Group Booking

Description

Group bookings can be arranged for any group, from as few as four people up to as many as twenty. We’ve hosted groups of all kinds: work events, schools, colleges and universities, and charities, as well as national and international gliding competitions, so whatever your requirements, we’re sure we can help. Bookings can take place during normal working hours or in the evenings, daylight permitting. The clubhouse has a bar, indoor and outdoor seating and kitchen facilities, and there is an outdoor barbecue, all of which can be booked.

What to expect

You will typically assemble at the airfield around 6pm and be given a short briefing on how to enjoy the evening safely. You will be escorted to the launch point where instructors will take each person flying. Flights will typically last 5-10 minutes, though longer flights in rising air have been known.

All the aircraft are dual-control, so you may be shown how the controls are operated by your qualified pilot or instructor.

Frequently asked questions

• Is food available? Some organisers chose to have a barbecue, and some companies have even organised caterers. The club has kitchen facilities and various options are available. Please enquire for further details.
  Note: no alcohol may be consumed until after flying.
• What should I wear? You don’t need any special equipment. Sensible shoes suitable for walking on an airfield, trousers and an extra layer as an exposed airfield often feels cooler.. A narrow-brimmed sunhat and sunglasses can be useful for keeping the sun out of the eyes.
• Are there any restrictions? As long as you are under 103 kg for the balance of the glider, and large enough to be safely strapped in (usually over 14 years/5’), almost anybody may be flown. Please enquire if you have any medical conditions you are uncertain about; special provision will be made where possible.
• How much does it cost?
  • Introductory flights – groups and casual visitors
    First flight £42.00; second flight £23.50

What our visitors say

Our school visit to the flying club was pure magic! Wide-eyed kids transformed into budding aviators, their questions bouncing off hangar walls like excited butterflies. Pilots, once textbook heroes, became real-life mentors. From building paper model gliders to learning about weather patterns, science soared beyond the pages of our textbooks. We left with minds alight and hearts full of sky. Thank you for igniting the wonder of flight in our young minds!

Bedford School for Girls

Before, the sky was just a concrete ceiling above my block. But thanks to Wings Up, it became a playground! Soaring above the city, clouds like fluffy marshmallows, the sun warm on my cheeks, I felt free for the first time. It wasn’t just the flight, though: the pilot with the kind eyes, the excited buzz of the other kids, the cheers when I did a loop-the-loop. They showed me there’s a world beyond the streets, a world I can reach for. Now, the sky’s the limit.

The Air League

The highlight, of course, was the opportunity to witness firsthand the magic of flight. Some of us took scenic tours, our hearts soaring alongside the glider. Others peeked into the cockpit, witnessing the intricate dance of hands and instruments. And for a lucky few, the ultimate dream came true: a taste of the pilot’s seat. The exhilaration of feeling the controls respond, the wind whispering through the wings, the boundless horizon stretching before us. It was an experience that transcended words.

City University