Live your dreams

Join us for an adventure in the sky

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Live your dreams

Learn to fly greener, at one with the earth

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Live your dreams

Dare to fly to the edge of space!

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Inclusivity

Gliding is a sport for everyone

Gliding is a form of aviation which can be enjoyed by all. It teaches basic flying skills, and gives the joy of flight to everyone, young or old.

You don't have to be wealthy to glide either. It's an affordable and accessible way to learn to fly, and can be a route into a life in flying, including a career! Many airline - and RAF pilots - have started off flying in gliders!

Did you know...

British Astronaut Tim Peake learned to fly gliders as an Air Cadet at age 13. He went into space 30 years later!

Did you know...

British glider pilot Kay Draper currently holds over 30 British Gliding records, narrowly beating Sarah Kelman to the highest number of records!

Did you know...

US Astronaut and "first man on the moon" Neil Armstrong was a glider pilot. Gliding gave him a life-long love of flight, which took him safely into space and back!

Did you know...

American Aviatrix Amelia Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

Did you know...

US Airline Hero Captain "Sully" Sullenberger flew gliders. The skills may have helped him fly Flight 1549 to the safe landing in the Hudson River.

Did you know...

British Aviatrix Amy Johnson CBE flew gliders. She was also the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia.

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November 12, 2024

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Other gliding communities

Gliding is a diverse community, where pilots and students work as a team.
Some of our communities:

Pilot perspectives

What's gliding like?

Gliding is skill, freedom, exhiliration, and empowerment. It's the route to a lifetime of achievement.

It's full of amazing people from different walks of life!

Jessica D

Glider pilot

Gliding helped me realise that everything is possible if you try your best.
It boosted my confidence, and helped me to not be afraid to ask stuff I'm not sure about.

Chris B

Glider pilot

I’ve spent my adulthood dreaming of being able to fly and wish I’d discovered gliding sooner. I’ve made great friends, seen our beautiful countryside in a way most people never will, and completed flights I never imagined possible.

Kelly T

Gliding Instructor

I started gliding aged 15, as a means of learning to fly in a way I could afford.
I've seen and done amazing things... and I've never looked back!

Jake B

British Team pilot

Jake is the current Junior World Gliding Champion and holds the 1000km UK Record. When not flying, Jake works as an avionics engineer.

John F

Glider pilot

I started gliding together with my 14-year-old daughter, Amelia. Sharing a challenging learning journey was a fabulous and exhilarating experience for both of us, and one that I’d heartily recommend to any parent and child.

Ayala T

Gliding Instructor and British Team member

Gliding is physical and mental ecstasy. I love the challenge and the amazing feeling of being alone in the cockpit in vast empty skies.

Hear from the Pilots!

Hear about gliding directly from some of our Pilots

'It's insane!' - Gemma finds out about gliding...

View on YouTube

August 2023

Meet Elaine - our first Go Gliding solo pilot!

View on YouTube

August 2023

Myth buster!

There are some questions that glider pilots are asked regularly. Here are just a few!

What happens when the wind stops?

Gliders don't need it to be windy to fly! In fact, it's often nicer when the wind is calm.

Don't gliders just float back down to the ground?

In good conditions, gliders can stay up in the air for hours at a time. Do do this, gliders find 'lift' - currents of rising air - which allows them to stay aloft.

How do you control it without an engine?

A glider flies like any other aircraft. The pilot uses the control stick and the rudder, to fly the aircraft. Gliders are always descending, and so have potential energy which is converted to speed.

Do gliders fly really slowly?

Gliders generally fly around 60 mph, and over 100 mph if they're racing!

What? You can race gliders?

Gliders often take part in competitions, where they race around a fixed course. The fastest glider to get around the course and back home wins!

Do gliders need to be light?

Gliders don't need to be light, in fact sometimes they carry extra weight (usually water ballast) to make them heavier,so they can go faster

Is there an age limit for gliding?

You can fly solo aged just 14 after the appropriate training, so young people can usually start flying aged 13. There is no upper limit!

How do I learn?

We teach people to fly in two-seat dual control gliders, where your instructor takes you through a structured training programme before you take to the skies on your first solo - an awesome milestone for every pilot.

Go Gliding Scholarship winners!