Frequently Asked
Questions

Gliding (also called soaring) is a recreational and competitive aviation sport that involves flying unpowered aircraft — gliders or sailplanes — which stay aloft by using natural rising air currents in the atmosphere. With no engine, pilots rely on thermals (columns of warm rising air), ridge lift, and wave lift to maintain and gain height.

Modern gliders are highly sophisticated, high-performance aircraft capable of flights exceeding 1,000 km and altitudes above 30,000 ft. It's the purest form of aviation — entirely dependent on pilot skill and knowledge of the atmosphere.

Gliders use the natural forces of the atmosphere to stay aloft. The three main sources of lift are:

• Thermals — columns of warm air rising from the sun-heated ground. Pilots circle within thermals to climb, just like eagles and hawks do.
• Ridge lift — when wind hits a hill or ridge and is forced upward, creating lift along the windward side.
• Wave lift — powerful standing waves of air that form downwind of mountain ranges. Wave conditions in Tasmania can allow flights to very high altitudes.

All sailplanes have very efficient airbrakes used to adjust the glide angle for landing. Higher-performance sailplanes also feature retractable undercarriages and flaps to optimise performance across a range of speeds.

Most sailplanes can achieve speeds of over 250 km/h. On the mainland, experienced pilots on strong thermal days can regularly fly over 500 km and land back at base. The longest distance flown from Victoria/Tasmania is over 1,100 km. The world distance record unofficially exceeds 3,000 km, flown in wave lift in South America.

At Tunbridge, local flying is limited to 8,000 ft by air traffic control. Wave flying is possible in Tasmania, where excellent wave conditions are generated across the state with certain weather patterns.

At Gliding Tasmania we use aerotow launching — our Eurofox 915is tow plane pulls the glider down the runway and into the air on a long rope. Once the glider reaches the agreed release altitude, the pilot releases the rope and begins soaring independently. Aerotow allows the glider to be positioned precisely where thermals are most likely to be found.

An Air Experience Flight (AEF) is an instructor-led introductory lesson designed for people considering learning to glide. You fly in our two-seat dual-control IS-28B2 glider with a qualified instructor, who handles the take-off and landing while giving you the opportunity to take the controls during flight.

Before your flight, your instructor will give you a full ground briefing covering the controls, what to expect during the tow, and how to handle the glider in the air.

We offer two options:

• Basic AEF — $220: The aircraft is towed to approximately 3,000 ft. Duration is typically 15–20 minutes depending on conditions.
• Extended AEF — $370: The aircraft is towed to approximately 5,500 ft, giving more time aloft and a better chance to experience soaring in thermals.

Gift vouchers are also available from $220 — a perfect present for anyone who's always wanted to fly. Both options must be pre-purchased online before your visit.

Flight time depends on several factors including tow height and weather conditions. The higher the tow, the longer the potential flight. On days with good thermals, flights can last considerably longer than the minimums — with suitable weather, flights of many hours are possible even from a Basic tow height. Duration is subject to weather conditions and cannot be guaranteed.

Gliding is suitable for people of a wide age range. The minimum passenger age is 12 years old. Due to cockpit size restrictions we cannot fly passengers heavier than 110 kg. No prior aviation experience is required — just a sense of adventure!

Purchase your voucher online on our AEF page. Once purchased, contact us on a Friday before the weekend you wish to fly to confirm we're operating. We fly mainly on Sundays (and sometimes Saturdays) depending on weather and crew availability. Notification of flying days is posted on our Facebook page the day before.

Contact Stephen Ross on 0447 518 223 or Robert Kennedy on 0419 992 264 to arrange your flight.

• Enclosed footwear (no thongs or sandals in the glider)
• Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a bottle of water
• Warm clothes — it can be cool at altitude even on a warm day
• A camera or fully charged phone to capture the experience
• A packed lunch — tea and coffee are available at the club

Anybody in good general health — sufficient to hold a driver's licence — can learn to glide. You can go solo from 15 years of age, and there is no maximum age limit. We have had pilots begin training anywhere from age 14 to age 74. You do not need a medical certificate; a self-declaration of fitness to fly is generally sufficient.

It depends on your aptitude, how open you are to instructor guidance, and how frequently you fly. Typically it takes up to four to six months to reach the solo stage — but that's just the beginning. The closer together your lessons, the easier it is to build on previous knowledge and the faster you'll progress.

To fly solo you must be a member of Gliding Tasmania and the Gliding Federation of Australia (GFA), and be cleared to fly solo by a qualified instructor.

Gliding Tasmania is a not-for-profit sporting club, not a commercial flight school. All instruction is provided free of charge by our volunteer instructors. You only pay for aircraft hire (per minute airborne) and tow costs. This makes gliding one of the most affordable forms of pilot training available.

Annual membership includes your GFA membership fee for adult members. See our Membership page for current rates.

Almost all gliders use the same three-axis controls as any conventional aircraft — ailerons, elevator, and rudder — operated via a central control stick and rudder pedals. If you've ever flown a light aircraft, the controls will feel immediately familiar. If you haven't, your instructor will walk you through everything on the ground before you fly.

All aviation activities involve inherent risks that cannot be eliminated, including the possibility of serious injury or death. However, gliding is a well-regulated sport. Strict codes of practice and maintenance requirements are set and enforced by the Gliding Federation of Australia (GFA) to maintain and improve safety standards.

You could compare it to driving a car — there are inherent risks, but those risks are proportional to the standards you apply. By following the structured training program, you develop the skills to become a safe glider pilot.

A glider without lift simply descends in a very controlled and stable glide — similar to an airliner with its engines at idle. The pilot uses airbrakes to control the descent rate and lands the glider normally. Gliders are designed to land safely in paddocks and open fields if required, and pilots are trained to select and reach suitable landing areas during every flight.

We fly mainly on Sundays, and also on Saturdays and occasionally weekdays, depending on crew availability and suitable weather. Flying days are announced on our Facebook page — usually on Friday or Saturday evenings before an operational day. You can also check our Roster page for planned flying days.

Tunbridge Airfield is a former RAAF training base located in the heart of the Tasmanian Midlands, approximately 75 km north of Hobart via the Midland Highway — about an hour's drive. It sits between the towns of Oatlands and Ross.

GPS coordinates: 42°32′S 147°23′E. Carpooling from Hobart or Launceston can often be arranged — contact us for details.

No — you do not need to be a club member to book an Air Experience Flight. AEF passengers become temporary active flying members for 30 consecutive days starting from the day of their flight. During that period you may return and fly at member rates (limited to 10 flights or 5 hours total, no solo flying).

If you decide to continue learning to fly, you'll need to join Gliding Tasmania and the GFA as a full member. See our Membership page for options.

There are two hangars at Tunbridge capable of housing seven or more gliders and the tow plane. Tea and coffee are available at the club. We recommend bringing a packed lunch, warm clothes, sunglasses, and sunscreen. A new clubhouse is planned for the future which will include operations, training, and relaxation facilities.