Half Day Gliding Course - Kent
Product ID: 13188
Voucher valid for 12 months
Kent Gliding Club
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£199.00
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About the experience
Gliding in Kent boasts a rich legacy, with countless enthusiasts taking flight over the stunning landscapes of the Garden of England. Positioned atop the North Downs between Charing and Challock, this dynamic and vibrant club offers an unparalleled gliding experience. Established in 1930, this club holds the distinction of being the first glider club in England. Today, it stands proud with over 120 active members, including 20 BGA-approved gliding instructors and 10 skilled tug pilots, ensuring year-round gliding in Kent's mild climate. Renowned for offering breathtaking views of Kent and its coastline, gliding here provides a unique perspective. On clear days, gliders can witness the beauty of the Thames Estuary, Whitstable, and even glimpse into Essex on one side, while on the other side, views encompass Ashford, the Kent coastline, and possibly extend to France. We are delighted to offer vouchers for half-day gliding courses at this esteemed Kent club. The half-day experience comprises two flights, enabling you to experience both aerotow and winch launch methods. During the full-day session, you will be welcomed into the Kent gliding family for a day. You will have the unique opportunity to witness the 'log cabin' being towed out to the launch area (serving as mission control on flying days), meet the members, engage in lively conversations, and fully immerse yourself in the world of gliding. The comprehensive day includes an aerotow and three winch launches, ensuring a truly unforgettable experience.
- Gliding at Challock near Ashford, Kent
- Dynamic club with 120+ members
- Clubhouse with rooms and camping
- Aerotow and winch flights all year round!
- Experience gliding over the North Downs
- Expert tuition from BGA approved instructors
Half Day Gliding
- Spend a morning or afternoon trying out both gliding launch methods
- One aerotow launch and one winch launch
- Allow five hours on site for this experience
- The Voucher can be shipped to you as a Gift Pack by post.
- Or choose the free, instant e-voucher delivery option.
- We offer same day dispatch, a choice of packaging and free exchanges.
Information
- Spectators are very welcome to come and watch the gliding fun
- Facilities include a modern clubhouse, briefing room, bar and parking
- Minimum age 14 years
- Maximum weight limit is 16 stone
- Maximum height is 6'2" (1.88m)
- Participants are required to sign a health declaration, however, if you are fit enough to drive a car, you will be able to fly in a glider
- Suitable arrangements can be made to overcome most disabilities
Minimum Age: 16 years
Maximum Height: 187.96 cm
Maximum Weight: 101.60 kg
- Full and Half Day Courses: In the event the flying school are unable to operate one of the launch methods for technical reasons, winch launches may be substituted for aerotow and vice versa.
- Flights are subject to availability and suitable weather conditions
Half Day Gliding
- Available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between April and September
- Morning (08:00-13:00) and afternoon sessions (12:00-17:00) are generally available
Locations
Customer Reviews for the Half Day Gliding Course - Kent
Click here to see our customer reviews.
Keri
Excellent from start to finish! Well organised and everyone was fantastic. This experience really helped make my husband's 50th an even more memorable time, would highly recommend to anyone.
Christopher Laycock
Very friendly club, instructor was Peter and was excellent. Not long in the air about 15 mins. Could have spent all day in the air. Loved the tow line launch, felt like going up in a rocket.
spencer
Loved it! Weather not brilliant for flying, so only got about 20 minutes in the air. Would have been even more enjoyable if I had had longer.
kevin slattery
Great day, Peter the instructor was very friendly and laid back with a good sense of humour. Friendly club would recomend.
MIKE JONES
The experience day was brilliant from start to finish.
All of the instructors were very experienced and very helpful with all matters. My first flight was being towed up by the aircraft and this flight lasted 45 mins as it was a very nice day. Bob, my instructor handed over controls for quite a while so I could get a feel for the glider.
Obviously Bob was at hand when I started to make some mistakes.
My second flight was from the ground winch which was a shorter flight due to lack of thermals.
A very big thanks to all the staff at Kent Gliding school for making my day exceptional.
John Howlett
Had a fantastic day from start to finish Peter my instructor was excellent and I would definitely recommend this experience to family and friends. Fabulous day all round!!
David Lilford
I thoroughly enjoyed my glider lessons and Peter (the instructor) was superb.
Serena Adams
A truly wonderful day. The instructors were amazing very friendly, approachable, extremely knowledgeable and clearly very passionate. Every flight was amazing and absolutely a must for everyone. Thank you for an unforgettable day.
Serena Adams
A truly wonderful experience. The instructors were amazing very friendly, approachable, extremely knowledgeable and clearly very passionate. Every flight was amazing and absolutely a must for everyone. An unforgettable day.
Julian Marriott
Well run with friendly and helpful staff. Really enjoyed the day. A really great gift.
Mark
A super gift to receive, had a really pleasurable gliding experience. Peter the main glider pilot/instructor is a good guy and great at his job, his colleagues were also pleasant and competent; the countryside around Challock and the surrounding area of the Kent Gliding Club looks lovely from the air (even when upside down doing a loop!).
Jacqueline
Thoroughly enjoyed this gliding experience, fabulous views and expert tuition giving the chance for you to fly the very responsive glider yourself at the appropriate altitude. Everyone was welcoming and helpful and instructor Pete Carpenter impressed with his professionalism and knowledge.
boband
If you like flying , you will love this experience. Great basic gliding instruction with hands on flying tuition.
dell
Had the most Amazing time, it was everything i thought it would be and more. Everyone was friendly and very professional. If you are thinking of doing it you will not be disappointed
Colin
A most excellent day out. Walking through the country lanes and footpaths from Charing station on a beautiful sunny day to Kent Gliding Club and then an amazing flight with a friendly and informative instructor. A day to remember
Don Willetts
Although I have been in a glider (many years ago) this was even better than I expected. The pilot was really friendly, communicative and helpful and, once he discovered I was celebrating my 80th birthday, even included a loop-the-loop. I expected two flights but it seems they really work on giving the maximum flying time and I enjoyed five flights in the end. Many thanks
Jo Graham
Great day spent with lively people. Would definitely recommend the gliding either as half day or full day.
