When? Saturday and Sunday 13th-14th June, 2026
Where? Cambridge Gliding Centre, SG19 3EB
Have you ever wanted to fly? Come and check out what it’s like to fly silently, kept aloft simply by thermals (rising currents of air) floating above Cambridgeshire.
Free to visit and see the gliding! There’s plenty to see — launches, hangar tours, our simulator, and the gliders themselves (from the newest shiny fibreglass gliders, to our 75-year-old vintage glider Bluebell). We’ll have instructors on hand to explain how gliders are launched, how they stay aloft, and how Cambridge pilots fly hundreds of miles from Cambridge and back again — using the solar power of thermals alone.
If you want to fly, we’ll have trial flights available with our experienced team of instructors. Trial flights will be £120, a £30 discount on our normal prices. There will be limited capacity – first-come-first-served. You’ll start to learn to fly from your very first flight. And if you decide to learn to fly solo, we’ll have discounted club membership available too.
We aim to be flying from about 10am-5pm each day – come along whenever suits you – but if we’re busy, you’re more likely to fly if you get there earlier.
What to expect from your trial flight:
If you do decide to fly, you’ll first get a briefing and a hangar tour in our clubhouse, and we’ll weigh you to make sure we can adjust the balance of the glider correctly. After that, you’ll be taken out from the clubhouse to the launch point where you’ll meet your instructor. They’ll explain what’s going to happen in the flight and get you strapped into the front seat, before climbing in the back. You’ll then be towed aloft by a plane to about 2500 feet — this is the best time to take photos and enjoy the view, because once we release from the plane you get busy! After that point, you’ll be given a few short demonstrations by the instructor before you take control – if you want to! – and fly around practicing climbs, descents, and turns. The instructor will then take control again for the approach and landing, and you’ll climb out with a big grin on your face!! The flight itself is typically anywhere between 20 minutes and 45 minutes depending on how lucky we get with updraughts. Let the instructor know if there’s anything in particular that you want to see or do – this is your flight.
If you’re not sure – come along and decide on the day!
One of our two-seater training gliders above Cambourne
Let us know if you think you’ll come along, especially if you think you might want to fly.
Bring as many friends as you can! Everyone should try gliding. (If you’ve got a big group of people, you can also book the airfield for an exclusive evening gliding & BBQ event!)
