How do I sign-up to come on a gliding trip?

A few days before a trip is due to take place, we will send out an e-mail to the whole club letting everyone know that the trip is happening. The trip will appear on the website under trip signup.

At the bottom of these e-mails there will be a link to this website specifically for you. Click on that link, go to the Trip Signup and click 'signup to this trip' on the trip you wish to join. The number of spaces may depend on how many drivers are available to take members to the gliding club. As these places are limited, it is first-come, first-served. There are a maximum of six places per trip.

A day or two before the trip, the trip leader will work out how many people can go and send everyone who signed up an e-mail letting them know if they are going or not. Members who are successful will get details on where and when to meet (expect an early start!). If you sign up but are one of those who didn't make the trip, it is still possible that you'll be phoned later if someone has to cancel, so it is always worth signing up even if there are a list of names ahead of you.

What do I need to know about the trip?

Now you are on the trip, and you have met the Trip Leader at the appropriate meeting time and place, there are a few other things you need to know:

• Transport is provided from campus to the airfield for £2 per person.
• You will be given a full safety briefing on arrival at the airfield by the Trip Leader.
• Make sure you dress appropriately! Strong, waterproof footwear that you don't mind getting a bit dirty, a waterproof/windproof coat and warm clothes as the airfield is very exposed. However cold you think it is, the wind will make it feel even colder - you can't bring too many layers with you.
• Food is available most of the time. Husbands Bosworth has a full canteen where a cooked meal can be purchased for around £5, at Stratford tea and sandwiches can be purchased for around £2.
• Paying for flying is done at the end of the day. Please bring your cheque book. If you don't have one, you can also pay by cash. Unfortunately we cannot take payment by card.

What will I do and what will it cost?

Typically, a day at the airfield will cost between £20 and £30. The precise cost depends on how much you fly and what launch methods you choose, and at which airfield you fly. Costs for gliding are broken into two categories launch cost (the cost to get into the air) and air time (the change per minute for flying). For example if the launch costs £4 and the airtime is £0.20 per minute; a five minute flight would cost £5 (£4 + 5 x £0.2). The current rates are listed below, for more information on the different launch types click here.

UWGC operates a subsidised flying scheme. You get a free winch flight on your first trip up to a maximum of 20 minutes of airtime. Also every 10th winch flight is also free up to 30 minutes of airtime.

The current prices are:

At Husbands Bosworth (The Gliding Centre), the first 15 minutes of airtime are free when you launch by winch.

In addition, there is a charge of £2 for the driver's petrol costs.

Example of a typical trip to Stratford

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Flight Time	Price you would pay	Price you would pay if it was your 1st trip
10 minutes	£6.00	FREE
13 minutes	£6.60	£6.60
6 minutes	£5.20	£5.20
Sub Total	£17.80	£11.80
Transport	£2.00	£2.00
Total	£19.80	£13.80

Example of a typical trip to Husbands Bosworth

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Flight Time	Price you would pay	Price you would pay if it was your 1st trip
10 minutes	£7.75	FREE
13 minutes	£7.75	£7.75
6 minutes	£7.75	£7.75
Sub Total	£23.25	£16.50
Transport	£2.00	£2.00
Total	£25.25	£18.50

These figures are representative and are not a guarantee of your experience flights may be longer or shorter depending on conditions on the day.

If you are keen to keep gliding but cannot afford to; the British Gliding Association runs scholarship schemes for young pilots. To find out more visit http://www.juniorgliding.co.uk/affordableflying/