LSV Kreis Pinneberg: General Information on Gliding/Soaring
Please note that the information given here will be relevant to German clubs
in general and the LSV Pinneberg in particular.
Gliding in Germany is officially regulated with a glider pilot's
license, which contrasts to the situation in the UK
where the British Gliding Association
(BGA) manages its own sport.
To quote the BGA:
"Gliding must be one of the cheapest, friendliest and most enjoyable
ways of learning to fly.
Many professional pilots started in this way and many are still flying
gliders in their spare time.
The thrill and beauty of silent flight is an experience never to be forgotten
and, once hooked, glider pilots tend to become lifelong devotees."
Here are some specific points concerning flying with the LSV Pinneberg:
- Gliding can be carried out by any normal healthy person
(men & women equally) - the minimum age in Germany is 14.
- Contrary to the frequently-held view, gliding is not an expensive
elitist sport - a gliding club's members represent a complete cross-section
of the community.
Members who frequently fly club gliders typically have annual flying fees of
between EUR 550 and 700.
Many other sports are more expensive.
With gliding fresh air comes free!
- Gliding is one of the few sports where older members have just as much
fun and a sense of achievement as the younger members.
- The training of a glider pilot normally takes between
1 1/2 and 2 1/2 years.
Going solo is generally achieved after between 40 and 100 flights depending
on ability, weather and how active the pupil is.
The objective of our training is to acquire the German Glider Pilot's
License GPL.
- The sporting objective of a glider pilot is cross-country soaring.
The cross-country pilot gains height by circling in lift (e.g. a thermal)
and then glides to the next thermal - just as if one climbs up a staircase
and slides down the banisters.
In this way we can achieve flights from Uetersen of up to 600 Kilometers.
In addition to flying ability a cross-country pilot must be able
to understand natural phenomena (weather, ground conditions etc.).
- In order to keep the costs as low as possible it is expected that club
members take their share in the work involved.
By this we mean not only taking an active part in flying operations
but also in the maintenance of the aircraft, vehicles (cars, winch),
the buildings and (unfortunately) administrative tasks.
The work with fellow members is fun and one can
learn a lot whilst carrying out the tasks.
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last update 16.3.2006