BENDIGO Gliding Club has had members and guests falling from the sky, in a safe and fun manner for over thirty years now offering everything from quick joy flights to longer flight training.<\/p>\n
Tow pilot with the club, Phil McCann, is tasked with pulling gliders up to launch height, and said gliding is all about having a good time.<\/p>\n
\u201cGliding is basically a recreational pursuit, as you can imagine,\u201d he said. \u201cIt’s good for nothing other than having fun. If your idea of fun is flying around in the sky without an engine.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing gliding can basically be anything from just taking off and floating around, not far from the airfield to some pilots who fly 500 to 800-kilometre flights in a day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr McCann said the competitive aspect of gliding is what can attract people to the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome people may be interested in competition flying,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s what a lot of people get involved for, the competitive side of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is, in general terms, a task of anywhere between 200 or 600 kilometres around a triangle with towns as turn points, and then it’s a case of who can get around the task in the quickest time.\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of their operations, the Bendigo Gliding Club offers training as well as joy flights for those who just want to get into the sky.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe club provides training from zero experience all the way up to cross-country qualifications,\u201d Mr McCann said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also have air experiences that we use to introduce people to the sport if you like. They usually go for about 20 minutes or so. The line will tow them up to about 3000 feet and the guest flies around with a qualified instructor.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt lets them have a look at the countryside and then if they’re interested, they can have a go on the controls and see how it all works.\u201d<\/p>\n