about us

Gliding Hawkes Bay & Waipukurau Inc exists "to foster and promote, for community benefit, the joy and relaxation of silent flight - flying on the wind".

Come join us and fly with experienced, qualified instructors and a modern fleet. We fly every Sunday (weather permitting) and other days by arrangement from Hastings Aerodrome (Bridge Pa) and Waipukurau Aerodrome (February).

is it for me? how will i know if i'll enjoy it?

Trial membership flights are available where you will be taken with a qualified instructor. You will have a short ground briefing before launching. Once flying, you will get some hands on control during the flight and get to try your hand at some basic manoeuvres to get the feel of what soaring is all about.

What is gliding (SOARING)?

Have you ever watched seagulls soaring effortlessly over cliffs or sand dunes and wished that you could join them? YOU CAN! You can experience that exhilarating feeling of noiselessly floating in rising currents of air by coming gliding. Gliding is the art of non-powered flight and the sport has grown rapidly in the last fifty years. It has great attractions for people who love flying and for people who enjoy things technical or of a scientific flavour. To fly a glider for long distances requires considerable knowledge of the air and of the performance of the glider. It also demands tremendous concentration and calculation while flying with precision.

The standard of the top pilots in gliding contests is very high and their ability to search out and use the invisible, elusive up currents, however weak, often seems uncanny. Although gliders are fitted with variometers that tell the pilot when they are in rising air, there is no instrument to tell them where to find it. For this, they must use their own intelligence, experience and must sometimes draw on more than a little luck!  The delight and excitement of soaring in almost perfect silence, high across the landscape is very great but it is difficult to describe this to anyone who has never done it for there is little that is comparable. Every flight is in some way a voyage of discovery in miniature, the goal being achieved only if the explorer navigates their ship accurately.

Gliders are interesting examples of refined engineering - a glider cannot be improved by putting in a bigger engine. the designer has to get their results by the excellence of design alone. However, training gliders are of very simple design and it is not difficult to learn to fly.

Trial membership Flights

Trial membership flights are an excellent, inexpensive, way to experience gliding. The trial membership flight cost includes one flight with a qualified instructor including a ground briefing and hands on control during the flight and a three month membership of the club which allows further flights during the three months at the cost of the launch only. Trial membership flights are normally offered most Sundays subject to weather, airfield and aircraft availability. Other days may be possible for multiple trial flights subject to arrangement.

We offer several trial membership flight options:
$150 - launch to 2,000ft - about 15-20 minutes of flight time*

$200 - launch to 3,000ft - about 20-30 minutes of flight time*

$300 - launch to 4,000ft - about 30-40 minutes of flight time*

* Actual flight times will vary depending on flying conditions

The club can also tailor packages to suit your needs. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Download, print and complete the form below to purchase a trial membership flight. Scan the completed form and e-mail to us. Payment options and mailing address details are on the
form. Terms and conditions apply as on the form and Trial Membership Flight Voucher issued. The required trial flight voucher will be issued once payment has been received and
processed. Please check that the downloaded form is current - marked current as at 01st March 2024 - and matches the above pricing.

Form to Purchase a Trial Membership Flight voucher