About this tour
When Lily from our BugBitten team tried this Devon gliding experience, she got the rare buzz of motorised takeoff followed by genuine silence. You climb to around 1,600 metres under engine power, then the pilot cuts it completely and you're a proper glider — no motor, just physics and air. If conditions cooperate, thermals kick in and you're soaring like the local birds. The whole thing runs 45 minutes, mixing powered climb with stretches of engineless flight that feel genuinely different from typical sightseeing.
Highlights
- Engine cuts mid-flight — suddenly silent at 1,600 metres altitude
- Glide ratio of 24:1 means long, quiet flight time or serious climbing
- Pre-flight briefing sets realistic expectations, no sales fluff
- Small-scale operation feels personal, not a factory tour experience
- Thermals and soaring moment genuinely changes the flight trajectory
- Devon landscape reveals itself differently from a silent aircraft
- Flying instruction option lets you take the controls if keen
What to expect
The day starts with a proper pre-flight chat where they explain what happens and check you're comfortable. You'll climb under the Rotax engine for a few minutes until you hit altitude, then the engine cools and cuts off. That transition is the money moment — suddenly you're flying with nothing but air holding you up. From there, 15–20 minutes of gliding follows, depending on thermals. Some flights stay smooth and steady; others catch rising air and climb higher. Pacing is relaxed on the ground but genuinely novel in the air. The Devon countryside below gives context to the flight path, and the silence makes you notice wind and subtle aircraft movements you'd miss with engine noise.
Lily found the experience less about adrenaline and more about a peculiar kind of calm — you're aware you're aloft with no engine, but the glider's designed for it, so there's no sense of peril, just concentration. It's not a white-knuckle ride; it's more meditative, which is precisely what draws people who want flying to feel different.
What travellers say
- Engine-off flight moment genuinely novel, not a gimmick
- Silent gliding reveals landscape and aircraft feel distinctly
- Flexible instruction option; you can fly or watch
- Small-group, personal approach, no conveyor-belt vibe
- Physics-focused experience appeals beyond typical thrill-seekers
- Weight limit excludes travellers over 95kg strictly
- Thermals unpredictable; flight quality varies by weather and day
- Not suitable for pregnant travellers or adrenaline-focused flyers
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This genuinely is unique. Most flying experiences leave an engine running the whole time; this one strips that away and lets you feel aerodynamics in action. It suits anyone curious about flight mechanics or keen to experience motion without noise. Solo flyers, couples, small groups all work fine here. The pre-flight briefing means you're never guessing what's about to happen.
There's a firm weight ceiling of 95kg (or 16 stone / 101kg depending on phrasing — check directly). Pregnant travellers shouldn't book. The experience hinges partly on thermals, so some days are quieter flights, others climb higher; you can't guarantee soaring. Early mornings or unsettled weather might affect booking slots. It's not a thrill ride, so if you're chasing adrenaline, a faster aircraft or a skydive might suit better.
Wear layers — it's cool at altitude. Bring sunscreen and sunglasses. The briefing covers what's included (flight, instruction option, pre-flight chat). Ground time is minimal. Groups stay small. Book ahead; slots fill, especially weekends.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.