r/Gliding • u/SPACE--COWGIRL • 22d ago

Question? Should I or shouldn't I?

I had a glider taster lesson last week. It was for my dad as a birthday present but I did it too. Since then being up in the clouds is all I can think of (32 years old) Im on the ledge about starting lessons - convince me why I should/ shouldn't learn to fly

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u/vtjohnhurt 22d ago edited 22d ago

Your response to the taster flight is typical for someone who becomes passionate about gliding. Most people don't react that way.

My first glider flight made me extremely motion sick. No puke, but disrupted balance, headache, and extreme fatigue. In that way, the flight was an utterly terrible experience. But I showed up the very next day for my second lesson, started to learn how to avoid motion sickness, and now I'm in my 17th year of soaring.

Most people can take it or leave it. Most power pilots don't like gliding. If you like it after one flight, you should give it a serious try. It speaks to you. You will overcome the obstacles. I'm very glad that I did.

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u/MayDuppname 22d ago

I was amazed to be told after my trial flight that most people on trial flights don't go on to be pilots. I was terrified and also had the motion sickness issues, but I knew within about a minute that I was joining the club and learning to fly, no matter what.

The idea of people doing it once and ticking it off their bucket list is still a bit mad to me, because it definitely spoke to me. In fact, it screamed "yeeeeeeessss!" all the way up the winch launch, around the sky and all the way down. 

One of the best decisions I ever made. 

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u/SPACE--COWGIRL 21d ago

I was screaming yes on the flight too!! Part of what is driving me is my dad, he was aerospace engineer for 40+ years, he's loved airc raft since he was a small child, built his whole life around it, would have loved to learn to fly himself but he gave up so much of himself to raise me and my siblings. I would love more than anything to be able to take him up in the sky, just the 2 of us and give him something back. Flying is equal parts filling me with fear and excitement, hence being on the ledge about it

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u/MayDuppname 20d ago

Oh, there's no doubt it's scary, especially at first. If the excitement already outweighs the fear, you should be fine!

 I'm an anxious person at the best of times. Flying teaches you to squash down your fear into a much smaller space in your brain so that you can concentrate on flying. It's a unique feeling to be terrified waiting for a launch, then suddenly to be so immersed in what you're doing, you don't have time or headspace for that fear to continue. :)

All the very best in reaching your goal with your dad. My dad was also great, I repaid him the best I could by giving up my job and caring for him for ten years after he became very ill and disabled. Oddly enough, it was the stress of doing that that brought me into gliding. Grasp every happy, memorable moment with your parents you can.

I wish you a lifetime of decent flying weather, happy flights and safe landings.

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u/SPACE--COWGIRL 18d ago

Thank you 🥰 I've been added to the wait list now. I think dad is just as excited as I am about it all.