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“Do I need to be fit to learn to fly a glider?”It’s one of the questions we get asked - and the answer is usually much s...
14/09/2026

“Do I need to be fit to learn to fly a glider?”

It’s one of the questions we get asked - and the answer is usually much simpler than people expect!

You don’t need to be an athlete, a pilot or an expert in anything. Though you do need to be able to get into and out of the aircraft fairly easily (it's often compared to being a bit like getting into a bath). That being said, we are able to accommodate a range of disabilities too, so please do ring and ask - we will do our very best to get you in the air.

You’ll learn everything you need to know as you go.

“Do I need previous flying experience?”
Nope. You can start from scratch.

“How long does it take to learn?”
Everyone progresses differently. Some people fly regularly and progress quickly, while others fit flying around work and family life.

“Do I have to join a club?”
If you decide you want to continue learning after a trial flight, membership is the usual next step.

“Is gliding difficult?”
There’s definitely plenty to learn - but that’s part of the fun! And you’ll have an experienced instructor with you throughout your training.

Have another question about learning to fly?

Drop it in the comments and we might answer it in our next FAQ post! 👇🏼

Meet the people who make the flying happen… 👋✈️Behind every flight at The Gliding Centre is a team of people who are pas...
10/09/2026

Meet the people who make the flying happen… 👋✈️

Behind every flight at The Gliding Centre is a team of people who are passionate about getting people into the air.

From our instructors and tug pilots to the people helping on the ground, everyone plays a part in making a day’s flying happen.

And that’s one of the things we love about gliding.

It’s not just about the aircraft.

It’s about the people.

Whether you’re here for your first trial lesson, learning to fly, working towards your next qualification or competing at a high level, you’ll find a friendly team ready to help.

We’ll be introducing you to some of our team over the coming weeks.

First up… Sallyann Perkins, our fabulous Manager👇🏼

She's likely to be the very first person you meet as you head into the office on arrival. She will do her very best to ensure that whether you're here for a one-off flight, a 1-Day course, or indeed many years of flying with us, that you have a great experience.
Sallyann will be able to answer any question you throw at her - and there are no daft questions!

“I never thought I’d be able to do this.”It’s something we hear a lot from people who come to The Gliding Centre for the...
07/09/2026

“I never thought I’d be able to do this.”

It’s something we hear a lot from people who come to The Gliding Centre for their first flight.

And then something happens.

They discover that flying a glider isn’t just something that other people do.

They discover they can learn it too.

Our instructors are experienced, patient and committed to helping every student progress safely and confidently, whatever their starting point.

From your very first launch through to solo flying and beyond, you’ll be following the British Gliding Association training syllabus and learning at a pace that’s right for you.

So if you’ve been thinking about trying gliding but aren’t sure whether you’ll be able to do it…

Come and find out.

You might surprise yourself. ✈️

Ever wondered what it actually feels like to fly a glider?There’s only one way to find out… ✈️Our trial lessons are a ch...
03/09/2026

Ever wondered what it actually feels like to fly a glider?

There’s only one way to find out… ✈️

Our trial lessons are a chance to experience gliding for yourself, with one of our experienced instructors alongside you.

You’ll get to experience the incredible silence of unpowered flight, learn how the controls work and, depending on conditions and your instructor, have the opportunity to take control yourself.

And don’t worry — you don’t need any previous flying experience.

Just bring yourself, a sense of adventure and a head for heights!

👉 Book your trial lesson and discover gliding for yourself:
https://www.theglidingcentre.co.uk/

From first flights to flying cross-country, one thing we love about gliding is seeing just how far people can take it. ✈...
31/08/2026

From first flights to flying cross-country, one thing we love about gliding is seeing just how far people can take it. ✈️

Our competitions are a great reminder that you don’t have to start out knowing where your flying will take you.

You start with one launch.
Then another.
You learn to centre a thermal.
You progress to get your licence.
You fly further.
You navigate.
You perhaps enter your first competition…

And suddenly you’re doing things you never imagined you could do when you first sat in a glider.

Our latest competition has been another brilliant example of what’s possible when you keep learning, keep flying and keep pushing yourself.

