Training commences with this 2-seat glider (Type: ASK-21)
In Germany one can start to learn to fly gliders at 14 years of age, however not all of our learning pilots are youngsters! Also grown-ups come to realize their dreams of learning to fly. Gliding is not particularly difficult to learn, both for men and for women. One does not require great strength to fly a glider, however one should be reasonably fit. In addition to flying one also learns how to drive a car (required to bring the launch cables from the winch to the take-off area - a task that is especially liked by our younger members) together with how to operate our winch.
Beginners fly initially in a 2-seat glider with one of our instructors. We usually launch our gliders via a winch.
Training commences with this 2-seat glider (Type: ASK-21)
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The instruments:
The controls:
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The LSV Pinneberg is one of the training groups of the "Luftfahrerschule Segelflug im Luftsportverband
Schleswig-Holstein e.V.".
Our instructors work on a voluntary basis and offer both practical and
theoretical training. Training takes place during our normal flying times
i.e. at weekend, national holidays and by special arrangement. On each
flying day there are two or three instructors available. The main theory
lectures take place during the Winter season.
Our Chief Instructor Henryk Thier
 Norbert Jaschke |
 Kai-Uwe Koch |
 Timo Meinen |
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 Hans-Jürgen Sählandt |
 Rainer Schäfer |
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 Uwe Stahlberg |
 Wolfgang Sutter |
 Oliver Thomsen |
Each trainee receives a progress card (Ausbildungsnachweis). The illustration above shows pages 1 to 3. The progress card contains the various exercises that must be mastered during the training. The duty instructor uses this card to rapidly gain an overview of a trainee's status.
The above
example shows that the trainee has already completed the "A"
examination i.e. he has flown solo (since page 2 is "complete")
and on page 3 a number of the requirements for the "B" and
"C" examinations have been achieved.
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Here the duty instructor is checking the progress card of a
young trainee. In addition each pilot has his own log book in which all flights are listed. |
A lot of time; the financial costs are manageable. Since our instructors train on a voluntary basis one just pays the joining and membership fees and then the normal launch and flying fees. In order to keep the costs as low as possible we expect our members to join in with the necessary tasks. By this we mean not only actively taking part in the flying operations but also assisting with the maintenance of the aircraft, the cars & winch, the buildings etc..
The short answer is "yes" - but it is even possible to learn the language and how to fly at the same time (flying is in fact easier). Some instructors do speak some English but in order to become integrated into the club one should make an effort to learn German.
Usually it takes between 1.5 and 3 years before you have your license..
On average between 40 and 80 flights. This depends upon
many things: the weather, how often one comes to the airfield & so on.
The youngest members learn the fastest.
Our instructors are very conscientious and only send a trainee on his first solo
when they are really certain that the trainee can master this properly. If
more than 100 flights are necessary to achieve this status then over 100 flights
will be done!
Certainly! In fact one must achieve a certain number of solo
flying hours before one can register for the final examination.
One flies under the observation of an instructor who stays on the ground - the
trainee has to report to the instructor both before and after each solo flight.
Yes - there are a number of flying schools in Germany which
offer courses. These cost a significant amount of money!
Here is a list of
flying schools for gliding (there is no claim that this list is complete).
The LSV Pinneberg can be contacted via e-mail: 
- or just phone us!
Click here for restart.
last update 24.10.2011
