I've never flown before!

Get yourself a trial flight, these can be purchesed from LGC via the office.

Ages: No resistrictions to have a trial flight.

Height and Weight: Must be Taller than 5ft, and shorter than 6ft 4, Less than 100kg.

Eyesight: Be able to read a car number plate (correctly!) at 25m, with or without glasses.

Consider taking afew more flights, and really make up your mind as to if you want to take up flying as a hobby. Like any hobby you should consider your current and future life status, cost, time commitments and anything else that could effect the feasibility of you starting this hobby seriously.

If you've flown once already then you will have had 3 months probationary membership, this means you can fly at club rates for that time.

Cadet Scheme

If you're still in full time education, fulfil the other requirements for the cadet scheme - (does include helping around the airfield) then you can apply to the cadet scheme. This will reduce your flying costs by roughly half and is the best starting point for a young pilot wishing to go solo. For more information look at the new cadet info page.

One Day/Week Intensive Courses

If you're alittle older or wish to have some intensive flying or get abit more of a taste for what its like. Then you can ring the office at LGC and book a course. This is a good way to decide if you really enjoy flying and want to take it any further.

If you decide you want to do it then you can become a club member and start flying.

You must be over 16.

Have had atleast 20 flights with an instructor, and be cleared to fly solo via taking a check flight with a full cat instructor.

Have your first sucessful solo flight and show reasonable knowledge of rules of the air.

Complete the A Badge.

Have a successful flight and stay in the air for at least 5 minutes.

Show knowledge of rules of the air including rules appertaining to airspace.

2 soaring flights of 30 minutes each (if launched by car, winch or bungee.)

60 minutes each if from an aerotow not exceeding 2000ft.

Have had at least 3 check flights with a full cat instructor.

Pass the written Bronze exam - (Air Law, Airmanship, Meteorology, Principles of Flight, Radiotelephony and Navigation.)

(Flying tests must be completed within 12 months before the application is sent.)

Must have the Bronze Badge and the approval of the CFI.

Two soaring flights of at least 1 hour and flight of at least 2 hours.

Field selection flight.

At least 2 successful approches into fields.

Plan and fly a triangular task of at least 100km (in a motor glider or light aircraft).

With the bronze badge this now allows you to fly cross country and apply for a glider pilots licence (Which is not essentail)

Must have Bronze and Cross-Country Endorsement before attempting the Distance flight.

A Height gain of 1000 meters (3281 feet) or more.

A Distance flight on a straight course of 50km or more.

A Duration flight of 5 hours or more.

The Silver Badge is a requirement if you wish to fly in a competition, for which you also need a FAI sporting licence.

Must have Bronze and Cross-Country Endorsement before attempting the Distance flight.

Part 1: A pre-declared 100km triangle or out-and-return flight.

Part 2: Same as part 1, but with a handicapped speed of 65kph.

Must have Bronze and Cross-Country Endorsement before attempting the Distance flight.

A Height gain of 3000 metres (9843 feet) or more.

Distance flight of 300km or more.

Duration flight of 5 hours or more (the same flight from your silver may count here).

Must have Bronze and Cross-Country Endorsement before attempting the Distance flight.

A Height gain of 5000 metres (16405 feet).

A Goal flight of 300km or more over an out-and-return or triangular course.

A Distance flight of at least 500km.

If you get all three diamond flights you may be considered a gliding god and all just wohe in your wake.