The Gliding Section

Flying with the power of the sun

In gliding, we use the oldest engine in the world: the sun. Due to global warming, it generates thermal updrafts that allow us to soar to great heights with our aircraft at several meters per second, even above Wels. meters per second. The thermals over the city and the surrounding area are good. You can spend two, three or more hours in the gliders and simply enjoy uplifting moments. In good conditions, flights into the mountains are of course also possible. are also possible. Distances of several hundred kilometers are not uncommon. The higher and further the wings take us, the more fascinating the gliding experience becomes.

Solid training is a top priority

In order to benefit from this, a thorough training course is required in advance. This usually lasts four to five months. The practical flight training mainly takes place at weekends. In addition theory is taught in evening courses. The total cost of glider training is around 3,000 euros (this includes the flight fees, training fees, the BFZ radio certificate, club membership, the membership fee for the current year and the official fees). Additional authorizations can then be obtained, such as the right to carry passengers, the radio operator's certificate or other types of take-off. In Wels, the main type of launch is launched using a winch cable. Another type of launch is with a towing machine. Winch operation is cost-effective and particularly environmentally friendly.

Gliding is a community sport

Even if you are often alone in the cockpit, which is often not obvious to laymen, gliding is a community sport. Nothing works without the help of your fellow pilots. This starts in the morning when clearing the hangar in the morning and ends in the evening when the planes are put away. The airplanes have to be brought to the start. In addition, the launch manager, tow pilot, wing holder and recorder are needed. For winch operations, winch drivers and rope retrievers are also required. are also required. For this and other reasons, the community and cohesion among the approximately 150 members of the gliding section are exemplary.

Workshop work in winter

Even though the flying season ends in the fall with the traditional take-off, the flying year is not over yet. The aircraft fleet is maintained throughout the winter. The aircraft are disassembled and the prescribed overhauls carried out by the members.