How gliding works
There are four forces that simultaneously act on a glider: the lift from the wings carries it upwards, the weight pulls it downwards, gliding creates propulsion, and air resistance slows down the movement. Only when these forces are in balance, the flight remains stable. The special shape of the wings – the wing profile – ensures that a pressure difference between the upper and lower sides is created. The pressure is lower on the top and higher on the bottom. This pressure difference generates an upward force, known as lift.
A glider has no propulsion of its own. In order for it to fly, it must first be brought to altitude. This is usually done with a winch, in which a powerful motor winds a long rope onto a drum. The glider is accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in just about three seconds and climbs steeply until the rope is released at an altitude of approximately 400 meters. Alternatively, a motorized aircraft pulls the glider up in a tow, or a small retractable engine in some gliders can also take over the launch.
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Once in the air, gliding depends on the constant exchange between potential energy (altitude) and kinetic energy (speed). Gliding converts altitude into speed – but to stay up longer, the pilot needs additional updrafts. The most important form is thermals: warm air rises above sunlit areas, allowing the glider to gain altitude by circling in it like a bird. When wind pushes against a mountainside and is deflected upwards, updrafts are created as well. In certain weather conditions, flights at altitudes of several kilometers are possible, and with a little experience in reading the weather, the pilot can stay in the air for hours and cover distances of hundreds of kilometers – without an engine!
How the flight training is organized
Training always starts in November and December with the theory lessons (seven sessions for beginners). The practical part of the training begins the following spring with a two-week training camp. Here you can take the controls for the first time, although our club's own flight instructors will of course be there with you at the beginning! Our instructors are licensed trainers and the SPL licence you receive is valid worldwide within the ICAO area.
Several double-seaters and single-seaters are available for flight training. In addition to the aircraft fleet, we also have a lounge, a large kitchen and even a dormitory in our own hangar. For our members, the airfield becomes a second home, and many stay there regularly for several days at a time.
After the training camp, flights take place every weekend during the flying season, as long as the weather allows for it. Those who attend regularly and fly frequently will quickly celebrate their first successes, such as their first solo flight without an instructor or their first flight in a single-seater.
From then on, your progress will mainly depend on how often you visit the airfield. However, two or three seasons is a realistic timeframe for obtaining your licence.
Requirements for flight training
General requirements:
- Class 2 medical or LAPL medical
- The maximum body weight (including clothing) for most gliders is approximately 100 kg
- Sufficient knowledge of German (approx. level B2)
Condition at the Akaflieg for the use of our aircraft:
- Participation in theory lessons for beginners in November and December
- 200 working hours in the first season, then 330 working hours per season
- Application for permission to fly accepted by the active members
Costs of the flight training
Since we do everything ourselves in the club, from flight instruction to maintenance, the flight training with us is significantly cheaper than at a normal gliding club. Membership in Akaflieg is free of charge; there are no membership fees or admission fees. We pay for the use of the aircraft with our working hours, and the flight instructors work on a voluntary basis. The only costs for the flight training are the fee per launch with the winch or tow plane and the membership fee for the Luftsport-Verband Bayern (Bavarian Air Sports Association), which includes insurance. In gerneral, the total cost of training with us is no more than €800–1000, which is even significantly cheaper than a driving licence. The exact amount depends on how long you need for your training.
Safety of gliding
Like any other sport, gliding involves certain risks. Statistically, gliding is more dangerous per hour than driving a car, for example. However, analyses show that the vast majority of accidents are preventable and are usually due to human factors. More than half of gliding accidents are due to temptations (caused by excessive ambition) that were not resisted, as well as negligence before the flight. With clear rules, good training and fixed procedures, these risks can be minimized. (Source: Lecture by Clemens Ceipek)
At the Akaflieg München, we place great importance on safety: our own prototypes are tested to the same standards as models from major aircraft manufacturers before they are approved. Our entire fleet of aircraft is regularly serviced and approved by official inspectors. Without exception, all our pilots fly with parachutes and only after attending the morning briefing. During flight operations, we work with checklists and regular briefings and consciously look out for each other. Mistakes are openly admitted and discussed in the group in order to avoid them in the future. This creates a culture in which safety always takes priority and risks are avoided.
