Introductory Flights

Introductory Flights are a great way to experience the joy of gliding, especially if you’re considering taking it up as a hobby. They also make ideal gifts for friends or loved ones, offering a truly memorable and unique experience.

Camphill, in the heart of the Peak District National Park, is the perfect location for Introductory Flights. Even before you get airborne you’re taking in stunning scenery, but as you soar into the sky you start to truly appreciate the beautiful area that has been home to the club for nearly 90 years.

During the Introductory Flight, subject to the weather at the time, you will be able to see many major landmarks.

To the north is Mam Tor, with the Great Ridge running east to Lose Hill, and Win Hill opposite. Edale and the Ladybower Reservoirs lie beyond (where 617 Squadron, The Dambusters, trained during WW2). Looking south you see the Hope Valley, perhaps catching a glimpse of Hathersage, before crossing Abney Moor flying south towards Eyam, the historic plague village.

Further away is Bakewell, in the Wye valley, which catches the eye along Miller’s Dale all the way to Buxton. On a good day you can pick out Chatsworth House, the ancestral home of the Dukes of Devonshire, with its gleaming gilt window frames.

Closer to home is Tideswell, home of 14th Century St John the Baptist church, which is known as the “Cathedral of the Peak”.

A fully qualified and experienced instructor conducts the pre-flight briefing before taking you to your two-seat glider, explaining how things work. You also have the chance to get photos of the glider.

Then it will be time to don a parachute, and be settled into the glider – another good opportunity for some souvenir photos.

The instructor will make sure you are comfortable and safely strapped in, before describing the important cockpit instruments and controls – not that you are expected to fly the glider, but so that you can better understand and enjoy the experience.

Once settled in and checks complete, the glider will be “hooked on” and is ready to launch.

The wings will be levelled and seconds later the powerful winch will accelerate the glider to around 60mph and you will swiftly be airborne, before the pilot in command gently eases the stick back, causing the glider’s nose to rise and direct you skyward.

After a minute or so, you will have climbed to a thousand feet or more above the airfield, the rush of air will have turned to silence, and the panorama will be before and all around you.

At this point the instructor will be looking for some lift to sustain your flight.

Our aim is to keep you flying for around ten minutes. Your flight could be thermaling upwards under a cloud, or drifting along one of our ridges.

If you haven’t done so already, ask the instructor if you can use your camera (and ideally have it securely strapped to your wrist, to enable this), or simply enjoy the serenity of the occasion.

After landing, you walk back to the launch point with the glider, you’ll be asking how you can join the club, or reminiscing about the highlights of your flight.

Once returned to your guests, there’ll be another “photo-op” as you are presented with your flight certificate.