As head of training at the club I thought I would just outline the British gliding association training programme and how we teach it.
On your first visit you will have been shown how to stay safe on the airfield and taught how the basic controls work and how to look out effectively.
You will then be taught how we put these controls together and how we turn the glider. We will teach you to fly straight (not easy) and look out while flying, yes more lookout. Next trimming and speed control come along. By now you have the skills to control the aircraft, so we move onto landing and taking off. Slow flying and stalling will be brought in at an appropriate point.
Next we move onto the judgement exercises and how we get from the top of the launch to the start of the landing. What if it goes wrong? We spend some time on this.
At the end of all this someone will tap you on the shoulder and say “have a go on your own”. And you are flying on your own. Make the most of it. You will only do it once.
The learning will now begin, we have a comprehensive post solo training programme to take you beyond.
Dick Skerry
