Links

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1. FOR THE JOY OF FLYING…

Link #1 … Jessie’s Glider Escape

Link #2 … Sailplanes DO do aerobatics!

A little more adventurous.

Link #3 … Learning to Fly … the Bicester Gliding Club Experience

What do you do when the thrill of your first flight turns into a passion to become a pilot?

You Join the Club!

These are the experiences of students at one Gliding Club in England. The Bicester Club uses a Winch Launch technique very similar to what you will experience with us at Grafton Gliding Club.

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2. ON A MORE PROFESSIONAL NOTE …

Link #4 … How Gliders fly without an engine

Simple answers to the questions we are most commonly asked.

Link #5 … Explore Gliding

If you are considering taking your first flight in a sailplane, you may find it helpful to look over the “Explore Gliding” pages on the GFA website. The GFA is the Gliding Federation of Australia. It is our national governing body. The GFA website contains an extensive range of information to suit all levels of interest and experience.

Link #6 … Australian Gliding Knowledge Manual

… for those who have a secret (or not-so-secret) passion for flying and aviation. Australian glider pilots are proud to present this reference manual. This is recommended reading for trainee glider pilots but it contains a wealth of information to benefit all pilots.

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3. A RANGE OF INTERESTING TOPICS …

Link #7 … Flying with Grafton Gliding Club

This is video actually taken from our sailplane GQX as she soars above Grafton…

Link #8 … Learn more about Grafton Gliding Club on our Facebook Page

Link #9 … Launching a sailplane using a “Tug” aircraft

This video gives a very different perspective on launching a sailplane. Here another powered aircraft is being used to pull the glider aloft.

Link #10 … TOUGH and MAGICAL … Competing Sailplanes

The sport of gliding has numerous forms of competition. Most centre around navigation skills and the ability of pilots to judge and use the weather conditions as they evolve. This video shows pilots and sailplanes as they complete a competition task of about 300km in length. At a distance somewhere between 50km and 100km away from the finish line, the pilots will have calculated the angle of descent which will get them “home” with the greatest speed. You are watching the last few seconds of the “final glide” which began perhaps twenty five minutes ago and a hundred kilometres away.

The video gives some sense of how strong and nimble sailplanes are. They can withstand forces much greater than commercial jets and light aircraft can tolerate. Notice how the pilots control their aircraft with just their thumb and forefinger.

In a few shots, the sailplane appears to be “cropdusting”. Many sailplanes have tanks built into their wings which the pilot may choose to load with water. The extra weight of the water increases the performance of the sailplane. However, it would be cruel to land the sailplane while it’s carrying that extra weight, so pilots jettison the water just before landing.

Link #11 … Pilot’s view of a Final Glide

This is what a final glide looks like from the cockpit. This video was taken during a straight-in approach to Lake Keepit, one of our neighbouring gliding clubs, west of Tamworth, New South Wales.

Link #12 … International Gliding #1

A peek at gliding in Europe.

Link #13 … International Gliding #2

And New Zealand!

Link #14 … Inside the head of a competition pilot.

A pilot shares his thoughts as he competes in an event in New Zealand.

Link #15 … Surfing the biggest wave in the world (Short).

Perlan 2, riding a 76,000 ft wave above the Andes Mountains of South America. (Longer video available HERE)

Link #16 … Gliding through the eyes of a Power Pilot

Some insights for our fellow pilots!