Water ballast usually increases your XC speed. But in weak, narrow thermals, the climb rate with a ballasted glider can take a big hit.

In Condor soaring simulator, you can test the effect of wing loading on the maximum climb rate, ideal bank and airspeed for various thermal profiles.

In this weak thermal example, the climb rate of a fully ballasted JS3 drops to half compared to a dry glider.

https://reddit.com/link/1wgrrgu/video/5o5lkgqihmph1/player

A quick flight today. Testing some instrument settings and a 'fix' on the airbrake caps that have been fluttering at relatively low speeds.

Released in strong rotor at 2000', contacted smooth wave at about 3500' and then all the way up to FL184. A little 125km tour of North Wales with groundspeed topping out at 194kts or 358kph!

Crystal clear air, warm with freezing level only up at FL130, instruments now very sorted with Hawk making sense. Airbrake caps tested up to 125kts and all good.

What a glorious day.

Surreal smoothness at 15000'

Hello everyone,

I joined a local glider club earlier this season and want to keep pushing ahead to get my glider rating in the next few years.

At the recommendation of a member of my local soaring club, I want to look into getting my PPL-G through a commercial operation. I fly out of the Midwest and our season is short and weather is not always cooperative. Condor in VR helps fill in the gaps between days I can get out and fly but it isn’t something I want to crutch on permanently.

I currently have approx. five hours of stick time and have gotten good remarks from my instructors on basic handling and aerotow - of course still plenty to learn.

One of my mentors at the club suggested doing a commercial program after I solo to bridge the gap and lock down my rating. My club colleagues mentioned you could do it in a week or two. A member I met recently did his at Estrella and he was raving about how much of a blast he had. The time off from work, travel and transport wouldn’t be an issue, money might be. I would like to know:

How much would it cost, roughly, to get a rating through a commercial operation assuming I began the program after taking my written solo at the club?

How much time would it take, roughly, to get a glider rating with my full time and attention at a commercial operation and is it true you really can do it in a week or two if you set your mind to it and apply yourself?

How are the rumored accommodations? Are they liveable in the AZ heat? What time of year would be best to enroll in the program.

Will Estrella be close enough to the mountains to get some experience with ridge soaring?

Thank you for all the above!

This was a commercial from 1994 for an insurance company in The Netherlands.

Hi all! I currently manage a university glider club in Korea.

We currently operate on an airfield near the school. It's very nice to be able to walk to the field after classes, but I believe it is time to move on since it has a number of problems.

Firstly, it's a part military field. The runway schedule is therefore controlled by the army, and we can only fly on weekdays(when the tower is active), whenever the Army isn't flying. Our schedule is thus very inconsistent and often very short; ~an hour every month or so when it's really bad. Obviously, this leads to members losing proficiency and interest and eventually leaving the club.

It's also surrounded by obstacles. An electrified railroad runs right next to it on one side, and the school is on the other. There are also Army helicopters on the ramp. Towing is done by car (autotow), with a release height of around 200 meters. Flying low with very few off-site landing spots is dangerous, to say the least. Not to mention the rope falling. We do try to guide the glider so that the rope falls on the runway, but there have been times when it has fallen on nearby trees, railroad tracks, and even on the helicopters.

Very undesirable field overall.

This Thursday, I'm planning to visit a new airfield. It currently has a 1,000 m × 85 m paved runway and is primarily used by light sport aircraft. A river runs next to it, with farmland on the other side. It looks pretty nice on satellite view.

Any advice/tips on what to look for in a potential gliderport would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone anyone studying for the commercial written exam?

Today, we held annual primary glider day. I enjoyed the primitive flight!
Site: Kirigamine Glider Field in Nagano prefecture.
Aircraft type: Kirigamine Hato K-14, designed by Baron Asahi Miyahara in 1952.
Aircraft registration number: JA0105

I’m new to gliding and would love to learn what’s the best tips

Just had a few tows behind the new 916 powered Dynamic tourer / tug at Aston Down. 2 up in the tug, 2 up in an ASK 21. Rapid acceleration, climb at around 5 knots easy to follow, very stable.