So if you’ve ever watched from the ground and thought “I’d love to do that…”

You can.

You really can. ❤️✈️

Come and give it a go. 👇🏼

30/08/2026

There is still time to apply for the Able Gliding Scholarship which is offering three women, aged 14+, living with a disability in the UK, the chance to learn to glide, with support from Lasham Gliding Society and Women in Aviation at Lasham.

This scholarship includes an introductory flight by Aerotow and then two months' free membership using winch launches at Lasham Gliding Society, and further funded gliding opportunities. Using specially adapted aircraft, gliding is accessible, inclusive, and a great way to experience flight and join a supportive community.

Follow this link to apply - https://www.aerobility.com/gliding-scholarship-application
Applications will close on the 31st of August, applicants must be aged 14+ to enter.

If learning to fly is something you’ve always wanted to do… why not make 2026 the year you actually do it? ✈️Our 5-day g...
28/08/2026

If learning to fly is something you’ve always wanted to do… why not make 2026 the year you actually do it? ✈️

Our 5-day gliding courses are designed to help you make real progress, with five consecutive days of flying and plenty of opportunity to put what you’ve learned into practice.

You’ll fly with an experienced BGA instructor, following the BGA training syllabus, with a maximum of just two students per instructor.

And the best bit? You don’t need to be an experienced pilot to get started.

Whether you’re completely new to gliding or already have some launches under your belt, we tailor the course to your experience and goals.

There are still a few spaces available for our September courses.

Could this be the year you learn to fly?

👉 Find out more: https://www.theglidingcentre.co.uk/product/5-day-course/

Have you visited us yet this summer? If not, what are you waiting for! Paul dropped by a while back, and now he’s flying...
26/08/2026

Have you visited us yet this summer? If not, what are you waiting for!

Paul dropped by a while back, and now he’s flying solo.
Here’s what he had to say about learning to fly with us at The Gliding Centre. 👇🏼👇🏼

GLIDING 5-DAY COURSES - GRAB THE LAST SPOTS FOR 2026!WHAT:Let the dream of learning to fly become a reality at The Glidi...
23/08/2026

GLIDING 5-DAY COURSES - GRAB THE LAST SPOTS FOR 2026!

WHAT:
Let the dream of learning to fly become a reality at The Gliding Centre.
Our modern high performance glider fleet, with both winch and aerotow facilities, and our team of highly experienced gliding instructors combine to allow you to progress safely and rapidly through the British Gliding Association training syllabus. With unlimited winches and 10 aerotows you will will have plenty of opportunity to learn.

Looking for a holiday idea – with 5 days continuous flying you will make very good progress through the BGA syllabus.

WHEN:
Limited spaces available on the Mon-Fri weeks commencing 21st Sept and 28th Sept.

This course is bookable all week during our summer season (April – September, excl. Bank Holidays) as a block of consecutive days – could be Monday – Friday or perhaps Thursday and Friday followed by Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the next week.

HOW DOES IT WORK: The course is tailored to your individual experience – maybe you have a number of launches in your log book but want to make more rapid progress towards solo.
Each day you will fly up to 2 hours depending on the weather.

KEY BENEFITS: With a maximum of two students per instructor, you will make good progress on this course. Includes 1 months membership.

HOW TO BOOK: Purchase via the website at https://www.theglidingcentre.co.uk/product/5-day-course/ or contact Sally on 01858 880521 to confirm your choice of week.

We look forward to welcoming you soon!

Our flight experiences make great gifts for friends and family who appreciate something a little out of the ordinary. 🎁 ...
23/08/2026

Our flight experiences make great gifts for friends and family who appreciate something a little out of the ordinary. 🎁 ✈️

We have three types of flight experience available:

Motor Glider - Just like a glider but with an engine
Aero tow - Your glider is gently pulled high into the air with one of our tug aircraft
Winch - 0 to 1500 feet in seconds!

Date: to suit you. We can usually accommodate any date you need.

Find out more & grab your voucher for a Motor Glider flight experience here:

https://www.theglidingcentre.co.uk/flightexperiences/

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