Hi Michael!

Is there any reason you can't book some lessons now?

I can understand your enthusiasm, but there are quite a few downsides to learning to ground handle on your own:  I'm fairly experienced, yet I find ground handling in Sheffield a real challenge due to the turbulent and gusty air at most local parks, so I suspect you will find it even more difficult and frustrating. Worse, being new and untrained, you may well lose control and be dragged downwind a considerable distance - or even lifted several feet in the air, with no idea what to do next!

So I'd definitely recommend you book lessons ASAP. They cost money of course, but I'd say a bit of training now will pay dividends later. A good instructor can help in lots of other ways too. They generally have access to sites with clean air, and will be able to advise you on whether the gear you're using is safe and suitable for you.

Ash

Hi Ash

Thanks for the quick reply. I thought that ground handling on a shallow slope wouldn't pose that much danger as I could kill the wing if something went wrong?

I'm quite possibly heading to Annecy in August with family so would like to be able to fly solo confidently by then.

How many times a year do lessons come around. How long do they last with our English weather (I presume finding a straight week of air goodness is rare)?

The place I had in mind was Bolehills in Sheffield (slightly sloped rugby pitch) openly facing North?

Cheers,

Michael.

I won't say much more now that you've been in direct contact, but for completeness I'll answer your recent questions here. The risk of ground handling on a gentle slope depends quite a lot on the pilot's competence at understanding the airflow and their proficiency at handling (and killing) the wing. Not knowing your skill level, the only right answer is to suggest getting training first!

Training to BHPA Club Pilot level usually takes about 10 days of suitable weather so yes, in the UK this rarely happens in one go! Actually, it's quite common for people who work full time to take several months to obtain their rating. There's more to flying than meets the eye, so you'll need a bit of self-control and patience to stick with it. But if you start now (and if you're available and willing to learn), I reckon you'll be a rated, competent pilot by the summer. Good luck!

Hi Michael and welcome, Ash is the man to give you the best advice, initially on your lessons you will be concentrating on ground handling and even once you have qualified , practice, practice , practice ground handling, as Ash said why not start lessons sooner and gain the knowledge for ground handling from an instructor, this would build your confidence and enable you to practice using the instruction given. B.H.P.A will give you lists of local schools , looking forward to meeting up on the hill
Geoff Moses (club coach)