Are you looking for an adventure? Something that will take your breath away and give you the best views of Kent and its coastline? Look no further than gliding!
Discover the rich history of gliding in Kent by joining this dynamic club located on the crest of the North Downs between Charing and Challock. As the first gliding club in England, it has a long and proud history of hundreds of people soaring over the Garden of England. The club has continuously developed and upgraded its facilities and fleet to remain up to date and modern, making it an excellent place to learn the graceful art of gliding.
With around 30 BGA approved gliding instructors and 20 tug pilots on the books, you can glide seven days a week in summer and every Wednesday and at weekends in winter too. And with the mild climate of Kent, you can glide all year round.
Gliding offers the best views of Kent and the coastline. On a clear day, you can see the Thames Estuary, Whitstable, and Essex on one side of the cockpit, while on the other side, you can see Ashford, the Kent coastline, and even France, as you take a slow, graceful 360-degree turn to take it all in.
We are offering introductory taster sessions, half-day courses, or one-day courses in gliding at this Kent club. If you choose the taster, you will enjoy one aerotow flight, being pulled into the air by a Piper Pawnee tug plane, leaving you to soar high above the cliffs like a giant seagull and your ride back to the grass runway. The half-day experience gives you two flights and lets you try both aerotow and winch launch methods.
On the full-day session, you will become part of the Kent gliding family for a day. You can see the 'log cabin' that gets towed out to the launch area (and acts as mission control on flying days), meet the members, have a chat and generally immerse yourself in the world of gliding. Your intensive day gives you an aerotow and three winch launches, where you are hooked up to the cable, the winch takes up the slack and you're away rumbling and bouncing over the grass for what feels like just milliseconds before you suddenly lift away and everything goes quiet…save for the sound of the wind whistling.
Founded in 1930, it's one of the oldest UK clubs
Dynamic Gliding club with over 150 active members
Go Gliding from Ashford over the Kentish Downs
Excellent clubhouse with food, rooms and camping
One Aerotow Flight
Safety briefing, explanation of the aircraft and its controls before being strapped into the cockpit
An aerotow launch to 2000ft
Enjoy the view as you are towed by a tug plane up to the release altitude and soaring for approximately 15 minutes
Your instructor will demonstrate the controls before letting you have a go at flying the glider yourself
Allow one hour on site for this experience
Half Day Flying Course
Try out both gliding launch methods
One aerotow launch and one winch launch
Full Day Flying Course
A day course is a cost effective way of gaining more airtime and allows you to enjoy a full days instruction, it includes more detailed briefings, one aerotow launch and up to three winch launches
Spectators are very welcome to come and watch the gliding fun
There is a large clubhouse selling refreshments, snacks and hot meals all day on Wednesdays and weekends, picnic benches and tables providing great views
If you are travelling long distances to try gliding in Kent or want to take advantage of the hospitality at the clubhouse, basic rooms are available to hire
You are also welcome to pitch a tent in the fields adjacent to the clubhouse
Shower and toilet facilities are provided
The club has wheelchair access and disabled toilet facilities
Minimum age 14 years
Maximum weight limit is 16 stone
Maximum height is 6'2" (1.88m)
You will have to sign a health declaration, however, if you are fit enough to drive a car, you will be able to fly in a glider
Suitable arrangements can be made to overcome most disabilities
Minimum Age: 16 years
Maximum Height: 187.96 cm
Maximum Weight: 101.61 kg
All 30 instructors at this glider club in Kent are BGA approved
Lunch is not provided, so participants should either bring a packed lunch or food can be purchased from the clubhouse on the day
Please note: All flights are subject to suitable weather conditions
One Aerotow
Available April to September on Fridays
Weekday flights have much better availability than those at weekends
Half Day Course
Available Monday to Friday April to September
Morning and afternoon sessions are available, 8:00-13:00 and 12:00-17:00
Full Day Course
Available Monday to Friday April to September
Sessions start at 8:00-17:00
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Full Day Gliding Lesson - Kent Near Me
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