John Lawson
Gliding in Kent was a memorable experience. All the instructors at the gliding club were friendly and did all they could to make it a day to remember. I was airborne five times and allowed to take some of the controls at times. Everything was explained carefully and the safety standards were paramount.
Lyn Crowhurst
Fantastic experience. Very friendly staff and excellent facilities
David Edmunds
Had a great day gliding at the Kent gliding club, very friendly instructors, could easily take it up as another hobby! Very memorable day.many thanks to everybody involved. David Edmunds
Brian Searle
I really enjoyed my flight with Instructor Bob. We were airborne for one and a half hours and Bob let me fly for a lot of the time. As I had previous flying experience many years ago Bob didn't need to give me a basic briefing. We could not take a winch launch as the winch was out of commission due to a swarm of bees! With a one and a half hour thermaling flight I consider the course a good value for money.
Rosie Callow
I really enjoyed my gliding experience and my pilot Les made me feel very safe. I would recommend this to anyone who fancied doing something a little different an ideal present for a loved one. All of the staff were very friendly and made a lovely morning great, thank you all.
Karen Vause
Wot an experience! The staff and of course Walter my pilot were all fantastic and made the whole experience possible for me! I thought my mobility and health issues might be a problem.....not at all! My family and friends watching me, were made welcome as well!
Karen Vause
It was an amazing adventure, the gliding experience was something I wanted to do for quite sometime! Because of my limited mobility and the health problems l have, I didn't think it possible...however everything was perfect and that was made possible, through the help of the staff and Walter who was my pilot! A big big thank you from Karen Vause friends who contributed and my family for all their surpport!
Allan Russell
Very friendly club set-up. Courteous members made us feel welcome. Had to wait my turn for airtow in a basic control hut. Basic but kept me out of the cold.
Nicola
No pre-booking info sent. Staff and totor very helpful and supportive but a challenging day due to weather conditions
Matt
Received the experience as a Christmas gift & was very impressed! The Gliding club made us feel extremely welcome & were happy to address any questions or concerns we had. This experience is worth every penny & we will be returning again soon now we are fully fledged members! Highly recommended!
Hugh Johnston
Absolutely fabulous. All the lads and lassies there are so professional, friendly and helpful and made my 90th. birthday present so memorable,and surpassed all my expectations. My large family turned up to watch and they too were full of praise for the organisation. One of my daughters in law is now keen to have a go herself !!!
Jason Mabbutt
Sadly the weather let us down on my flight day and have rebooked for the end of September. However i can say the Gliding team at the Kent centre are brilliant and can't wait to get airborne.
christine
My mum and I bought this for my dads 83rd birthday. He absolutely loved it. Everyone was very helpful/friendly and even us watching had a good time as we could buy tea and ice creams etc. There was even a couple of childrens sit-in play cars which my 21mth Grandson enjoyed.
Thank you - would definately recommend/buy for another family member
Ms E Robinson
The whole experience from start to finish was excellent. staff superb.
Peter and Audrey Weekes
Great flight, even though the viz was somewhat hazy in the distance.
Everyone from the Receptionist, our Pilot Brian to the lady in the Cafe
were so friendly and helpful and made us feel really welcome.
The flights were given to my wife and me by all our family as a Golden Wedding present, how good was that ! As both of us are keen photographers we also have some photos to show them.
We both thoroughly enjoyed the experience and hope to go up again soon as we now have temporary Club membership for three months.
If you fancy something different, then give Gliding a go in this lovely
location. You will leave with some great memories as we did.
Tony Loft
Exellent flight, very freindly atmosphere something that i will be doing in the future, would definatly rocommend.
Geoff Plumer
This was something I have wanted to do for a long time and the whole day was fantastic. We had good weather (attended 16th Sept) which helps, but my instructor Peter and all the other staff were so friendly. Each time we went up Peter developed the experience for me, I had one aero tow and a number of winch tows which take you to 1200 feet we added another 2400 feet to that on one occasion. The location of the club is easy to find and the views once airborne are amazing. Just wish I had done it years ago, but having said that the day gives you 3 months membership(flying at club rates) of the club so I will be attending for some more flights. Have a go you wont be disappointed, just remember this is weather dependent, chose a sunny day.
Sally Ring
When I booked it I asked if it would be better to go earlier in the day to get the thermals. They said any time was fine and I booked it at 5.00pm
When I was flying they said the thermals are always better at the warmest part of the day and it was a bit late!
Customer Review from Feefo,
Service rating - excellent: Fast and prompt. No problems at all.Product rating - excellent: Wonderful day out in Kent. Would go again.
John urban
The say was fantastic , I could probably do it all again
Rajko Novakovic
I cannot begin to describe the shear joy and exhilaration I felt during my gliding experience. The instructors during my day at the center were brilliant and made it all the more pleasurable.
Trevor Harrison
27 August 2024
I had a great day. My wife, dog and I were made welcome at the gliding club and we all had a good time. The one-day initial gliding course is an excellent way to experience gliding and have some fun. The instructors, although volunteers, could not have been more professional and I felt comfortable and challenged in equal and enjoyable measure.
Sarah Walton
14 October 2024
What an amazing day. Great instructors and experience. Definitely worth doing the full day experience to make the most of it!
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