our expeditions
We go on regular trips to other gliding locations to experience different conditions and to learn about different types of lift, such as ridge or wave. Our trips are suitable for all levels of experience and we usually take a mixture of club and private gliders. These expeditions provide a chance to fly in some exceptional scenery and learn the techniques required for flying in mountainous areas, where the lift can easily take you beyond 10,000ft.
Deeside Gliding Club, Aboyne - Aberdeenshire, scotland
Aboyne is home to Deeside Gliding Club, which is renowned for being the best site in the United Kingdom for wave soaring. Deeside is ideally situated for height claims - a glider flown from Aboyne set the UK altitude record for a sailplane of a whopping 38,600 feet. It is also a great location to explore cross-country in the wave and to explore the Cairngorms National Park.
Since 2018, we have consistently organised an expedition to Aboyne each year, usually for 2-3 weeks in October after the thermal ‘season’ has finished and we are looking for any which way we can extend our flying before the short, winter days bed in. To date, our members have achieved 5 diamond heights, 6 gold heights and a silver height.
black mountains gliding club, Talgarth - southern powys, Wales
Talgarth is home to Black Mountains Gliding Club, near the Brecon Beacons, which is known for its stunning scenery. It offers excellent ridge running and wave, as well as thermals for those wanting to explore more of Wales. The airfield itself is very exciting - shaped like an upside-down bowl - it offers good development for those used to large, flat, airfields.
We organised our first expedition to Talgarth in April 2023 and it quickly become a favourite amongst our members. We now usually organise a 4 day expedition towards the start of the thermal ‘season’ each year to kick start the summer.
denbigh gliding, lleweni parc - denbighshire, wales
Lleweni Parc, near the coast of North Wales, is the base for Denbigh Gliding Club. It is an increasingly popular destination amongst glider pilots as it offers a long ridge as well as wave being generated by Snowdon.
We have visited Denbigh in the past and it is always an option considered each year for our expeditions.
sisteron - Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
The RAFGSA also organises numerous gliding expeditions throughout the year (most often to Sisteron, in the French Alps) allowing service personnel to develop their flying ability. Expeditions are organised under the auspices of Adventurous Training and with help from the RAF Sports Lottery and RAF Charitable Trust the individual cost to service personnel is kept to a minimum.
