Unlike learning to fly a powered aircraft, Gliding in the UK is largely run by highly trained, but voluntary Instructors. The Devon and Somerset Gliding Club (DSGC), the club is entirely run by its members.

This makes the cost of getting into the sky and training considerably more cost effective.

We offer your First Flight, which includes three months temporary membership, to get you started on your journey, during which time you are able to use all our amazing club resources. This is normally when you’ll decide if gliding is the sport for you.

As a member of the club you pay a very reasonable annual membership fee, and beyond that the only cost for your training is a launch fee (for the use of the winch or an airtow), and “pence per minute” rate for the use of our fleet of Gliders.

We also run five day summer flying courses for aspiring glider pilots, as well as conversion or advanced courses for experienced pilots. Whatever your skill level and flying experience, Devon and Somerset Gliding Club (DSGC) is the place for you, and the challenges and rewards keep on coming, whatever level you reach.

The British Gliding Association (BGA), to which DSGC is affiliated, governs the sport in the UK. DSGC procedures fully comply with BGA standards and you will fly with BGA approved instructors to a nationally recognised training syllabus.

Gliding is a participant sport and you will learn about ground operations alongside flying. Given good weather and continuity of training you might go solo after six to eight months and approximately 100 launches, but it does vary significantly between individuals.

Gliding spans all ages and members come from a wide range of backgrounds – some start before the age of 14, while others discover the sport after they retire. You can start off in several different ways. We normally fly at weekends, and on Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the year.

Practice and theory
Above all gliding is a practical sport. Most emphasis is put on how you control the glider in normal flight and how you cope safely with the unexpected. A small amount of theoretical learning is needed so that you can understand why and how the controls work and what the limitations of the glider are. Before you fly solo it’s important to know the rules of the air and the law so far as it affects you as a pilot. This is generally covered in talks by instructors, and practice in the club’s Flight Simulator during the odd un-flyable times, so it’s important to be around the club even when the weather is poor.

Going solo
Gliding is different from power flying in the UK, that there is currently no formal ‘test’ before you can fly solo. Your instructor will monitor both your skill level and your self-confidence and judgment to decide when you are ready to go solo and one good flying day when the conditions are favourable and you seem to be on top form the question will come “do you fancy trying that again on your own this time?”. That’s it – you’re a solo pilot! But it doesn’t stop there, with continued training you can advance through to greater gliding challenges…

Alongside the BGA Badge system, the DSGC operates a rating card system for post-solo pilots which provides a structured method of monitoring and maintaining safety and flying discipline through a comprehensive checking system. It also details the steps in your progress from early-solo to self-briefing:

• White – Early-solo pilots requiring daily checks
• Red – At least 25 solo flights and must refer to Duty Instructor for daily flight briefing
• Yellow – Bronze Badge, including at least 50 solo flights
• Blue – Silver Badge, Self-briefing pilot