Flying High

Gliding is the ultimate free flying experience. It is a truly diverse sport that can be enjoyed at all levels: from the thriving club scene, to aerobatics, to the international racing competitions, currently dominated by British pilots (with five World Champions).

The gliders you can fly soar using the same air currents that birds use to fly, but have also been designed with the kind of aerodynamic efficiency that enables top speeds of up to 170 mph. Distances of over 600 miles have been covered in one day in the UK and heights of almost 40,000 feet have been achieved. Gliding gives you the freedom to explore the world from a unique birds eye view and discover the many moods of the sky.

Gliding is also a sport for all ages - from those who go solo on their 16th birthday through their club cadet schemes; there is no upper age limit.

Gliders come in many shapes and sizes.  They can also be cheap or expensive! Fortunately, you don't need to buy your own glider - clubs will generally all have two-seaters for instructional purposes, and most also have single-seaters which you move onto once you are sent solo.

If you are considering taking up gliding, then a trial lesson will give you a feel for what is required to achieve the necessary skills. Otherwise simply enjoy the experience of soaring over Yorkshire.

Depending on the weather, your flight will begin with either a tow behind a powered aircraft to around 2000 feet (approx. 600 metres), or a winch launch to approx 700 ft. It is important to note that the weather will determine the method of launch. After release from the winch or tow aircraft, your qualified instructor will demonstrate the flying controls, and explain how the glider can stay airborne using the various forms of lift generated by the sun and wind.

Your instructor will also give you the opportunity to "have a go" yourself - it's not as difficult as you might think. He/she will guide you through with patience and a steady hand. However, they won't force you to have a go at flying the glider yourself if you decide that you don't want to.

Gliding is a year round activity and gliding courses are available, lasting one day or up to a week. These are designed to offer maximum training opportunities for those interested in learning to glide.

Yorkshire Gliding Club is a good place to start. Whether you're a trainee pilot, a gliding pundit, or a member of the public wanting to try something new, the Yorkshire Gliding Club is a great place to be. Based on top of the north's largest hill fort, it's open 364 days a year, offers full-time professional instruction and maintains a fleet of modern gliders. It's also an official Junior Gliding Centre, which means they can offer gliding tuition at massively reduced costs to people under 21 who are in full-time education.

For a more relaxing option, why not see Yorkshire from the sky with a helicopter 'themed flight' from Pennine Helicopters? Take your pick from The Yorkshire Three Peaks trip, The Wharfedale Wander, Compo's Country Trail or the Dambuster's Run. The flights make an ideal gift for a special occasion or as the ultimate sightseeing trip. 

With 14 sites to fly from, ranging from the Yorkshire Dales, through the Pennines to the Peak District, combined with a country pub offering good food and drink, a super day out is guaranteed for all the family. Flights take place at weekends, weather permitting, throughout the year