Holiday Courses at the Scottish Gliding Centre

The Scottish Gliding Centre is again offering 5-day "Learn to Fly" activity holidays based at its Portmoak Airfield near Kinross (see here for available dates). The courses are aimed primarily at beginners and no previous knowledge or experience is required. No great theoretical knowledge is needed to fly a glider (just as no great mechanical knowledge is needed to be able to drive a car) and people of all ages from schoolchildren^* to retired routinely take up this exhilarating sport. Neither do you need to be particularly athletic or super-fit; anyone in a reasonable state of health  can fly a glider. (As a general guide, if you are fit enough to drive a car you are fit enough to fly a glider). The sport is equally suitable for both sexes. Whilst it is probably unlikely that you will be able to become a solo pilot from a cold start in the space of a week, you will certainly get a good way towards it, especially since one of the most important considerations in learning to fly is to try not to forget too much between lessons. If you have already started to learn, then a holiday course is an excellent way to jump up the learning curve, whilst for early solo pilots it offers the opportunity to put in a week's intensive flying under the supervision of an experienced instructor.

Holiday course training is carried out in the Scottish Gliding Centre's modern, rugged, 2-seater, dual-control, high-performance gliders under the supervision of experienced British Gliding Association (BGA) qualified instructors and follows the BGA's syllabus. The 5-day courses run from Mondays to Fridays with the emphasis on flying. Instruction on flying theory, air law and navigation are fitted around this, especially if there is a spell of poor weather, but every opportunity is taken to get into the air. The Scottish Gliding Centre is located very close to 2 extensive hill ridges which give soarable conditions in almost all weather conditions and of course depending on the time of year, thermal or wave activity is also possible.

The holiday can be either residential or not. The SGC clubhouse offers comfortable on-site accommodation and there are plenty of places to stay in the surrounding area. Residential courses consist of 6 nights' accommodation and all meals are included beginning with dinner on the Sunday evening and ending after breakfast on the following Saturday. Non-residential students can purchase snacks and meals in the clubhouse as required. Courses commence at 9.00 on the Monday with a short briefing and non-residential students should arrive at 8.30 to make themselves known and find their way around. Flying is charged for separately so that you only pay for the flying which you actually do.

To book a place on a holiday course, check the available dates here and fill out and return a course application form along with your non-returnable deposit to the Scottish Gliding Centre. The courses are popular and early application is advisable. If you need any further information please contact the club by phone or email or in writing.

^* Under current legislation you need to be at least 16 years of age to fly solo. It is probably not worthwhile learning to fly until you are about 15 years old so that you will not get to solo level too much before you can legally fly. If you are under the age of 18 you will need your parent's permission.

page last updated on 7th March 2005 ©)2002-2005 and the

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