08.30 The DI will give all staff and students the initial flying brief, which informs all people involved in the gliding activities of the specific details for the days operations. Following briefings will be given to all new attendees and ground lectures will be given to course cadets, if required. Whilst these briefings and lectures are being completed, the other staff members will tow the aircraft out to the launch point caravan.
09:30 Gliding will commence as soon as possible with all seven aircraft being used where practicable. Cables will be towed from the winch to the launch point and, when a pilot is ready, one of these cables will be attached to the glider. Following a series of light signals to the winch driver they will 'draw in' the cable, initially slowly but gradually increasing speed in order to propel the glider into the air. Once in the air the pilot will use thermal activity (if present) to prolong the flight and complete their tasking. Where necessary they will land back at the airfield and will be towed to the launch point, so that they can continue the task set on subsequent launches. The DI (who is a qualified instructor) will supervise the operations from the ground whilst the other pilots fly the aircraft. The majority of the flying is with cadet students and passengers but staff continuation training is an important part of the flying programme as we would be unable to fly the cadets without suitably qualified pilots. Although the flying is taken seriously anyone who has been involved in gliding before will know that the sport is a very sociable one. The atmosphere on the airfield will generally be relaxed, friendly and fun, as the social side of the gliding experience is as important as the flying itself. We will generally continue gliding throughout the day, only stopping when the weather prevents us from continuing. Gliding will stop when daylight starts to fail or the days flying programme is complete.
Once all the aircraft have been cleaned and closing paperwork has been completed, the staff and instructors leave the Gliding Squadron and will often meet socially later in order to discuss the days events over some well earned refreshment!