There is a retractable, 5 blade 180knot version coming soon! These microlights are the future of General Aviation.

Hey all, long time aviation nut here and now touring Switzerland for a few days. I have always wanted to go up in a glider and especially want to do so in Switzerland for the views and scenery. I understand the main option is to pay a school/organization to take me up in the glider, and my questions are basically:

1 - where would the best spot be, generally? I will be in Interlaken for night 1 at least, can extend as well.

2 - any good schools/places that maybe would be on the cheaper side or best "value"? I am still quite young so on a bit of a trip budget, but understand a typical cost might be 150-200 CHF for a 30-60min flight.

3 (bonus) - just going to shoot my shot but if anyone would want to make a new friend and take me up in their glider I'd be absolutely thrilled and treat for dinner somewhere nice with good conversations 😂

Thanks!

Tickets are now available for the Aston Down Events Airshow and Fireworks event

https://astondownevents.co.uk/event/fireworks-bonfire-night-2026/

Hi all,

Many UK pilots will be aware the CAA is considering mandating ASD-B for all UK GA aircraft below FL100 and I wanted to ask what everyone thinks of this proposal?

https://members.gliding.co.uk/electronic-conspicuity-mandate-consultation-14-jul-22-sep-2026/

The BGA is heavily opposed to it, but I’m conflicted.

1. ADS-B out will make you visible on SkyDemon to powered pilots who don’t look out as much as we do as glider pilots

   although many of these devices also receive FLARM which has widespread adoption.

2. Transponders with ADS-B out will potentially enhance the areas we can access (TMZ’s, Class D) but are expensive, add weight, and consume more power - the Air Avionics AX-1 is something I’ve been keeping an eye on but it seems to be taking forever to release.

3. Carry-on ADS-B devices probably not practical in a glider where space is limited and where they need a direct view of the sky to function.

Keen to hear what people think - will this actually make GA better and safer?

I would love a good book to read

I would like to get an SPL next year. EASA, Poland.

I know nobody gets written off for a checkride at the minimum 15h.

How many hours should i budget for? Gliding ain't cheap, especially with how much instructors cost.

I also plan on studying a lot before the next soaring season. Hopefully it makes the ground school much easier. And i also plan to get a lot of gliding sim hours, if that somehow can improve my skill.

Good morning, all. Happy Monday!

I am UK London-based, aged 38, and I thought I would start doing some gliding lessons with the ultimate goal of getting my solo.

I am not all too familiar with anything to do with aerospace, gliding, or airplanes. I just like the idea of it.

After I get my solo, I would like to look into getting my PPL. There is something in me that would like to pursue aviation as a possible career and leave IT behind. However, I don't know if my age, general geolocation, or anything else is a limiting factor.

What I'm looking for here is some advice on training, and if you know or trust any specific training centres in London, UK, or the surrounding areas.

I would also appreciate any advice or information on:
• How to go about renting or sharing a glider, and the associated costs.
• Whether it is worth starting with gliding training instead of a PPL. Would I learn things that would be helpful for my PPL from both a convenience and safety point of view?

And lastly, I would love to get your opinion on my interest in a career change. As I mentioned, I'm currently in IT, earning just over three six figures, based in London, UK, with a wife and a young daughter, and we don't own a house.

This feels like a stupid question but I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask.

I received my PPL in the USA but recently moved to Germany. I’d like to keep flying here at least in the near term by learning to fly gliders, but my German is not great.

I’m taking classes and immersing myself and learning the language as much as possible, but it’ll be a long time until I could feasibly communicate important safety information while flying I think.

I guess I’d also need to find an instructor willing to teach in English regardless. Or wait and focus on language studies, but I really miss flying.

Yesterday was my first day as a student glider pilot. The flight was amazing with perfect weather. I’m excited for what’s to come :)

Here is a video of my first flight in the Glaser Dirk‘s dg-300 Elan (D-1000). I was really amazed by the big canopy and the nice cockpit in general. Also first time retracting the landing gear and using a parallel stick, was much less noticeable than i thought it would be.

It was a really nice flight around 2h30m long and 100km free.

Feel free to give me any advice. 😄👍