From 1st January 2026

Standard Introductory Flight
Weekends and Wednesdays and bookable on certain Fridays (April-September).
Aerotow to 2500 feet and flight of up to 15-20 minutes £130
Includes one month’s Full Membership with further flights available at members rates

High Flyer Introductory Flight
Weekends and Wednesdays and bookable on certain Fridays (April-September).
Aerotow to 3000 feet and flight of up to 30 minutes £150
Includes one month’s Full Membership with further flights available at members rates

Members converting from a One Month Membership to an Annual Membership do not pay a Joining Fee.

Group Rates (other than guests of members)
Groups of 5 or more who have arranged introductory flights to fly together on the same day –
Per person AEROTOW launch to 2500ft – £115
Per person AEROTOW launch to 3000ft – £130
Per person WINCH launch – adult – £24
Per person WINCH launch – Juniors/Scouts – £18
NOTE: Refunds subject to £12.50 admin fee per group

Visiting Glider Pilots – Day Membership
Members of Lasham, Ringmer, Booker, Bognor Regis, Dorset or Derbyshire and Lancashire (Reciprocal) – Nil
Members of Surrey Hills (Weekends Only) – Nil
Members of ALL other BGA clubs – per day £15.00 or or £75.00 / 7 day week
Trailer Parking £7.00/day, £32.50/7 day week
Winter Membership £215 – includes Day membership for up to 2 non-members (within the same syndicate)

Visitors flying as P2 in SGC members private gliders or motor glider – Nil

Friend or family of P1, flying with them as P2 in SGC gliders (Incl. Motor Glider) – £15

Joining Fee    
Adult Flying Memberships £85
Junior (age 13 – 25)  £45

Annual Membership Fees
Full Flying Member (26 and over) £438
Dual Only full flying Member  (26 and over) £370
Junior Member (age 13 – 25)  £115
Joint Flying (member and partner) £675
Restricted Associate (6 flights p.a.) £130
NOTE: no restriction on winch flights for restricted members
Junior Restricted Associate (6 flights p.a.) £60.00
Family Associate £45.00 (6 aerotow flights pa shared between family members)
Overseas  – only available to a previous full flying member  £185
Social Member   £15

Flying Fees
Glider Hire:
Adult – 45p/min – no charge for instruction (Up to three hours, thereafter free)
Cadets – 27p/min – no charge for instruction (Up to three hours, thereafter free)
Juniors – 37p/min – no charge for instruction (Up to three hours, thereafter free)
NOTE: soaring before 10am is FOC

Aerotow Launch:
(Cadets – 40% discount and Juniors – 20% discount on all aerotows)

1,000 ft    £28.00
1,500 ft    £33.00
2,000 ft    £37.00
2,500 ft    £42.50
3,000 ft    £48.00
Then each additional 500 ft £6.00

Aerotow Simulated launch failure £11.00 + per min charge
Descent on tow exercise an additional £5

Winch Launch £11.00
Winch (Simulated or Actual ) launch failure £3.50 + per min charge
Winch (Simulated or Actual ) launch failure INSTRUCTOR REFRESH – FOC

Aerotow circuit training 1,000ft, under 10 mins – includes club & private gliders
(log sheet must be signed by instructor)     £17.00

Club glider refresher spin training – 3000ft tow for price of 2500 ft. (log sheet must be signed by instructor)  £42.50

Friends and Family of member £80 per flight (one month membership included) Standard
Friends and Family of member £90 per flight (one month membership included) HiFlyer

Motor Glider including Instruction
(Cadets  40% discount, Juniors 20% discount)
Rotax Falke, £101.00 per Tacho hour (engine)
Field landing exercise *TRAINING SPECIAL* £85 per Tacho hour

Tug Rates
Tacho hour  – EuroFox £75 (Tug Pilot checks, recency and training)
Tacho hour  – EuroFox £110 (other private flying)

Tug Retrieves
Aerotow retrieves back to Lasham or Ringmer £100
Other retrieves on tacho readings @ £120/hr

Facility Fees pa
Trailer £380
Trailer, Winter Only Rate (October to March inc.) £190. (Note that a winter membership would also be required)
T-Hangar £440
Trailer plus T-Hangar £525
SLMG Trailer £600
SLMG T-Hangar £675
SLMG Trailer plus T-Hangar £750
Private hangar (club space)  £1050
Non-airworthy glider – per year or monthly pro-rata per trailer £120
Refunds for full months only per trailer

Fuel Uplift
UL91  latest cost +10%

Members Travelling Expenses
Per mile 45p

Workshop
Members gliders based at Parham – Free for 4 days p.a
Additional days can be booked and charged to flying account £14 per day.
Non-members gliders £27,50 per day or part thereof.

Affordable Fees

Southdown Gliding Club is a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC), and fully supports the promotion and participation in the sport of gliding.

Gliding is by its nature one of the least expensive ways to go flying, and Southdown, as an all-volunteer club and CASC, has some of the most affordable fees in the UK.  We make it even more affordable for juniors (up to age 25) by offering a vastly reduced membership fee and a discount of 20% on flying fees.  In addition our young cadets, who are chosen by the club on the basis of flying ability, enthusiasm and contribution to the Club, have a 40% discount on flying fees.  Adults can also have a reduced annual cost by choosing an Associate Membership. 

If our standard charges present a problem to people on low income, the Club Committee will consider applications (in confidence) for a £520 annual fixed cost membership with flying plan and full access to all club activities.  Applicants must demonstrate to the club that they do not have the financial resources to pay our normal fees.  If you think you might qualify, please talk to the Membership Secretary in the first instance.