Join the Flybubble Distance Learning Academy and you'll get...

Flybubble Distance Learning Academy

Join the Distance Learning Academy

Improve your thermaling and learn how to fly XC in the UK with one-on-one instruction on our tandems. There's a special group of pilots we gather each year ... CP rated pilots keen to escape from the hill and explore the land 'over the back' of the sites in Sussex.

A little XC knowledge goes a long way.

Join the Flybubble Distance Learning Academy and you'll get:

* an XC seminar evening on distance flying and the southern sites

* a pre-XC weather brief, showing you how to identify the possibilities

* an instructional tandem thermaling flight of at least half an hour

Cost: £150

What to expect on the XC Seminar

The main focus will be on thermaling technique, but we’ll also cover: a quick review of your flights and goals, XC flying principles, identifying the right weather, understanding each site (Caburn, Bo Peep, Devils Dyke), gaggle flying, finding lost thermals, strategy for leaving the hill, the second climb, sea breeze convergence, routes that work, places to avoid, understanding local airspace, and the XC league.

What happens after the XC Seminar

You’ll need to book in to our diary so we know which weekends you’re available. You’ll need to call us at 7pm on the evening before your scheduled day for the Weather Check. We’ll only go ahead if there is a suitable thermal forecast. We will schedule only one Distance Learning Academy participant per tandem pilot per day (we have four tandem pilots in the team). We will possibly have other students and tandems to look after first, but will keep an eye on the XC potential, and when it’s looking the best, we’ll have a crack at it with you.

What to expect on the Tandem Flight

It's hard to identify the elusive winning lines ... but it's easier when you're in the air, chatting to an experienced instructor about thermal triggers, coring the lift and building height for the great escape. Of course we can’t promise an XC flight, because that’s up to the weather. What we can promise you is at least half an hour of thermaling, with continuous commentary, and some time on the controls, working on improving your technique.

What to expect from The Distance Learning Academy

It’s really very simple. You’ll learn some techniques for thermaling at your best, you’ll gain some local insight into XC flying, and you’ll get into the air into thermals with the aim of getting high enough to leave the hill. We’ll make an effort to share our knowledge with you and help you progress, because flying is what we love to do.

And we want to see you go far.

The first seminar will be on Saturday 14 April at 5-8pm, limited to eight places. It's a small list run on a first-come-first-served basis, so book now.