If you have been searching for “glider flights near me” and you are in the Sydney region, you have come to the right place!
Camden Airport in Sydney’s South West is a popular centre of gliding activity in the region. It is a great place for you to be introduced to the sport of gliding with highly skilled and experienced glider instructors. Camden is a great place to take a glider ride and experience the joy of flight. Your first glider joy flight is sometimes referred to as an Air experience Flight (AEF) or Trial Instructional Flight ( TIF) and a gift certificate makes a perfect present! If you have ever considered taking flying lessons come along for a ride in a glider plane and see if gliding is the sport for you.
There are three gliding organisations at Camden who conduct trial joy flights, Southern Cross Gliding Club, who operate conventional gliders which are towed aloft by a powered aircraft. Also at Camden are Sydney Gliding club and Sydney Motor Glider Flight Group who both operate motorised gliders which can take off under their own power and once up, they switch off the motor and finish the flight gliding. If you are in the northern part of Sydney or the Gosford region the Central Coast Soaring Club may be the most convenient place for you to ride in a glider plane and soar like a bird!
Here is some information on these four groups near Sydney:
1- Southern Cross Gliding Club – Camden
Southern Cross Gliding Club (SX), The Southern Cross Gliding Club one of the longest established and biggest in Australia. It is run by volunteers which include highly experienced instructors, tow pilots and ground crew. It is not for profit which keeps the costs down and standards high. SX operates 4 dual seat gliders, 4 single seat gliders, and 3 towplanes.
At Camden you will be introduced to the pure joy and exhilaration of glider flying. For your first time, you don’t just get a joy flight where you ride as a non participating passenger. We offer Air Experience Flights during which will receive a thorough briefing before and after your flight and be given clear explanations and demonstrations of how aircraft fly. Once airborne you will be able to take the controls under careful supervision. The glider planes all have dual controls so your instructor will be right with you.,
Your first flight will be a very relaxed experience where the aim is to show you what a great sport gliding is. Whether you choose a more serene or a more adventurous flying experience, or even a little of both, these glider rides are memorable. If you decide it is the sport for you, we can get you established into further flying lessons and you can continue with our learn to glide courses. If you decide it’s not for you, we are sure you will have still had a great experience with spectacular views of the Sydney Basin and Blue Mountains! A gift card makes an an unforgettable present!
For more information visit the Southern Cross Gliding Club website
2- Central Coast Gliding Club – Mangrove Mountain
The other gliding groups on this page are at Camden Airport in South Western Sydney but if you are in Northern Sydney the Central Coast Soaring Club (CCSC) may be the place for you to get a spectacular taste of gliding. They provide pilot training as well as air experience flights which can be purchased as a Gift Certificates which makes a great present. They are located at Mangrove Mountain on the NSW Central Coast. It is about 30 minutes drive from Gosford and about 45 minutes from Hornsby. The Club is affiliated with the Gliding Federation of Australia and is run as an incorporated non-profit organisation.
Gliding is an exhilarating sport. Modern gliders and motor-gliders are of high tech design and extremely robust construction. Gliding is overseen by the Gliding Federation of Australia who are controlled by the CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) and we have exceptionally high standards of pilot training, instructor qualifications and aircraft engineering safety.
Treat yourself to some spectacular coastal scenery in one of the Central Coast Soaring club’s gliders. They operate a two seat Dimona motorised glider where you can take off and climb to altitude and then switch the motor off. Alternatively you can be launched in a conventional glider by a winch. Yes this is just like launching a kite and very exciting!
For more information visit the Central Coast Soaring Club website
3 – Sydney Gliding Club – Camden
Sydney Gliding Club operate 2 motorised gliders which take off under their own power. In the photo below you can see the motor behind the cockpit which is wound away after being switched off.
Sydney Gliding Club also operates a HK36 Dimona Motor glider which has a motor up front like a conventional light plane but the motor can be switched off once you are high enough. In the photo below you can see the stationary propeller and the craft is gliding. These types of gliders don’t glide as well as the ones you have seen in the photos above but the side by side seating is great for learning how to fly.
For more information visit the Sydney Gliding Club website
4 – Sydney Motor Glider Flight Group Pty Ltd – Camden
The other organisations on this page are clubs. SMGFG is a privately owned company which operates one Dimona H36 motor glider with the engine up front. Once your desired altitude is reached the motor is switched off and the rest of the flight is done gliding with the propeller stopped. These types of motor gliders look like a sleek light plane with long wings.
If you have any questions about this web site you can phone the webmaster on 0429 493 828
When you fly with any of these gliding groups you will receive expert advice from skilled and experienced enthusiasts. If you are not from the Sydney region, ask one of the club members to put you in touch with a soaring club in your area who can take you for a sailplane joy flight, glider rides and lessons.
If you proceed with lessons, your pilot flying training program will be tailored to suit your needs and there are discounts for students. All flights include a pre-flight briefing and in-flight instruction. You will be able to take the controls and experience first hand the joy of flight and we will provide Introductory membership of the Gliding Federation of Australia.
Come gliding, experience the joy of flight, ride in our gliders and soar like a bird!
As you would appreciate, a glider cockpit is an enclosed space so we are taking precautions to minimise risk to both passenger and pilot.
The Gliding Clubs at Camden follow the appropriate NSW Health orders which apply so please check what is required at the time of your booking. We strongly recommend that all participants are fully vaccinated, wear masks and wash hands prior to flying.
If you have a gift voucher which has expired please contact the issuer to discuss. The contact details will be on the certificate. We understand how difficult it has been to redeem gift certificates in Covid times.