The Soaring Club of Tasmania started its operations in 1974 at Woodbury airfield and continued operations there until April 2018. Due to the installation of a large pivot irrigation system on the airfield, we have relocated our operations to Tunbridge Airfield. We recommenced operations at the Tunbridge Airfield in October 2019. Members come from all parts of the state but are mainly derived from Launceston or Hobart.

There are several instructors available for those learning to fly and for visitors that are wanting to try the sport of gliding.

There are many reasons why we fly. But for whatever reason gliding is a sport that is safe, affordable, and open to everyone.

Why we fly

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.

 

 

Gliders

Gliding Tasmania operates with a Libelle, IS-28, and Grob 103 Twin Astir type gliders. There are also several private gliders including a Motorfalke, Grob 103C SL, Mini Nimbus, and Mosquito. We are an aero-towing site meaning our gliders are pulled into the air by a powerful tow plane of which ours is a Pawnee.

There is a hanger in which six or seven gliders and a tow plane can be neatly stored.

Facilities

We have one main hanger and will soon be building another as our fleet is growing. Our new facilities will eventually incorporate a new clubhouse and once built in a year which will be used for operations, training, and relaxing for our busy tow pilots and instructors who may have up to 20 plus flights on a busy day.

Our Airfield

The field is a large paddock, with a single main runway defined North/South or runway 28/10. If you are flying in, take care because the strips can be hard to pick out, particularly in poor lighting conditions. They are marked by white cones on the main North/South strip and are also fairly apparent after being mowed. Pilots need to be aware of livestock on occasions and wild deer who are present in the nearby forests which occasionally cross the area.