Bendigo Gliding Club Inc

Preface:

The club has comfortable facilities, air-conditioning, drinks, vending machine, ample parking, even space for campervans/vehicles intending to have individuals sleep on premises (if you are considering that option, ensure you contact the club prior locking in your plans so they can confirm any details and ensure space is available for your use).

The club also owns and ensures operability of a 2 seated glider (regulated checks, certification, maintenance, upgrades, etc).

Bendigo Gliding Club are currently taking expressions of interest from new potential pilots, the club has the full ability to facilitate both flight training as well as complete solo flight certifications/licences for new pilots.

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I've been to the Bendigo Gliding Club twice now (once as a young teen, now in my 30s), both times were unique, enjoyable, and the flights were really one of a kind, something awesome to experience that you can't replicate anywhere else nearby.

The club members were all friendly, keen to make sure you're informed with a very clear preflight rundown & happy to take and answer any questions you're not sure about before you jump into the cockpit.

The whole experience of Gliding doesn't feel anything like a standard light or jetliner flight, even the line attached between the front releasable latch on the glider's nose to the tow/winch plane that got us up to a reasonable altitude before we released the line to go solo, there wasn't a jerky moment in the whole process.

Spent 45-50 minutes slowly climbing in a couple of the few thermals available in the region for that day - though I mostly spent time attempting to shoot some pictures and get some video footage, and in-between, being caught mesmerised over the visuals, the stunning sweeping scenery in all directions.

It's not simply what you may be picturing in your mind; like what you see from passenger jet aeroplanes, it's more intimate, closer, greater clarity and detail.
The difference of hovering around 4,000ft V.S. 40,000, and at a fraction of the speed.
It's leisurely flying, not the frantic rush of commute flight panic.

One word of note: The landing is a little rough, but if you are aware and expecting it then you won't experience any issues - even if you lost track of things and it caught you off guard, it's mostly like a small car that's had to drive on a dirt road for 50m.

To finish up, yeah, I recommend it, go give it a shot, at minimum it's likely both the cheapest flight you'll ever pay for, and a fun new experience to throw on your list of "things I've done".

Top bunch of members and flying around this area is great

Great bunch of guys who so obviously enjoy what they do. Thank you for your generosity and making Athol’s day. His still talking about it

Great place to fly