FAQs

Do I need experience to fly?

No, you do not need any experience at all to fly. Many of our members had never even seen a glider before they came flying with us. Your instructor will tailor your training to your abilities and experience.

Is gliding safe?

Yes, gliding is an extremely safe sport, providing that the strict safety measures are followed. There are a lot of misconceptions about gliding, a lot of people don’t realise that it’s possible to fly without an engine. You can read more about how gliders fly here. In short though, accidents are a very rare occurrence in gliding and are normally the result of someone pushing the limits of what is considered safe. At Cranwell, where we fly, safety is taken extremely seriously.

Who is allowed to join?

Any full or associate member of the University of Nottingham Students’ Union can join our club – that includes all students. Staff can pay a yearly fee to join the SU. 

Only current students and staff are able to fly with us at Cranwell Gliding Club, but alumni members are welcome to join us when we fly elsewhere such as our Portmoak exped.

When do you fly?

We fly year round on Saturdays, Sundays and some bank holidays. To sign up for any given day, please fill in the sign up form with the dates you are hoping to fly. Please note that you must fill in the sign up form every week that you wish to fly, it does not carry over to the following weeks.

We are limited to eight members per day due to the capacity at Cranwell Gliding Club and our agreement with them, so we cannot guarantee a slot every week during peak demand shortly after Freshers, but later in the year this is not an issue.

How do you get there?

During the term time we arrange drivers to drive members from University Park Campus to Cranwell. For this we charge around £7.50 per person to cover the cost of the driver’s petrol. On the rare occasions that a driver can not be found, we can travel to Cranwell (Sleaford) via train, which costs around £10.

Please note that this may mean that drivers are given higher priority on the flying list due to being able to offer transportation for other members.

How much does it cost?

Gliding is surprisingly affordable. Our membership is one of the lowest in the country and our flying fees are very competitive. With flights from £7, you can expect to spend around £21 plus transport on each trip. Our full up to date price list can be found here.

How long does it take to learn?

The average number of training flights required before you will fly solo is around 60, however it is largely down to how often you fly and how quickly you learn. Some people do it in less, some people need a bit longer, so don’t be discouraged if it takes you a few more than others at the club. If you start in September and attend regularly, you will hopefully be solo by the summer!