Gifts & Courses

General Information

The gift recipient (perhaps yourself) will receive a flight voucher valid for one year from the date of purchase. The voucher pack explains how to schedule a date for the flight. Also included is a one month membership to the club – allowing you to come back again and again. Vouchers are sent by Royal Mail and normally take 3 working days to be delivered. Once you have read and agreed to the terms and conditions and understand that the person flying needs to meet the fitness, height and weight requirements, you can purchase the voucher online, or call the office on 01582 663419.

1. Online sales are of vouchers entitling the holder to the services specified. Vouchers are sold and the services are provided by London Sailplanes Limited (Trading as The London Gliding Club).

2. To book the trial lesson or course to which the voucher entitles you, you should phone the club during normal business hours to arrange a mutually convenient time.

3. Appointments may have to be varied at short notice due to weather or other conditions. London Gliding Club will be happy to rearrange a mutually convenient appointment, but will have no other liability.

4. All those taking trial lessons or courses are entitled to a period of free temporary membership of London Gliding Club. In order to take up a trial lesson or course, it is necessary to take up the temporary membership, and to agree to be bound by the rules of the club.

5. All vouchers are valid for one year from issue. In the event of late cancellation an administration charge will be applied. If an extension beyond one year is requested, we may consider this entirely at our discretion, and if this is agreed an administration charge may be applied.

6. We hope that your chosen recipient loves their flight experience, but if it isn’t for them, do be aware that vouchers are transferable - Providing the person to be flown meets the requirements.

7. We regret that all voucher sales are non-refundable.

Health and Fitness Guidelines

If you have good general health and can manage a walk in the country you will have no problem learning to glide. Please call us on 01582 663419 to discuss any congenital medical condition or disability.

No age is too old or too young to start gliding! Under 18s need parental consent. Under 16s must also be accompanied by an adult.

Height & Weight is restricted by the size of the glider. To fit the glider you will need to be taller than 1.5m (5′) and shorter than 1.95m (6′ 4″). You also need to weigh less than 100kg (220 lbs).

You must be able to read a car number plate at 25 metres (with or without glasses).

For aerobatics flights, during an aerobatics routine our gliders can pull up to 6.5 positive G’s and -4 negative G’s which puts significant additional physical stresses on the body.

You should be in very good health to make the most of an aerobatics experience, and if in any doubt on physiological conditions that could be impacted by aerobatics you should seek medical advice beforehand.

If you have been gifted an aerobatics experience but still wish to fly, your instructor can take you on an extended general flight experience instead. Our instructors reserve the right to make a judgement on the suitability of any individual for any flight experience in the interests of safety.

Points to Note

Our training and experience flights are delivered by British Gliding Association-rated instructors who are primarily trained to keep you as safe as possible, whilst also ensuring you have a lot of fun!

As the weather can impact upon the safe conduct of flights, a booked flight may be cancelled and rescheduled at short notice for reasons beyond our control if they are deemed to be unsuitable. Flights are also subject to aircraft serviceability and availability which can change at any time. We will always do our best to get you flying when it is safe to do so.

Whilst gliding is a very safety-conscious activity, if you are looking for a totally risk-free activity then gliding may not be the right fit for you. Being in control of a glider isn’t for everyone. Taking part in gliding is entirely at your own risk.

If any aspects of your experience concern you, please speak with our reception upon arrival or to your instructor prior to your experience who can demonstrate what is done to mitigate the risks.