UNIVERSITY OF ABERTAY DUNDEE
GLIDING CLUB
Welcome to the University of Abertay Gliding Club. Here you will find all the information you need to know to get started with us. Click on one of the links below to find out more. You are visitor 
so far to land here.
A day in the life of a glider pilot
What to expect on your first visit
How to get to Angus Gliding Club
Gliding is flying without using an engine. It is possible to soar up currents for hours upon hours without having to land. You can fly distances of up to 2000Km by soaring up currents. This is the ultimate buzz. Abertay University Gliding Club (AUGC) flies at Angus Gliding Club. We are allowed full access of their fleet of gliders. We use a SZD Bocian, Slingsby T21, SF34, and a K6 cr. Launching is provided with a home built winch. It gives us regular launches to 1200ft, but the record is 1900ft in a K7 (not bad for £1.50). Who needs an aero tow? The airfield is only a 30-minute drive from the university and trips to the airfield can be organised with prior arrangement.
We have strong links to Aberdeen university gliding club and their airfield is only a 1-hour drive away so weekend drinking trips can be.
Training is very comprehensive on the airfield. Firstly we work on the rule if you help me I will help you. You will have the opportunity to crash tractors, shout at people, and generally have a good laugh. When it is your shot to fly you will fly in one of our two seaters with a fully qualified instructor who has hundred or thousands of hours. There is a bar opposite the airfield and a caravan park so if you want to pitch a tent up and stay over the weekend the opportunity is there for the taking. It will probably take you 50 to 70 flights to reach solo standard. The first solo you do will be a very special one. Once you have done about ten solos in a two seater you will get to fly the beast (K6cr to normal people).
A Day in the Life of an AUGC Glider Pilot
We generally turn up at the airfield at about 10 am (depending on how hung over we are). We have a natter and sort out all the worlds’ problems. We do a daily inspection (di) on the tractors and winch, and then park them around in front of the hanger. We get the gliders out of the hangar and pull them to the launch point with the tractors. We park the winch at the opposite end of the airfield and someone retrieves the cables. After the gliders have had their daily inspection we then aviate.
One of our gliders next to the hangar
The winch launcher
Generally speaking anyone can fly. If you are a member of staff or a student of Abertay University you can come along and fly.
The only restrictions are weight. You must below 15 stone.
You are allowed to wear glasses and if you are colour blind you must be able to tell the difference between the earth and the sky.
What to expect on your first visit
On your first visit we will make our best effort to let you fly first (so you can’t back out). You will probably have at least two flights possibly three depending on how busy the airfield is. You won’t be expected to help out that much but do speak to other members and they will probably tell you a few stories.
The airfield will be fairly busy and mostly everyone else will tend to be doing something or other, so don’t feel as if you are being useless.
Bring your own lunch and remember to have fun.
You can Contact the chairman Alex Maitland at 0015063@tay.ac.uk or Maitlandfamily@tinyworld.com.
How to get to Angus Gliding Club
From Dundee, drive up the A90 to Aberdeen. Turn of the A90 when you see directions to Glamis. Follow that road until you see Glamis. You will need to turn right to get into Glamis. Follow the road you are on for about 4 minutes until you see a sign for Angus Gliding Club.
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News
Lewis Burt has his first two flights in the T 21 with instructor Colin Wight. Alex Maitland fly’s the K6 giving a little aerobatic display.
February 20th 2001
Our first expedition was to Deeside Gliding Club, 30 miles west of Aberdeen. Katja, Lewis, Andy, and Alex arrived at the club at 9.00am to find a nice blue sky complemented by the snow-scattered hills. Flights commenced at 10.00am with Katja having a flight in a puchaz with instructor Ian Donnely, (owner of Donnely Airway’s).
Then Lewis had a shot with instructor Colin Whight, then Andy flew with Ian. Alex commenced with his back seat training with Colin then converted into their very nice ASW 19, just to punish himself. Conditions by this time were rough with lift going to 4200ft.
Sunday 25th February 2001
Lorraine Gow makes an appearance on the airfield for the first time on Sunday 25th February. She flew with instructor Colin Whight two times. Lorraine was first to fly but she had never seen a glider take of before. She soon found out. You should have seen the grin on her face as she took of (flying the T21).
She then flew with Roger Lashley twice. They had two consecutive cable breaks (and she still wants to fly!!!). However the cool decision making by Roger ensured a safe landing.
Lewis and Andy continue their training in the T21 with Colin Whight.
11th March 2001
1st thermals of the year. Alex Maitland was up for 37 minutes and got to cloud base which was 2,600ft. Andy Lennox was up for 20 minutes in the T21 with CFI Allan Black. Bob Shand re familiarised himself with the open sky, not haven flown for three years.
1st April 2001
Lewis Burt and Alex Maitland go up to Deeside Gliding club to fly the Ash 25. Owned by the Scottish Sport Council, it has a wingspan of 25 meters, and a glide ratio of about 57 : 1. Not bad.
There were reports of gliders at 21 000ft. Average climbs of 8 kts were the order of the day. Weather deterioted as the day progressed. Alex Maitland managed 40 minutes in the ASW 19 later on in the day and Lewis experienced his first experience of high performance gliding.
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Membership is a yearly cost. For Abertay university students membership costs £20 per year. After that you have to pay for every flight. Each flight irrelevant of length of time costs £1.50. This cost covers the launch cost.
If you fly an Angus Gliding club glider you will have to pay airtime on top of the launch cost. This is 25p per minute.
Our sponsors are Oilfield Production Consultants, and Angus Gliding Club.