'I turned south, and whispered for home at 40 knots… everything so quiet that is was not the glider that was moving, it was the dreamy earth below which was being drawn silently backwards.'*

Flying in a sailplane is one of life's outstanding experiences.

Don't you owe it to yourself to try it? Many pilots consider the silent flight of sailplanes to be the only real sort of flying. So why not book at flight at Lake Keepit Soaring Club and see for yourself what it is all about?

Most Gliding Experience flights are around 20 minutes long, but if the conditions are good and there are thermals around, flights can be as long you like and as long as the thermals last… hours in fact. If there are no thermals, then a high tow can be used to extend the flight.

On most days, thermal activity starts around 11.00.Thermals build in strength towards mid afternoon. They begin to weaken until around sunset where there may be only a few gently updrafts left. If you prefer a smooth flight, think about coming in the morning or late afternoon. If you want to stay up, think about coming from the middle of the day to mid afternoon. Strong thermals can be bumpy, especially in mid summer, so pick a time to suit yourself.  

The club offers three types of trial flight.

Winch Launch. - $60

You can winch launch and experience almost fair-ground-ride exhilaration as the glider climbs to over 500 metres up in less than a minute… This is the cheapest trial flight and normally lasts around 20 minutes. Flight times are weather dependent and depending on the conditions on the day, the flight can be shorter than 10 minutes. If conditions are good, you can extend your flight beyond the base 20 minutes for only $1.50 per minute. Winch launching is not available every day, so please ring beforehand to confirm if you want to winch launch.

Aerotow Launch. - $120

You can launch by the slightly more leisurely method of aerotowing and go as high as you want. The normal launch height will give you a flight of 20 - 30 minutes depending on conditions on the day. If conditions are good, you can extend your flight beyond 30 minutes for only $1.50 per minute.

Mattew Minter Moon Shot. - POA

The there's the Matthew Minter Moon Shot! Named after the wonderfully eccentric Matthew Minter who holds the club record for incredibly high tows. From time to time, Matthew will get towed as high as he can afford… sometimes around 10,000'. That's around 3kms above the ground. The average sailplane could glide for over 100 kilometers from that height! The cost is up to you on this one. Let us know what you want!

What's the best time to fly?

Gliding Experience flights can be had almost any day at Lake Keepit Soaring Club, but it's best to ring and find out what's going to be available when you want to fly and what sort of experience you want to get from your flight, and then make a booking. If you want something special to make a real occasion of it, like a bottle of bubbly when you land, just let us know and we'll organise it.

You you can book for yourself or buy a gift certificate. See the contacts page for details.

Guidelines

Air experience flights are suitable for almost everyone, but you MUST weigh less than 110kgs to comply with air safety regulations which apply to sailplanes. 

Duration of Flights

 All flying is weather dependent and if conditions are not suitable for soaring, if there is a lot of sink around, or if thermals are not found, then the flight duration may be less than expected. Ask your pilot for advice on this.

The base duration of winch flights is 20 minutes. The base duration of aerotow flights is 30 minutes. If conditions are good, you can extend your flight beyond the base minutes for $1.50 per minute.

Numbers.

The price quoted for a flight is for one person. The aircraft are two seaters, and you will be accompanied by a skilled, qualified pilot. The club has several two seat gliders available, so if you want to fly at the same time as a friend, let us know in advance and it can be arranged. Large groups of people can usually be catered for given sufficient notice.

Weather.

All flying is weather dependent. In the case of bad weather, you can reschedule your flight for another day. If you think the weather conditions are doubtful, ring the club in advance for confirmation. 

*Quote from 'Free as a Bird' by Philip Wills