It’s Never Too Late to Learn to Fly

How glider flying in the Alberni Valley is inspiring people to try something new later in life.

Have you ever cast your eyes skyward as a flash of sunshine glints off the white wings of a glider above the Beaufort Range? Or remember watching Steve McQueen fly a sporty yellow glider across the screen in The Thomas Crown Affair? Perhaps you once had a dream of learning how to fly. But then, life happened. Careers to pursue, families to raise, bills to pay, and the big dreams moved to the back burner. Maybe now is the time?

AVSA Club Member, Ward, about to embark on another spectacular flight in his Ventus 2 glider.

A glider, or sailplane, is an aircraft with no engine. A small tow plane pulls it to altitude, releases it, and from there pilots harness the power of Mother Nature and climb in columns of warm air - called thermals - to stay aloft. It is quiet, graceful, and nothing like what most people picture when they think of flying. There are no roaring engines. No complicated instrument panels. Just you, the sky, and perhaps the most beautiful view of our valley you will ever see.

Far from being an extreme sport, gliding is methodical, meditative, and deeply satisfying. Gliding suits the kind of person who has lived a little. It rewards patience and calm thinking far more than quick reflexes or physical strength. If you spent thirty years on a job site, raised a family, or managed anything more complicated than breakfast, you already have more of the “right stuff” than you think.

When we learn something new and challenging - one that asks us to absorb new knowledge, problem solve in real time, and improve through practice - we are doing something remarkable for our brains. Meaningful learning later in life is linked to sharper memory and better long-term cognitive health. Gliding is an exceptionally rich and rewarding mental workout. Navigation, weather reading, aerodynamics, in-the-moment judgment — your brain is fully engaged from the moment you strap in. It’s often called “Chess in the Air”. And then there is the social dimension: gliding clubs are warm, welcoming communities full of people who share a passion.

As we get a little older and wiser, the things we once worked so hard to acquire - the new truck, the bigger television, the stuff that filled the garage - start to matter a lot less. Experiences bring more lasting joy than possessions. We want to live a full life. A morning spent soaring above the mountains, reading the wind, feeling genuinely alive, becomes another exciting chapter in our life’s story.

Glider flying has always been one of the most accessible forms of aviation, and it’s been a part of the Alberni Valley since the 1970’s. There is is no upper age limit and medical requirements are straightforward and far less demanding than for powered aircraft. Plenty of people learn to fly gliders in their sixties, seventies, and beyond…including many of the local club members.

So…where to start? The Vancouver Island Soaring Centre operates right here in the valley, close to home. For prospective students, intro flights are available with an experienced instructor to get a feel for the glider. If you wish to pursue it further, flights build gradually with your instructor alongside you every step of the way until you are ready to go solo. Ground school is practical and paced for real people, not aerospace engineers. The cost is far more reasonable than most people expect too. The Soaring Centre also offers scenic flights which make for great bucket-list experiences or gifts.

The Alberni Valley is a remarkable place to fly. The mountains, the inlet, and the forests stretching out in every direction. From high above, it is something else entirely. And it is not reserved for someone younger, wealthier, or more adventurous than you. Choose an afternoon, book an experience flight, and see what it’s all about. You might just wonder what took you so long.

More information can be found at www.gogliding.ca or call 250-730-7627.