What is York Gliding Centre?
York Gliding Centre is a gliding club based at Rufforth airfield just outside York, established in the early 1960s. It offers flight experiences, glider training, and multi-day gliding courses, and welcomes complete beginners, experienced glider pilots, and people buying a flight as a gift.
Where it is and what it is
The club describes itself as a friendly gliding club at Rufforth airfield, close to the historic city of York. Its contact address is York Gliding Centre, Rufforth, York YO23 3NA, with a phone number of 01904 738694. It has been running since the early 1960s and presents itself around community spirit and a passion for flying.
What you can do there
The site groups its activity into a few main areas:
- Flight experiences — trial flights sold as packages, positioned as a gift idea or a first step toward learning to fly. A trial flight plus temporary membership package is also offered.
- Flight training — instruction with certified instructors, aimed at getting you to solo or cross-country standard. Trial memberships are mentioned.
- Gliding courses — five-day spring or summer courses, described as suitable for complete beginners or experienced pilots. Three-month and youth memberships are also mentioned.
- Membership and general enquiries — handled through the club office for questions about experiences, membership, or the centre itself.
The club says it operates a number of modern gliders covering different needs, from forgiving trainers to agile performance gliders, so the fleet is intended to suit both first-timers and more advanced pilots.
Booking status and practical notes
The site states that flight experience bookings are being taken again, so experiences can be booked at the time of writing. Vouchers can be bought through the site, and there is an online shop. A competition, Enterprise 2026, is listed for 8–15 August with an entry form.
Pricing is not shown in the material available here — the site has a dedicated pricing page, so check that page for current figures rather than assuming any cost. The site also uses cookies and notes that continuing to use it means you agree to their use; its privacy and cookies policy is linked from the footer.
Who it suits
- Complete beginners wanting a one-off experience or a route into training.
- Gift buyers looking for a voucher-based flight.
- Experienced glider pilots interested in the club's performance gliders and membership.
- People wanting structured learning, via the five-day courses or ongoing flight training.
If you want to confirm current prices, course dates, or membership terms, the club's pricing page and office contact are the places to check, since those details can change.