Soaring Club of Tasmania

There are many reasons why we fly. But for whatever reason gliding is a sport that is safe, affordable, and open to everyone.
Some people see gliding as a path to a career in aviation, others simply want to fly. Whatever your situation joining the Soaring Club of Tasmania is your path to an experience that is as close to flying like a bird as humanly possible.
Gliding is different. As a glider pilot, your success is dependent on your skill and knowledge. There is no engine so the pilot must understand the environment, meteorology, sources of lift, and many other factors in order to succeed. Flying the aircraft is just one part of a multi-faceted aviation experience.
Gliders, or to use the more appropriate term, sailplanes, are sophisticated high-performance aircraft with remarkable capabilities. Flights of over 30,000 ft and distances of more than 1000km are frequently achieved in Australia and around the world. It all starts at your local club. Your training is provided by experienced instructors and as a member, you have access to 2 seat training gliders and then can progress to single-seat gliders.All club instructors, engineers, and tow pilots are volunteers.

This keeps costs affordable, and you can participate in this challenging sport without challenging your bank account. Anybody with good health (sufficient to hold a driver’s licence) can learn to glide. You can go solo from 15 years of age, and there is no maximum age limit. Come and join us today and achieve your ambition to be a qualified pilot.

Notification of flying can be found on the Gliding Tasmania Facebook page.Flying days are mainly Sundays depending on the availability of crew and suitable weather. Gliding Tasmania also often flies on Saturdays and occasionally weekdays also depending on the availability of crew and weather.

Notification is usually Friday or Saturday nights before operational days. Please visit our Gliding Tasmania Facebook page for updates.

All visitors are welcome however if you wish to go for a flight, please let Richard (mobile: 0419 992 264) know beforehand so we can fit you in. We operate on a first-in basis so get in early to avoid disappointment.

Purchase someone (even yourself) the gift of flight with an Air Experience Voucher from Gliding Tasmania. Soar like an eagle using the skill of your pilot and the energy from Mother Nature!

Your instructor will explain the features of our two-seater dual-control glider in a ground briefing before strapping you in for the ride of your life. Our powerful tow-plane will then tow you up to your release height from where your instructor will release the tow rope. From then on you become a true soaring being and will seek out rising air currents (thermals) to climb on solar energy. Often an eagle will also join you in the thermal. A qualified flight instructor will perform the takeoff and landing, but between times you will have the opportunity to take control of the glider under the guidance of your instructor.

The voucher may be redeemed most Sundays but flights are weather dependent. Please call Richard (Contact page) before turning up to allow for us to organise your flight

An Air Experience Voucher costs FROM $198, and can be purchased immediately, securely and online using a Credit Card. A voucher must be purchased before flying and the Terms and Conditions should be read and understood before flying.

Fly with us

Come and fly with us and discover the thrill of gliding.

Learn to fly

We provide free instruction to Club members. You only pay for the glider hire and the tow costs, instruction is provided free of charge by our team of talented qualified instructors.

Who can learn to fly

You can fly from a young age and there is no upper age limit. If you’re fit enough to drive a car you’re probably fit to learn to fly gliders.
Gliding is for all ages, men and women of all ages fly gliders. In Australia you can fly solo from the age of 15 and some pilots continue gliding into their eighties. It is never too late to learn to glide and many pilots take up the sport in their later years.

How do I get involved

Call us or visit us on a flying day and we can go through what you need to do to start your flying experience. Most people book an Air Experience Flight to get a feel of flying in a glider. To start flying, you will need to join the Gliding Federation of Australia and any soaring club in Australia. There is only one gliding club in Tasmania and we are very friendly so give us a call.