A summary of what I experienced when learning to fly (alternative graphical menu)

bitey birds
1 First Flight Details of my first flight (gliding & soaring): a typical introductory experience.
2 Daily Inspection Before a glider can fly each day it needs a thorough inspection by a certified person.
3 Ground Handling Most glider damage is caused by poor ground handling. Beware of wind.
4 Pre-Flight Checks Before boarding and departing the glider pilot must be sure all is well with the aircraft.
5 Takeoff The delicate transition from stationary machine to graceful aircraft.
6 Aerotow Flying in tight formation with the powered tug until release height.
7 Boxing the Tow How to hold and correct the glider's position behind the tug.
8 Maintaining a Lookout Once the tug departs you must remain vigilant about all other traffic in your area.
9 Airspace Rules Beware of straying into controlled airspace without permission from air traffic control.
10 Stick & Rudder Coordination The delicate art of turning accurately - keeping the slip string straight.
11 Maintaining a Heading Harder than it sounds - a sequence of tiny 'un-turns'.
12 Speed Control Essential for making the most of lift, getting out of sink, and landing.
13 Hill Soaring On the upwind side of hills & ridges you can ride the air that is deflected upwards.
14 Thermal Soaring In warmer months rising columns of air can carry a glider quickly aloft.
15 Wave Soaring Near mountains (like Aboyne) the wind can form waves that can lift a glider very high.
16 Cross Country On a day with plenty of lift, you can travel long distances and return or land elsewhere.
17 Stalling How to recognise the aircraft is no longer flying - and how to sort it out.
18 Spinning If you don't sort out a stall you may spin. Not fun at all if you are too low.
19 Spiral Dive A fast diving turn - not to be confused with a spin.
20 Rapid Descent How to get down quickly if you are too high e.g. clouds are closing in below.
21 Circuit Planning A standard means of approaching the airfield for a safe landing.
22 Modified Circuits There is no such thing as a standard circuit due to lift/sink and wind effects.
23 Approach and Landing The last and most demanding part of any flight.
24 Wind Gradient You need to be prepared in case the wind dies out quickly near the ground.
25 Weird Stuff A miscellanea of bits & pieces worth capturing.
26 Going Solo On my own for the first time ! Probably the biggest event in a glider pilot's career.

bird line-up