Junior Gliding at Shenington Gliding Club

Shenington Gliding Club welcomes and encourages young people to try gliding and become members of the sport. We have a thriving local junior membership and visits from local Scouts groups. The club is an accredited Junior Gliding Centre, by the British Gliding Association.

All flight training is given in 2-seat gliders by qualified instructors who are trained and have been screened for their suitability for working with young people.
To fly solo in a glider, the student must be aged 16 or over. Students are not sent solo until they have reached a good standard of flying ability, usually around 50 flights.

In 2010 we had three 16 year olds solo for the first time, 2 of them soloed on their 16th Birthdays

Generally anyone from Secondary School age onwards. The clubs recommended minimum age for flying in a glider is 14, but this is no fixed rule, it really depends on their size and weight.
For those aged 12-14 or on the smaller side, can be flown in the motor-glider when there is an instructor available.

Children under the age of 18 will need parental consent before flying. Please make sure the temporary membership form is signed before arriving at the club.

Gliders do not launch themselves and any launch point needs a team of volunteers. While taking it in turns to fly, juniors can get involved by helping launch gliders and driving golf buggies to retrieve them after landing. This teamwork is what makes gliding an active and sociable sport.
When flying cannot take place for whatever reason (usually the weather) the club has a games room with pool and table tennis, which juniors are welcome to use.

Juniors are welcome to join us any time we are operating, however junior specific flying periods take place on Friday evenings in the summer months (April- Sept) and on Sunday afternoons during winter (Oct-Mar). There is always a parent present during the junior flying periods.

Gliding costs less than most people think. A winch launch costs £7 and £0.25 per minute for glider hire. A typical training flight lasting 5mins will cost £8.25.

The club currently has a fantastic incentive for encouraging junior members. The junior annual membership fee is just £35, compared with £300 for the full adult price. See flying fees page for details.

A number of our junior members have successfully obtained sponsorships and flying bursaries to help with the cost of their flying. Please get in touch with junior gliding co-ordinator for more details.

The club welcomes Scouts and other groups to participate in gliding activity days at Shenington. Activity days will include an airfield safety brief and flying using gliders and/or the motor-glider.

Activity days can be tailored for each group and could include:

• Teamwork exercises – helping to launch and retrieve gliders
• A 20-30 minute flight in a motor glider (depending on numbers)
• Classroom tuition on flight and navigation
• Fun activities such as paper airplane competitions

We are aware of the Scout Aviation related badges and our instructors are more than happy to tailed instruction around the badge criteria.

For Further Information please contact the junior gliding co-ordinator via the club office.

Further information can be found in the following documents. You can also contact the club office that can put in touch with junior gliding co-ordinators.


Junior Gliding Information

GC Child Protection Policy

Junior Membership Form

Temporary Membership Form

Mandatory medical Notes


Note this section and links is under construction coming shortly