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Trial
Lessons at Burn Gliding Club -  |
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 So you fancy yourself as a
glider pilot do you, or would you like to give a very different, but special, Birthday or
Christmas gift? If either of these is the case, then a trial lesson at Burn could be for
you!
It is the secret ambition of many people to become aviators and to fly aircraft by
themselves. Gliding provides a better view and more peaceful experience than in a
constricted and noisy powered aircraft (and it's a lot cheaper too!).
With a trial lesson, you can experience the sheer exhilaration of flying an unpowered
aircraft with a fully qualified instructor to guide you through the controls. Prices are
very competitive when compared to those of powered flight (around 80% cheaper), and don't
worry about the lack of engine and fuel, its just less to go wrong.
Gliding Background
On a summer's day huge warm buoyant bubbles of air are continually leaving the ground to
form thermals, rising currents of air which a glider pilot can use to gain height. These
currents of air can often rise hundreds of feet a minute, carrying the glider with them up
to the white cumulus clouds that form often at 4,000 or 5,000 feet. By circling inside the
thermal, adjusting the position of the glider until it is in the strongest part of the up
current, the glider pilot can gain height before setting off in search of the next area of
lift.
Thermals occur almost everywhere on a sunny day, but air flowing over hills and mountains
also provide a source of lift. Although this 'ridge lift' is not found at Burn, we often
find 'Wave lift', which occurs in some circumstances when the airflow over hills and
mountains takes up a wave motion, producing strong up-currents capable of taking gliders
up to 20,000 or 30,000 feet.
At Burn, the majority of flights are made in thermals although we regularly have Wave
flights from 5,000 to 10,000 feet. During a trial lesson however, you will spend most of
the time local soaring, trying to fly the glider yourself, if you would like to take
control and if the instructor is confident in your ability.
To contact us CLICK HERE
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