06/08/2026
From Your First Flight to SOLO!
Join UoN Gliding in 2026/27 and start your flying journey.
1. Attend a Safety Briefing
Before your first flying day, attend one of our safety briefings at the start of the academic year and purchase your club membership.
2. Get to Know the Airfield
Familiarise yourself with the gliders, meet our committee and instructors, and get comfortable with the airfield environment.
3. Meet Your Instructor
You’ll be introduced to your instructor, learn how to fit and use a parachute correctly, and be briefed on your first flight.
4. Your First Flight
You’ll launch by winch or aerotow, experience gliding for the first time. You will have the opportunity to take the controls and fly the aircraft yourself under instruction.
5. Begin Your Training Record
You’ll receive a training record that tracks your progress through the British Gliding Association syllabus as you complete each exercise.
6. Keep Flying
Consistency is the key to progress. By flying regularly you’ll steadily build your skills, covering topics including:
* Straight glide
* Turning
* Stalling and stall recovery
* Launches
* Circuits and landings
* Emergencies
* Airmanship and lookout
Throughout your training you’ll develop confidence, sound judgement, situational awareness and safe decision making.
7. Your First Solo
After successfully completing the required syllabus exercises, holding the appropriate medical declaration, and when both you and your instructor are confident that you’re ready, it’ll be time for your very first solo flight.
8. The Journey Continues
Your first solo isn’t the end of your training, it’s just the beginning. You’ll continue flying supervised solo and dual flights, work towards your Sailplane Pilot Licence (SPL), enjoy longer soaring flights, and continue developing your skills as a glider pilot.
