On 26 October 2019 the Adelaide Soaring Club held a Come and Try day to celebrate 75 years of the club being formed.

They are based at the Gawler Airfield, north of Adelaide, South Australia.

Various light aircraft were on display like the Jabiru etc and some home built kit aircraft.

Flights were being offered in either a Jabiru or glider.

The Jabiru was A$55 for 20 minutes or the glider A$150 for 20 minutes. The glider had to be towed by another aircraft, so that's why it cost more.

I decided to fly in the glider.

Time was originally 1:20 PM but was changed to 1:40 PM and changed from the smaller Grob Twin Astir to the bigger DG1000.

The usual 'if we crash don't blame us' forms had to be filled out.

26 October 2019
Gawler Airfield
DG1000S VH-ZDG
Front seat

The launch point for the gliders was a fair distance from where the bookings were taken in one of the hangars, so after a short drive out there, it was time to strap in.

The cockpit is small and cramped and the seat is angled back like a modern cockpit on a jet fighter.

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-1 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaidesoaringclubPiperPA25-235-VH-BOT-1 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

A five point harness is used as these gliders are aerobatic, however we won’t be doing any of that today.

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-2 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-3 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-4 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-8 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr



A smooth takeoff being towed by a Piper Pawnee, built in 1963.

Take off video
https://youtu.be/f0hcWPW8zy4

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-5 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-6 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-7 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-9 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-10 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaidesoaringclubPiperPA25-235-VH-BOT-2 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-11 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-12 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaidesoaringclubPiperPA25-235-VH-BOT-3 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-13 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaidesoaringclubPiperPA25-235-VH-BOT-4 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-14 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaidesoaringclubPiperPA25-235-VH-BOT-5 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaidesoaringclubPiperPA25-235-VH-BOT-6 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-15 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-16 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-17 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-18 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-19 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-20 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaidesoaringclubPiperPA25-235-VH-BOT-7 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-21 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

The tow line was released at 2000 feet. Once the line was released we did slow down a bit.

Was quite bumpy throughout the flight.

We did not fly too far away from the Gawler area.

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-22 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-23 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-24 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-25 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-26 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-27 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-28 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-29 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

Landed to the right of the main runway on a grassed area.

Landing video.
https://youtu.be/nvtDJDqNWGQ

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-30 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-31 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-32 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-33 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-34 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-35 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-36 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-37 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-39 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-40 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-41 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-42 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

AdelaideSoaringClubGlaserDirksDG-1000S-VH-ZDG-43 by Ryan Hothersall, on Flickr

A good day out and worth every cent.
Spent the rest of the afternoon out there watching the activities.
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmJ4CCH4

That's a nice glider

Ryan h wrote:

The usual 'if we crash don't blame us' forms had to be filled out.

The launch point for the gliders was a fair distance from where the bookings were taken in one of the hangars, so after a short drive out there, it was time to strap in.

The cockpit is small and cramped and the seat is angled back like a modern cockpit on a jet fighter.

The tow line was released at 2000 feet. Once the line was released we did slow down a bit.

Was quite bumpy throughout the flight.

A good day out and worth every cent.

Spent the rest of the afternoon out there watching the activities.

Hi Ryan h

This was a trip report with a difference, thanks for adding it. Have thought about trying this, but not as yet..

LOL the form.. have you tried hot air ballooning? You need to learn the brace position!

Videos really show what to expect ..and may turbulence on an airliner never be a problem again after one of these flights!

I get what you mean by the title. Did it change how you feel about flying in any way? Are you more passionate, or was it just a bucket-list item you have ticked off so to speak..

Cheers. =

VapourTrails wrote:

Ryan h wrote:

The usual 'if we crash don't blame us' forms had to be filled out.

The launch point for the gliders was a fair distance from where the bookings were taken in one of the hangars, so after a short drive out there, it was time to strap in.

The cockpit is small and cramped and the seat is angled back like a modern cockpit on a jet fighter.

The tow line was released at 2000 feet. Once the line was released we did slow down a bit.

Was quite bumpy throughout the flight.

A good day out and worth every cent.

Spent the rest of the afternoon out there watching the activities.

Hi Ryan h

This was a trip report with a difference, thanks for adding it. Have thought about trying this, but not as yet..

LOL the form.. have you tried hot air ballooning? You need to learn the brace position!

Videos really show what to expect ..and may turbulence on an airliner never be a problem again after one of these flights!

I get what you mean by the title. Did it change how you feel about flying in any way? Are you more passionate, or was it just a bucket-list item you have ticked off so to speak..

Cheers. =

I am always on the look out for something a bit different, and a glider flight fits the bill perfectly and it's another type flown on.