Cape Gliding Club – Worcester Airfield

Did seeing a plane in the sky ever make you think “I would love to try that”?

Gliding over open spaces.

Or maybe you have always been interested in aviation, no matter what shape or form? If this is you then come and learn how to soar like a bird at the Cape Gliding Club and realise your dream! Gliding is the best-kept secret in aviation! It is the most elegant and purest form of flight, but it is also a lot of fun!

What are the advantages of learning how to fly a glider?

You can fly solo from age 16
It is less expensive than power flying (a one hour soaring flight in one of our club gliders will cost only R270)
It is QUIET
You will learn how to fly using exactly the same controls as a normal plane
The transition from gliding to powered aircraft is easy and will cost you less money
The view from a glider cockpit is simply SPECTACULAR!
Our Club

Our club is the second largest in South Africa and was formed in 1949 after WW2. Originally based at Fisantekraal airfield, it moved to Worcester airfield (FAWC) in 1988, only 1 hour drive from Cape Town. Gliding from our club offers an opportunity to experience the beauty of the world renowned Western Cape mountain ranges from the air. Cross country flights of 300 – 500km distance are common, even though several flights of 1000km and more have been achieved. The soaring conditions are excellent and include a combination of ridge lift, thermic lift, wave and convergence flying. We have more than 130 members and operate on a non-profit basis over weekends and on public holidays.

Our club fleet consists of two ASK13 basic training two-seater gliders (ZS-GHV & ZS-GHB), one advanced training two-seat Twin Astir (ZA-GOK) and a single-seat Jeans Astir for solo pilots (ZS-GUC). In addition more than 35 privately owned high performance gliders and self-launching gliders are based on the airfield. Our tug fleets consists on a Super Cub PA18-180 (ZS-MIV) and a Rotax Falke SF25C (ZS-GZF) which is also used for training. Our club uses both aerotow and winch catapult launch methods. We have a dedicated team of qualified tug pilots and instructors who offer their time free of charge to provide affordable tuition for beginners and advanced students alike.

Club facilities include a clubhouse with bar and braai facilities, swimming pool, club hut (6 bed bunkhouse) and separate ablution facilities. Three runways are used for our operation: a 1600m long main (15/33) (500m paved sections at either end), parallel gravel winch runaway and a 700m long gravel cross runway (12/30). Summer gliding begins at about 10h00 and ends at sundown, after which we gather in the clubhouse for drinks and lively discussion on the day’s flights.

Cape Gliding Club – Worcester Airfield

For more technical information on ridge flying from Worcester you can also read Alan O’Regan’s Ridge Running Guide from Worcester (with accompanying maps). Thermal conditions occur throughout the year, but best on post-frontal days. Convergence can occur during weather pattern changes and is generally formed in lines through the valley.