Welcome to your Glider Flight! April 2017
TRIAL FLIGHT BRIEFING This short presentation takes you through what will happen on your first flight. Click on the DOWN arrow on the keyboard when you have read each page, to continue the presentation. Don t worry if you can t remember everything Once you are out on the airfield and by the glider, your instructor will talk through it all again.
OUR 2-SEAT TRAINING GLIDERS You will be flying with an instructor in one of these gliders: These types are ideal for learning they are very reliable and easy to fly.
Weight Limits All of our aircraft have weight limits and you need to know how much you weigh before flying. If you aren t sure of this, we have scales available here in the office please ask. Lightweight pilots may be required to fly from the back seat. The gliders are calibrated in pounds and your maximum weight limit is 224 pounds Your instructor will ask you for your weight before you fly Here is a convenient conversion chart to find your weight in pounds Stones Pounds KGg 7 98 44.5 7.5 105 47.6 8 112 50.8 8.5 119 54 9 126 57.2 9.5 133 60.3 10 140 63.5 10.5 147 66.7 11 154 69.9 11.5 161 73 12 168 76.2 12.5 175 79.4 13 182 82.6 13.5 189 85.7 14 196 88.9 14.5 203 92.07 15 210 95.25 15.5 217 98.42 16 224 101.6
PARACHUTE Before getting into the glider, you will be given a parachute to wear. The seats of gliders are designed to fit the pilot wearing a one, so think of the parachute like an expensive cushion - it is very unlikely that you will need to use it! Note the location of the D Ring This is used to open the parachute ONLY in an emergency. Please do not touch this unless you have jumped out of the glider in the air! Your instructor will help you put the parachute on correctly, and tell you how to use it in an emergency. When you have finished your flights, take the parachute off AFTER getting out of the glide, release the chest strap first, then leg straps.
GETTING INTO THE GLIDER This is exactly like getting into the bath! PLEASE DO NOT PUT ANY WEIGHT ON THE PERSPEX CANOPY Stand on the seat, then lower yourself down by holding onto the sides X Your instructor will help you adjust your safety harness (like a seatbelt) and then point out the controls, instruments, and explain how the glider flies.
INSIDE THE GLIDER You sit in the front seat, your instructor sits in the back. You each have a set of controls, which are connected together. The control stick moves the glider up/down and left/right during flight, and the rudder pedals by your feet are also used to help when turning. On the instrument panel in front you (the dashboard ) you have a set of dials, and the instructor also has an identical set in front of them. Your instructor will point out the most important ones: the air speed indicator (to tell you how fast you are flying) and the altimeter (to tell you how high you are). Unlike in powered aircraft, you do not wear a headset. Because it doesn t have an engine, the glider is so quiet that you can talk at normal volume and hear each other perfectly!
READY TO GO Your instructor will run through a series of checks before the takeoff. The instructor will close the canopy, and then you are ready to fly. A club member will connect the cable to the glider, and then pick up one wing so the glider is level. FOR TAKE-OFF, PLEASE KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM THE CONTROLS HOLD ONTO YOUR HARNESS STRAPS BY YOUR SHOULDERS
THE WINCH LAUNCH You will see the cable start to move in front of you. Once the cable is tight, the glider will move and be pulled into the air. The climb is like an airliner takeoff quite fast and steep. You will feel pushed back into your seat by the acceleration. Once you get to a height of around 1000ft, the glider will level off. You will hear a loud clunk as the cable is released. As the angle changes from climbing to level, you may experience an almost weightless, a sensation like when driving quickly over a hump-backed bridge.
You will see the tow plane move into position in front of the glider. THE AEROTOW LAUNCH The rope will start to move in front of you. Once the rope is tight, the glider will move and be pulled into the air behind the tow plane. You will accelerate gradually along the grass runway until you reach flying speed, then climb up and away from the airfield. The climb is gentle, and it takes around 5 minutes to reach a height of 2000ft.
UP, DOWN, FLYING AROUND You will get a feel for what is the normal picture looking out. Look at the angle of the nose relative to the horizon. We call this angle Attitude. This angle (Attutide) is very important for judging how the glider is flying we use this picture as the reference point much more than looking at our instruments. Help your instructor by looking out for other aircraft if you see one, tell your instructor immediately, as they might not have spotted it. Two pairs of eyes are better than one! People occasionally feel dizzy or sick if the glider turns tightly. Please tell your instructor immediately, and they can land. We do supply sick bags just in case!
FLYING THE GLIDER Your instructor will demonstrate how the controls work to fly the glider. Then they will give you the chance to have a go at flying it yourself, if you would like to! When the instructor says: Follow me through on the controls The instructor will be flying the glider, but you can LIGHTLY hold the stick to feel the correct way to fly. Confirm you have understood - say: Following Through PLEASE DO NOT RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT OF THE CONTROLS. When the instructor says: You have control You will be flying the glider and moving the controls yourself. Confirm you have understood say: I have control When the instructor wishes to take back control, they will say: I have control Immediately let go of the controls, and say You have control Then the instructor will be flying the glider again.
EMERGENCIES JUST IN CASE IF YOU HAVE TO BAIL OUT Your instructor will say: BAIL OUT, BAIL OUT The instructor will release the canopy and push it upwards and away from the glider Undo your harness straps Stand up on the seat and jump clear of the glider Pull the D-Ring of the parachute straight down towards your knees STATISTICS Emergencies in trial lessons are very unlikely please don t worry! Gliding is more risky than taking a train journey, but less dangerous than crossing the road or playing rugby!
LANDING The instructor will fly a circuit around the airfield, turning to make the final approach back to the airfield. They will fly slightly faster than cruising speed, and then open the airbrakes on the wings you will hear a clunk. The glider will fly at a steeper angle towards the ground, and there may be some turbulence this is normal. Shortly before reaching the ground, the instructor will round out. The glider will be flying almost level again, and then gently touch down.
One Last Thing Please do not go on the airfield unaccompanied You and your party must stay inside the roped off area outside of the office Please wait to be taken to the launch point by one of or club members
Enjoy your flight, we know you will!