the airfield. As opposed to flying where you get 1 20 min flight and then sit in a small box hut all day!
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My only experience of gliding without an engine was when I was lucky enough to get a week of fantastic weather at RAF Syerston and only one other cadet to share the airfield with.
I went from never trying to doing my AGT. It was better than any of the flying I did as a trainee pilot after that point (except maybe spinning, which was the one thing I was actually really good at 
).
It’s starts like a fast rollercoaster, and you’re pushed into your seat.
Then you point up and all you hear is the air rushing past.
Then as the nose starts to come down, you release the cable.
And then… silence (ish).
It’s amazing.
You’ll have a fantastic time, and the people there will really look after you.
You’ll be told about the kit, the parachute, what the stuff in the cockpit does etc… all you have to do is enjoy the experience.
I’m really jealous that you get to experience this for the first time. Please do come back and share how you found it!
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My first winch launched gliding day was unforgettable. The whole process is much more hands on, no hours in a crew room playing antiquated consoles or watching ancient DVDs. It’s full on work on an active airfield, with you fully involves in every aspect.
The anticipation ahead of launch is compelling, and the feel of a winch launch up to 1600 feet is amazing. (I did mine at Predannack, and in a good day you could get almost 2000 feet off the main runway)
You climb at a rate higher than almost every powered aircraft going, and get almost a weightless feeling as you round off the top.
From then on it’s just falling. With style.
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Most certainly will keep everyone updated! It definitely seems like an incredible unforgettable experience, and that was what my CO really reiterated
Can’t wait!
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It really is unforgettable, near 30yrs later I still talk about doing my solo to get my old blue wings. And having the chance to go gliding last year brought all those memories flooding back.
But back in my day it was either flying, gliding, shooting or a weekend away with the sqn. So any chance you get, you should take it and make the most of it.
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I remember having to go solo to get light blue wings too. Does a solo flight get you gold now?
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How did I forget about AGT? Of course, that was always gold: they just changed the light blue to silver and added bronze.
Do VGS’ ever take supernumerary staff and train them to glide and be instructors? Interested in learning but not sure if that’s an option or if I should just join my local BGA club and reach out once I’ve at least soloed.
They do, but it can take a while as cadets are the priority.
I’m constantly mulling it over and have often thought it’d be much easier to learn in a civvy capacity and then start working on joining a VGS once I’m getting to the level where I could be more useful and less of a training burden, while potentially being able to skip through the more basic stuff and so taking up less capacity.
I did try to get hold of a training programme so I could go to a civvy club and check my progress against the stuff I knew a VGS would want to see, but haven’t yet acquired such a guide. Probably not essential. I can’t see it being all that different.
That’s what I’m thinking. My local BGA club has a fixed price to solo, might try and do that then consider reaching out to VGS once I’ve found my feet a bit
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Speaking of, how do you achieve blue wings? (Or whatever is the first level)
They do, but you need to meet the same medical requirements as an RAF fast jet pilot
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Although you won’t get a go in the centrifuge or Baro-chamber at the IAM which were fun.
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