In the Belgian gliding world, there’s a special tradition that brings young pilots together once a year: the Juniors Weekend. For glider pilots under 25, this event is a highlight of the year, but it’s not just for the juniors—older pilots, many of whom are young at heart, are more than welcome to join the fun. What makes this weekend special is that it takes place at a different club each year, offering young pilots from across Belgium the chance to meet others who share the same passion. Since gliding is a niche hobby, it’s easy to bond over a shared love of flying.
So, what exactly happens during a Juniors Weekend? The concept is simple: arrive on Friday evening to set up camp or, alternatively, show up on Saturday morning. The event kicks off with a briefing, just like any normal flying day, followed by a full day of flying. But it’s not just any flying—it’s the organizing club’s job to make the flights special. This often means opportunities to fly in rare, vintage aircraft you’d rarely have access to. Picture 60- to 80-year-old gliders or state-of-the-art modern ones. Often, there’s even the chance to try aerobatics.
When the flying wraps up for the day, a BBQ is typically on the agenda, followed by a party to top off the night. All in all, it’s an event no one wants to miss.
This year marked my fourth time attending the Juniors Weekend, and for the fourth time, I had the pleasure of flying in our club’s Rhönlerche Ka 4. It’s the club’s first aircraft, an old-timer that has been with us since 1956, making it nearly 70 years old. We could have de-rigged the glider and transported it by trailer, but that’s quite an ordeal, requiring at least five people and a lot of time. So, just like in previous years, we opted to fly the glider to the event. Or more accurately, it was towed.
Initially, the weather forecast for Saturday looked bleak, with a chance that flying might not be possible. But by morning, the skies cleared enough for us to take off from Keiheuvel, with the Ka 4 in tow behind a tow plane. Now, flying the Ka 4 is an experience in itself. Given its age, it’s often said to have the glide ratio of a brick—which, of course, is an exaggeration. In its prime, pilots used to fly cross-country in it, though its theoretical best glide ratio is only 17.5:1 (meaning from 1,000 meters high, you could glide about 17.5 kilometers). Modern gliders, in contrast, have ratios of 40:1 or even 50:1. And that’s just in theory. In practice, once you hit sinking air, you lose altitude fast.
So, while technically I “released” from the tow plane, it was only when we were almost directly above the airfield in Zoersel, where the event took place.
Once there, despite some light rainshowers, the day of flying was a huge success. I made 10 flights, all with enthusiastic passengers, and I was busy the entire day. Other aircraft were also in high demand, and I believe everyone had the chance to experience a special flight. After a great Saturday evening of food and fun, Sunday came around, and it was time to pack up camp and head home.
Thankfully, we had the tow plane from KAZM, the gliding club based in Zoersel, to help us out with the return journey. After a smooth tow home, I had even more flying to look forward to—our club was hosting Neighbours Day, where locals can come and fly with us at reduced rates. So, my weekend didn’t end there!
All in all, it was an incredible weekend, filled with great flights, good company, and lots of memories. A huge thanks to the organizers of this year’s Juniors Weekend—it was definitely a success!
