Mauterndorf Alpine Airfield

Gliders

Gliding has a long and enduring tradition at Mauterndorf Airfield. In the past, the main type of launch was the winch, which has now been taken over by the tow plane. Due to the special wind and thermal conditions, every flight is a challenge with a breathtaking view of the beautiful Lungau.

“The airplane is certainly a machine - but what an infinitely sensitive device!

We thank it for allowing us to discover the true face of our earth.”

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

From our local mountain, the Mitterberg, you can do beautiful cross-country flights from low notch heights, particularly appreciated by many of our regular guests. Furthermore, the entire region up to the Großglockner and beyond is much favoured by the airspace, which means that beautiful cross-country flights without a transponder are definitely possible. Other special features of gliding in the Lungau are the very strong thermal heights, which rise up to 3500m and thus offer enough height to leave the Lungau safely.

Training operations

Our team of flight instructors, which consists of four experienced pilots, is happy to carry out the special wishes of our guests so as to ensure that they enjoy an unforgettable experience in the area of the Lungau Biosphere Park.

How can I be trained as a glider pilot?

Club or flying school? In Austria there are large flying schools and many clubs that train glider pilots. It is possible to complete training at a flying school, which costs more money, but usually leads to a solo flight in 14 days. In a club, the skills acquired are then expanded and further consolidated, although there is hardly anyone “FULLY TRAINED ” in this sport.

If someone is fortunate enough to have a gliding club nearby, if the club offers the appropriate flight training courses, they can also acquire a glider pilot's license there, usually in the form of weekend training courses. This variant is a little cheaper, but requires a little more time than a structured course.

How does the practical training work?

Nowadays the trainee pilot gains his first experience in gliding exclusively in two-seater gliders. Well-trained flight instructors are happy to assist the flight students. The type of take-off with which a glider pilot gets into the air differs greatly from region to region, but has no influence on the soundness of the training. Motor sailers are often used successfully for training because they are largely independent of the weather.

The winch start, however, is a cheaper option if the club uses one. According to the student's progress, the flight instructor determines when the student is allowed to take the first solo flight. After several hours of flight practice and solo take-offs, the practical test is taken.

Theoretical training

This goes hand in hand with the practical training in gliding and is coordinated in terms of content and timing. There are good textbooks that serve as learning aids for solid background knowledge, and a good  flight instructor can help discuss and supplement the learning material together with the flight student.

Acquisition of the glider pilot's license

In order to acquire the glider pilot's license (SPL), the relevant requirements must be met in addition to the exams and evidence of having practiced all the relevant training sections. These can easily be obtained from the clubs!

Further flight training

 The pilot's license is only the basis for learning further skills in gliding. The international glider association has created badges of achievement as an incentive.

Cross country flying

Cross-country flying should always give the sport inclined pilot a performance incentive, whereby only then does the real beauty of gliding reveal itself, when flying over our Alps.

Gliding aerobatics can also be a challenge for pilots who want to continue their education. There are also training courses for cloud flying, but training to become a glider instructor can also be an ideal goal, for which it is worthwhile taking another special training course.

Should you be interested in motor sailing or motorized flying, gliding skills provide an ideal basis, because glider pilots have to fly aerodynamically clean, safely and with foresight in order to stay in the air as long as possible.

But even those who do not have such ambitious plans will find gliding a sport that offers them conviviality and comradeship and that can conjure up an almost inexhaustible supply of adventure.

If gliding alone is not enough for you, you can also gain motorised flight experience on our Rotax Falken, which is limited to 7 hours of training during basic glider training.

If your interest then tends more towards powered flight, we also offer the opportunity to train in a powered glider in powered flight. This allows you to explore other places with the motor glider and thus expand your aviation horizons.

Experience gliding live

Those interested in flying and their guests are always welcome at our airfield. We will be happy to show you our procedures and invite you for a trial flight (pilot for one day) in a glider or motor glider. Glider flights as a team sport can usually only be realized on weekends. It is possible to opt for either a winch launch or an aircraft tow.

Be inspired by a silent flight over the gentle hills of the Nockberge, or experience the rough mountain world in the Lungau Biosphere Park from a bird's eye view. But be careful! Flying is fascinating!

Many a guest, unable to forget the initial fascination of flying, has now become a pilot!

Visit us as a spectator or as a passenger! Contrary to popular belief, gliding is not a particularly expensive hobby.

A trial flight as a gift idea? Why not - the SFC-Lungau offers you the opportunity to purchase vouchers for every flight category. The vouchers can be redeemed on any flight operating day or by telephone agreement.