Whilst Buckminster Gliding Club can boast having an excellent facility in Saltby airfield and has relative freedom to soar the local airspace, it relies heavily on thermals for pilots wishing to stay aloft.  This can be frustrating, particularly during the winter months, when thermals are hard to come by.

However, there are gliding clubs around the UK that enjoy extended soaring flights all year round thanks to their local geography and assistance from the wind.  With the right conditions, strong lift can be found on hillsides, ridges and as a result of ‘mountain wave’ – the effect of the wind blowing up the side of a mountain to a higher altitude.  For the glider pilot, engaging this type of lift requires a different set of skills but is none the less challenging or rewarding. 

‘Ridge soaring’ in a glider is nothing short of exhilarating – you are often close to the ground and get a greater appreciation of speed, staying airborne merely by the force of the wind being forced up by a hill or mountain ridge.  Flying in ‘wave’ is much smoother and refined compared to the effort that is required to crank the aircraft round on its wing tip to gain height in a thermal. It can also be very satisfying to reach heights without an engine that are normally attained by airliners and transport aircraft!  Climbs in excess of 10,000’ are relatively common and allow glider pilots to fly long distances.

You don’t have to travel far to experience these types of soaring. For example, The Yorkshire Gliding Club at Sutton Bank in Yorkshire, is an easy two-hour drive, has a modern fleet of two-seat and single seat gliders and a offers reciprocal membership arrangements.  There are usually plenty of experienced instructors on hand to show you how to make the most of your visit.  And if the wind is from the west, a ‘run’ along the 18 mile ridge without climbing above 1000’ is a must!  Sutton Bank is a site where you can sometimes enjoy thermal, ridge and wave soaring all in one flight – and that is probably the best way to test your soaring skills!

There are many advantages of visiting other gliding sites. Apart from developing your soaring skills, learning from others, and flying different types of glider, the chance to fly from a different airfield in unfamiliar airspace is a great way to broaden your experience and ability as a glider pilot.