Getting to Solo
How long does it take?
To go solo a student must be able to consistently demonstrate to their instructor that they are
safe to fly on their own.
To do this the student will have to have shown:
•
Good coordination of stick and rudder
•
Good circuit planning - including landing from out of position locations
•
Sensible decision making when under pressure
•
Good judgement of height & distance
The length of time it takes to learn to fly a glider depends on a number of factors including:
•
Age.
•
Coordination.
•
Aptitude.
•
Confidence.
•
How oftern you fly.
•
Previous experience.
It normally takes someone with no experience between 80 - 120 flights to go solo.
People with previous experience flying powered aircraft, paragliders or other air or wind based
sports may progress slightly faster.
As a very rough guide, the number of launches (flights) to solo can be calculated by:
•
your age + one third your age + 20 = the number of launches to solo.
•
(e.g. age 45 + 15 + 20 = 80 launches to solo).
What does it cost?
Costs vary by club. To learn with us you will need to:
•
become a member of the club and the British Gliding Association,
•
pay an amount per launch,
•
pay an amount per minute for the use of the club gliders.
Our instructors (and everyone else at the club) are all volunteers. Instruction is provided free of
charge and in return, it is expected that club members will assist with work around the club
rather than just flying and then going home.
As a rough guide the cost of getting to solo is likely to be between £1,200 - £1,800 plus the
annual cost of membership but could be less.
Is that cost reasonable?
•
We think so. By way of comparison, a nearby golf course is currently charging £885 per
year membership fees and green fees of between £30 and £60 per session whilst a typical
minium for power flying wouldbe£140 per hour.
Interested?
•
If you are interested in becoming a member or would like further information about the
process, drop us an email to enquiries@bfgc.co.uk with your contact details and we will
get back to you.
As a rough guide the cost of getting to solo is likely to be between £1,200 - £1,800 plus the
annual cost of membership but could be less.
Is that cost reasonable?
•
We think so. By way of comparison, a nearby golf course is currently charging £885 per
year membership fees and green fees of between £30 and £60 per session whilst a typical
minium for power flying wouldbe£140 per hour.
Interested?
•
If you are interested in becoming a member or would like further information about the
process, drop us an email to enquiries@bfgc.co.uk with your contact details and we will
get back to you.
Getting to Solo
How long does it take?
To go solo a student must be able to consistently
demonstrate to their instructor that they are safe to fly
on their own.
To do this the student will have to have shown:
•
Good coordination of stick and rudder
•
Good circuit planning - including landing from
out of position locations
•
Sensible decision making when under pressure
•
Good judgement of height & distance
The length of time it takes to learn to fly a glider
depends on a number of factors including:
•
Age.
•
Coordination.
•
Aptitude.
•
Confidence.
•
How oftern you fly.
•
Previous experience.
It normally takes someone with no experience
between 80 - 120 flights to go solo.
People with previous experience flying powered
aircraft, paragliders or other air or wind based sports
may progress slightly faster.
As a very rough guide, the number of launches
(flights) to solo can be calculated by:
•
your age + one third your age + 20 = the number
of launches to solo.
•
(e.g. age 45 + 15 + 20 = 80 launches to solo).
What does it cost?
Costs vary by club. To learn with us you will need to:
•
become a member of the club and the British
Gliding Association,
•
pay an amount per launch,
•
pay an amount per minute for the use of the club
gliders.
Our instructors (and everyone else at the club) are all
volunteers. Instruction is provided free of charge and
in return, it is expected that club members will assist
with work around the club rather than just flying and
then going home.
As a rough guide the cost of getting to solo is likely to
be between £1,200 - £1,800 plus the annual cost of
membership but could be less.
Is that cost reasonable?
•
We think so. By way of comparison, a nearby
golf course is currently charging £885 per year
membership fees and green fees of between
£30 and £60 per session whilst a typical minium
for power flying wouldbe£140 per hour.
Interested?
•
If you are interested in becoming a member or
would like further information about the process,
drop us an email to enquiries@bfgc.co.uk with
your contact details and we will get back to you.
As a rough guide the cost of getting to solo is likely to
be between £1,200 - £1,800 plus the annual cost of
membership but could be less.
Is that cost reasonable?
•
We think so. By way of comparison, a nearby
golf course is currently charging £885 per year
membership fees and green fees of between
£30 and £60 per session whilst a typical minium
for power flying wouldbe£140 per hour.
Interested?
•
If you are interested in becoming a member or
would like further information about the process,
drop us an email to enquiries@bfgc.co.uk with
your contact details and we will get back to you.
