GLIDER FLIGHTS TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AFTERNOONS from May until the end of August.
The gift of a GLIDER FLIGHT over the North Devon countryside for a special occasion is an excellent choice.
Open cockpit gliding experience
For that extra special occasion, experience a unique slice of gliding aviation, in an ex-military Royal Air Force glider used by Air Training Corps Cadets between 1950 and 1985. Firstly, you will receive a detailed pre-flight briefing of the Slingsby T21 Sedbergh military glider in readiness for you and your fully-qualified instructor to be launched by the Tug aircraft. Once in the air and free of the Tug aircraft, enjoy the magnificent aerial views of the Devonshire countryside from the open cockpit. After a brief demonstration of the primary flight controls the instructor will hand over the controls so that you will experience the unrivalled thrill first-hand.
Gliding usually takes place in the afternoons to take advantage of the warmest time of day with the best chance of thermal activity. The glider flight may be prolonged in the summer months, due to the sun being at its strongest and therefore beneficial for gliding. The experience commences with a short explanation of the glider’s controls and their functions and how the glider is launched. Once strapped into the glider the Chief Flying Instructor, Barry Pearson will give a full briefing. Barry started gliding in 1971 and formed the North Devon Gliding Club in 1977.
The flight commences with our glider tug aircraft moving into position and gradually reaching the point when the 150ft of rope we are attached to becomes tight, whereupon the tug aircraft accelerates on full power and we are away! After a few seconds the glider lifts off the ground to follow in station behind the tug as we slowly ascend to approximately 2000ft.
During the first minutes on the climb you will see beneath you, the rich green pastureland of the small farms, the rural idyll of Devon, the rugged outline of Dartmoor to the South and the large undulating hills of Exmoor, with South Molton to the North East. As we continue our climb we see unfolding the expanse of Barnstaple and Bideford Bay and the estuary and, on a clear day Hartland Point, Saunton and Lundy can be picked out. We reach our altitude and release from the tug aircraft and as it does so we watch it turn and dramatically spiral to our right. Then a moment to enjoy the quiet of our gliding flight. You will hardly notice our forward movement, indeed the speed is only 45knots(50mph). The view is breathtaking!
Now it’s time to experience the controls. Your attention will be drawn to the horizon and where it appears in relation to the nose of the aircraft. You will feel the controls as we gently ease the nose up and down in pitch, and then by easing the stick left and right, how we bank and turn to change direction. You will then be able to fly the glider throughout the rest of the flight; all the way to touchdown, if you wish!
The Aerotow climb to altitude takes approximately 4 to 5 mins and after release from the Tug aircraft all gliders descend at approximately 250 feet per minute, therefore the descent back to to Eaglescott will take a further 8 minutes. Total average flight time is therefore, 12 – 15 minutes. If you wish to have a longer flight then we suggest you look at our gift voucher section at the Eurostar two seat light aircraft.
The view on a clear sunny day can be spectacular and the exhilaration of a GLIDER FLIGHT which you participated in flying throughout, lives long in the memory! Our gliding season is normally May, June, July and August.
IF YOU WISH TO PURCHASE A VOUCHER PLEASE SEND US AN EMAIL
The cost of 1 flight is £125. Our vouchers are valid for two years from the date of purchase.
NORTH DEVON GLIDING CLUB started life as CHIVENOR GLIDING CLUB in 1977 and now in 2023 has celebrated a number of milestones.
EAGLESCOTT AIRFIELD was created in 1983 as the home of the NORTH DEVON GLIDING CLUB which not only celebrated 40years since inception, but on the weekend of 9th/10th September 2023 the club’s founder and founder of Eaglescott Airfield celebrated 50years as a Gliding Instructor, having flown a fellow ATC cadet at RAF Chivenor in Autumn 1973.
This year in 2023 the Club is using the same type of glider a Slingsby T21 Sedbergh, originally designed in 1944 and used within the Air Cadet movement from 1950 to the mid 1980’s.
Pictured here is Braunton, North Devon resident, Wing Commander Dr John Howell on his 92nd birthday flight, showing that you are never too old to enjoy taking to the air. John was Station Senior Medical Officer at RAF Chivenor during the 1970’s and gave our Chief Flying Instructor his first Aviation medical in 1971.
