CENTRAL COAST SOARING CLUB
For Gliding on the Central Coast of NSW
TRY GLIDING - IT'S FUN!
LEARN TO FLY A GLIDER
​
You never forget the feeling of your first solo flight!
How does it relate to power flying?
Gliders are just another aircraft - without the engine bit! They have the same aerodynamic controls - plus a set of air brakes (not found on power aircraft except for high-performance jets).
​
They are substantially more efficient in their aerodynamic design than most power aircraft - hence the requirement for air brakes. The best gliders have a "glide ratio" of well up to 60:1 compared to a standard power aircraft of about 7:1 - that is about 8 times more efficient!
Our training gliders have the best glide ratio of about 27:1 and 34:1, so if you are at a height of 1 Km above your decision height for landing, you could fly 27 Kms not counting the effects of wind and air currents.
Learning to fly a glider is a great precursor to learning power flying. You will learn how to judge and relate your flying to the outside environment better than in basic power flight training which is much more procedural and more focused on instruments and engine management.
Several of our young trainees have gone on to successful commercial and Air Force flying having had an excellent grounding in gliders.
How do I learn?
The club provides training from ab initio level in our three twin-seat training gliders. We have several fully qualified GFA Instructors.
Instruction is free with all the instructors providing their time and services voluntarily.
To commence learning to fly a sailplane in Australia you must:
a) Join an Australian gliding club which is authorised to provide training.
b) Join the GFA (Gliding Federation of Australia).
c) Medical Requirements: Be physically fit to a similar level for driving a motor vehicle. Once qualified, if you wish to take passengers or become an instructor you will need a medical examination (either a CASA medical or an official driver licence medical from a doctor). If you have any health issues which may affect your ability to fly, the club may request that you obtain a medical certificate.
How much does it cost?
​
You can find our list of fees and charges on the Fees page. Learning at CCSC will generally be significantly cheaper than at an aero tow gliding club because our launch costs are significantly less.
We offer an Introductory 3 month membership with 10 winch launches for just $690. This will give you a solid introduction to learning to fly with the flexibility to extend your membership.
The beauty of the the program is that you have an instructor to guide you with your best interests at heart, and will train you to be a safe and competent pilot step by step.
BASIC AB INTIO TRAINING UP TO A & B CERTIFICATES
The Central coast soaring club has a strong focus on basic ab Initio training. Our highly skilled instructors will take you through the necessary steps to go from a solo pilot all the way to your B certificate and beyond.
CROSS COUNTRY/ADVANCED TRAINING
If you want to take your flying to the next step whether that's being able to take friends up, becoming an Instructor or obtaining your C and cross country endorsements we offer training for that!
Note: Some advanced training, such as long-distance cross country flying or completing an instructor course will require the individual to sometimes fly at other locations depending on what there desired goal is. CCSC will refer the individual to the correct location to achieve the desired goal.
​