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beefield | 2 years ago

I have flown gliders when I was younger and occasionally thought about PPL. And I have thought sims as well. Given the glider backcround, am I going to learn bad things on a sim?

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vdqtp3|2 years ago

Glider is widely recommended as an entry to powered flight. You'll be better prepared and will have better stick and rudder skills than most student pilots.

rolph|2 years ago

it also wont be such a shock the first time you lose engine thrust.

kylecazar|2 years ago

I genuinely had no idea that a license wasn't required to fly a glider (or "ultralight" based on my reading). I'd imagine there is very high overlap anyway -- most glider pilots being pilots, etc.

lawrenceduk|2 years ago

Weirdly often not! They’re quite different recreational activities.

Flying powered is a “go to the airfield and takeoff” whereas gliding is more of an all-day team sport at most clubs as there’s a lot of ground handling required for towing, winches etc.

tobinfricke|2 years ago

Yes, a private pilot's license (PPL glider) is required to fly gliders. OP probably meant that they were considering adding a rating for powered airplanes (PPL ASEL - airplane, single-engine, land).

Alternatively perhaps they mean that they took some lessons in a glider as a student pilot and considered going further and getting the license.

beefield|2 years ago

At least in europe there is a separate licence for glider flight.