Your first gliding lesson

What to expect from an escape learn-to-glide package

All of our learn to glide packages start with an escape1 1 day course, if you’re wondering what will happen on the day, this section gives a comprehensive explanation from arriving on-site to all the stages of your flight.

Entering the airfield

Before entering the airfield follow the instructions displayed at the gate. This will lead you safely to where the gliders are launching. Always keep to the edge of the field and keep a good look-out for aircraft, vehicles and cables. If in doubt wait to be escorted to the launch point.

What to wear

Please wear casual, comfortable clothing. Rivar Hill is a field site and when you’re not climbing in an out of gliders you will spend your time by the launch point in the field. You should wear flat shoes and we suggest you don’t wear a skirt or dress.
Gliding trial lessonAirfields are generally very exposed places and if it’s windy, can feel cold even in summer. In the warmer months you should wear sun block, but bring a jacket just in case it’s windy. In winter it’s best to wear warm, windproof clothing, as well as a hat and gloves. It’s best to bring more layers than you need and leave them in the car if you get too hot.
Before you get into the glider you can shed a layer as it will be much warmer under the perspex canopy. Sunglasses are recommended all year round.

Waiting to fly

If you turn up on spec you may have to wait a short while until an instructor and a glider become available. You could use this time to chat to the club members about the aircraft and they will be keen to show you around one of the gliders.

Getting into the glider

Your trial lesson will be in one of the club’s two seater training aircraft. You will be sitting in the front seat and your instructor in the back. When you climb into the glider your instructor will tell you which parts you can and cannot touch. You’ll then fasten your straps to make sure you’re secure for the flight.

The launch

All gliders at Rivar Hill are launched by winch. The launch point is at one end of the field and the winch at the other. Gliders are attached to the cable and the powerful winch engine reels in almost a mile of cable, launching the glider typically to 1,600 feet in the air.

skytost winch

After some pre-flight checks your instructor will ask the ground crew to connect the winch cable. The launch point will then signal the winch and the glider will accelerate rapidly forward. After a short ground run the glider will be airborne, gradually pitching up.

Glider Launching

In less than a minute the glider will reach the top of the launch and gradually level off. You may hear a sudden noise at this stage as the cable releases itself from the glider. This is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. The glider will now be flying free of the winch.

The flight

After the launch your instructor, flying from the rear seat, will probably start searching for thermal lift to extend your flight time. If successful, after a short climb, turning in a thermal, your instructor may ask you if you’d like to take control. Your first exercise will be to try to fly straight and level, maybe followed by some gentle turns.

If you fly into a thermal you may hear the vario bleeping. The bleeping noise indicates rising air. At this point your instructor may take back control of the aircraft and start to turn in the thermal to gain height.

The landing

When it’s time to land your instructor will fly a circuit around the airfield and gently bring the glider into land under perfect control, just like a powered aeroplane.

Landing at Rivar Hill