Wellington Wairarapa Gliding Club
soar like a bird?
“The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who . . . looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space . . . on the infinite highway of the air.”
Wilbur Wright
we have wings . . . let’s go!
“Let’s get one thing straight. There’s a big difference between a pilot and an aviator.
One is a technician; the other is an artist in love with flight.”
Elrey Borge Jeppesen
Imagine the thrill of gliding silently through the air, the earth a patchwork quilt of colours far below. You are protected from the breeze by the stream-lined cockpit where you recline comfortably. The aircraft responds eagerly to the lightest touch on the controls.
The air moves in many subtle ways – just like the ocean. You can’t see it directly, but you can certainly sense it. Instruments provide further information about the glider – and the air in which you are immersed.
gliding towards Pukengaki
There’s plenty to occupy you. Firstly, keep a good lookout. Figure out where you will find your next climb, but continue to scan for other aircraft nearby, pay close attention to the terrain, and maintain a sharp eye for changes in the weather. You are well prepared for all eventualities, and find great pleasure in this challenge of soaring flight.
On the ground a team of flying buddies helped to assemble your glider, check it carefully before flight, tow it to the launch point and – finally – get you into the air. After that, it’s all up to you. Later your buddies will join you in the sky in their own gliders.
a happy crowd at the launch point
Every gliding club is a social hub where people from all walks of life come together for the shared purpose of soaring like the birds, having fun and enjoying the company of each other. It’s a dedicated community where life-long friendships are forged through giving and receiving training, participating in competitions, sharing the duties and helping to retrieve gliders from distant landing fields.
So, if you’re looking for a sport that combines the beauty of nature, the thrill of flight, and a diverse community of fascinating people, look no further.
a mix of young and older pilots
“I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
