Gliding Holiday Costs

I promised to give a breakdown of the costs of my holiday flying a glider.

The glider is a Duo Discus, 2 seater and near the top of the range in terms of performance.

I travelled down alone but came back together with my co-pilot and the glider in its trailer.

As flying was dual, the hire costs and aerotows are shared.

Accommodation is very reasonable for a single en suite room and included continental breakfast. A bocadillo (sandwich) for lunch each day was just 3 Euros. We bought a few soft drinks and had a few beers in the bar.

Dinner averaged out at 25 Euros for 3 courses including wine, water, bread and coffee afterwards. I was hoping to lose a bit of weight but didn’t.

To hire the glider you must be a member of Lasham Gliding Club at £474 per year.

Compare this with 7 nights in the Maldives £2000 per person approx + spending money. Through Canadian Rockies by train for 5 nights is £1400 + Air fare. Then add your travel insurance.

So, you see, a gliding holiday is not as expensive as you might think. I shall probably get a small refund as we towed the glider back home to Lasham. These costs compare favourably with a golfing holiday.

The glider was taken to Spain in early March and has been on hire until now. It will go out again in September for a couple of months. Through the summer it will be used for club gliding and competition flying.

Lasham Gliding Society

If you would like to try gliding contact Lasham Gliding Society.

The website gives details of trial flights and a video. It also explains training if you wish to become a pilot. You have to be under 16 stone weight at one end and big enough to reach the controls if you are a child. You are not allowed to fly solo under the age of 14. It would be great to spend the summer holidays learning to fly and to go back to school as a solo pilot – cool, or what?

Any young person considering a career in aviation and who had a glider pilot licence would be in a pole position for a job.

A trial flight is £80 or a Flying start (flights) £150. The price includes 3 month membership during which you can fly at club rates with an instructor. Then, if you decide to join, there is no joining fee (normally about £70).

Club rates:

• Winch Launch £9.00
• Aerotow to 2000ft £35.50
• Flying time £0.60 per minute up to maximum £80

Lasham Airfield is between Alton and Basingstoke, about 30 miles from Chandler’s Ford.

Post Series: Gliding Holiday in Spain, by Mike Sedgwick:

• Holiday – No Holiday?
• Sharing The Sky With The Vultures
• Soaring The Pyrenees
• Not Only Gliders
• Gliding Holiday Costs