Nick Gilbert writes
but winter is as good a time as any to learn, possibly better than
summer (no queues for sailplanes, nice & smooth most of the time, more
comfortable temp).

It's the other side of the world over here, but I learnt to glide across
the winter months last year (started October 03, soled May 04) here in
the UK. Wouldn't say the temperatures were more comfortable in my case
(!) but that aside, no queues, smooth air (when the day was calm) and
range of other weather conditions to experience (when the day was not!)
were hugely beneficial to my learning...

Add to that the fact that the absence of soaring conditions at my home
airfield (in general terms, at least - I did have my first experience of
wave from the site last weekend though I couldn't keep in it ... but
with the 2800' winch launch that got me up there to taste it I did have
a very enjoyable 20 minutes in the air!) during the winter you get lots
and lots of launching, circuit and landing practice. Which is exactly
what you need when first learning.

My advice, from personal experience; learn to fly across the winter and
then reap the rewards and soar through the following summer.

And best of luck


-Bill

--
Bill Gribble

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