Do I need to buy my own glider?

At Booker we have what is probably the most gliders per club member than any other club in the UK. On most days you can probably be allocated a club aircraft to fly. We operate an allocation system which is carried out a 0830 hours at the clubhouse. The Chief Flying Instructor, or his deputy, will allocate a glider to a pilot based on their needs and experience. We have found that this is the fairest system and it is very rare that an individual ends up with nothing to fly.

Of course, a lot of pilots opt to buy their own aircraft. You can pay as little as £3000 for a basic, single seater wood aircraft, to £100,000 and more for a state-of-the-art racing glider. It is common for a group to pool their resources and form a syndicate, which usually works very well, with each member contributing to the finances and upkeep.