Gliding with Manor Farm Aerial Adventures

Gliding is like nothing else ….

It's real flying that's affordable and fun. Almost anyone can learn to do it. In the right conditions, gliders can stay up for hours, fly for hundreds of kilometres and reach heights of more than 30,000 feet! You are surprisingly unrestricted in where you can go and the kind of flying you enjoy (including aerobatics) is for you to decide.

Manor Farm Aerial Adventures offers a "taster" introduction to gliding. In the form of a Trial Lesson, this is a short flight to see what it's like - when you can experience how it really feels to fly a glider. You will have a British Gliding Association qualified instructor to yourself who will explain all about the glider and the way it flies. He/she will then pilot you on your first launch and help you to fly it yourself.

We offer three main options for your Gliding Experience:

  • A single launch trial lesson which lasts up to 15 minutes, but the time is not guaranteed.
  • A trial lesson which should last for 30 minutes, with a second launch if the time is not achieved first time around. The total time, however, is not guaranteed.
  • A single launch trial lesson plus one month's introductory membership. You can then fly as much as you like for a month (or just a weekend!) at member rates, which are £6.50 per launch (including the first 5 minutes of soaring free) then 20p per minute of soaring. So for example, a 15 minute flight at 20p/min will cost Launch fee + Soaring fee for 15-5 mins = £5 + (20p/min X (15-5)) = £7.00. Excellent value!

Booking: Stay at Manor Farm B&B and receive a preferential rate for your flight. We also take care of the booking for you.

Location: Rivar Hill near Shalbourne (about 15 minutes drive away). The site is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and enjoys excellent soaring from thermals and the adjacent north-facing ridge. It is ideally placed for good local soaring or cross-country flights, and is cleared for winch launches up to 3,000 feet.

Provider: Shalbourne Soaring Society

How much does it cost?

  • A single launch Trial Lesson (up to 15 minutes):£17.50 
  • A single or double launch Trial Lesson (up to 30 minutes): £32.50 
  • A single launch trial lesson plus one month's introductory membership: £37.50*
* = Fly as much as you like for a month at £6.50 per launch (including the first 5 minutes of soaring free) then 20p per minute of soaring

  • Age: You can start to learn at any age although you have to be 16 or over to fly on your own. People regularly fly into their 80s and start at under 12!
  • Health and mobility: You should be in reasonable health and be able to operate all the controls safely.

  • Existing medical conditions or disabilities: We'll need to put you directly in touch with Shalbourne Soaring Society to ascertain your suitability to fly.

When can I go?

Flying takes place every weekend, Bank Holiday and usually Wednesdays, weather permitting.

Please call us now on 01264 850859 if you'd like to know more.

Go on, go for it!