A Wiltshire gliding club is hosting two special weekends to encourage more women to take to the skies.
Shalbourne Gliding Club, based at Rivar Hill, near Marlborough, is determined to help change the fact that fewer than five per cent of the UK's 30,000 pilots are women.
The club will be running two Women's Go Gliding weekends on April 26 and 27, and again on May 17 and 18, to introduce women to the experience of soaring flight and aviation.
Trial flights will be offered at the reduced rate of £60.
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The weekends are part of an initiative by the British Gliding Association, which is committed to broadening the sport and bringing in fresh skills and experience.
More information can be found at shalbournegliding.co.uk/wggw, where there is also a link to a webpage where you can reserve a slot on one of these days for yourself or several people if you'd like to come as a group.
Gliding is a unique form of flying that uses air heated by the sun to stay aloft.
Pilots can fly long distances using only thermal ‘lift’.
The UK distance record is 1,108 kilometres.
Gliding creates almost no noise or pollution and is a thrilling test of a pilot’s skill and knowledge.
The sport is much more affordable than power flying, and lessons are provided by qualified club instructors.
Women of every age are encouraged to learn and take part.
Youngsters can learn to fly from the age of 12 (depending on their size) and can qualify as a solo pilot at 14.
For most people, it is an exciting hobby, and gliding can also open up a career in aviation.
Yvonne Elliott, the BGA’s women’s advocate, said: "I have been asked why are women not participating in gliding?
"I could write a book on this.
"But I will just comment there are numerous barriers, some of which we can change.
"We need to ensure all are met with a warm welcome and a fantastic experience for everyone who gets involved."
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Shalbourne Gliding Club is fortunate to have one of the country's first female Chief Flying Instructors, Liz Sparrow, among its instructors.
She has coached gliding teams at the highest level and has been selected as part of the Women's team who will compete in the World Championships in Zbraslavice, in the Czech Republic this summer.
She will be one of the people hosting the two weekends at Shalbourne, and a part of the team of qualified instructors who will fly anyone who wants to take advantage of these women-focused open days.
