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Another Busy Day at VoWHGC

Club News, Introductory Flights /

It’s been another busy weekend at the Vale of White Horse Gliding Centre, with 5 introductory flights, good soaring conditions on both days, and an intensive period of work to add the final touches to the club’s Pawnee tug plane.   We believe this is the first Pawnee to be back in service in the UK, following last year’s directive that grounded this type while inspections were carried out. Members expressed their thanks to the many folks in the club who worked tirelessly to complete the work required, and get the Pawnee back in the air.

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VoWHGC pawnee tug plane being made ready for service

Our Pawnee Tug Back on Duty (Almost!)

Club News /

The gliding centre’s main tug for aerotowing is a Pawnee, a type of aircraft originally designed for crop spraying, and built from the late 1950’s ’til around 1981. Because of its powerful engine, it’s a popular choice as a tug plane with gliding clubs around the world. A recent Airworthiness Directive (AD) mandated inspection of the wing spars to ensure there was no hidden corrosion present, and until this work was carried out we had to ground our Pawnee and use an alternative tug plane instead. As well as a one-off inspection, we needed to fit new removeable inspection panels on the underside of the wings, so that the wing spars can be inspected regularly in line with BGA guidance in future. Last weekend, all the necessary work was completed, and it was time to get enough people together in the hangar to get the wings back on the aircraft, ready for its final inspection and return to service. pawnee03 pawnee02 pawnee04 pawnee05 pawnee07 pawnee08

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Introductory Flyers Over The Weekend

Introductory Flights /

It’s been a busy weekend at Vale of White Horse Gliding Centre, with a scout group flying on Friday evening, several introductory flights on Saturday, the club AGM after flying on Saturday evening, and further guest and member flying on Sunday. Saturday in particular was an excellent day for these experience flights, with blue skies, light wind straight down the runway, and cloud base at around 3400 feet above the airfield, all of which made for beautiful views over the Wiltshire and Oxfordshire countryside.

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Welcome to New Club Member Tomas Martensson

Club News /

We’re delighted to welcome Tomas Martensson to the Vale of White Horse Gliding Centre as a new flying member.  Tomas is already a qualified glider pilot, so after a quick check flight with our Chief Flying Instructor, Al Stacey, on Saturday, he is able to fly club gliders. Whether you’re a complete novice to gliding, part-way through training to solo, or an experienced pilot, we’d be delighted to welcome you as a member at the club – just fill in our membership form available here on the club website.

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Congratulations to Lucy Swinburn – Many Happy Returns?

Introductory Flights /

Congratulations to Lucy Swinburn on making a first glider flight today.  The flight was a birthday surprise from husband Jason, and he and their children, as well as labradoodle Lola, all come along to the airfield to watch as Lucy was aerotowed to 4000 ft.  The high aerotow meant the flight lasted over 30 minutes, with plenty of time to enjoy the experience, and the chance to fly above the broken cloud base at around 20oo feet.     If you’d like to try gliding, or maybe come back and learn to fly, we’d be delighted to welcome you to the club, just get in touch using the various forms on the website.

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Congratulations to Marco on His First Glider Solo Flight

Club News, First Solos, Junior Flying /

One of our junior gliding members, Marco Vourla Nunez, went solo today in one of the club’s K13 training gliders.  15-year-old Marco only joined the Vale of White Horse Gliding Centre in February of this year, but had demonstrated he was ready to make his first solo flight today.  After a well-executed ground run behind the tug plane, and an aerotow to 2000 feet, he executed some high-air manoeuvres, then a nice circuit and landing back at the airfield.

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Introductory Flyers Fly Again Using Their Temporary Membership

Introductory Flights /

We were pleased to welcome back two of our recent motor glider introductory flyers to have a first flight in a glider.  Because our Vale of White Horse Vouchers include a one-month temporary membership of the club, they could visit the airfield again within their membership period and have a glider flight at club member rates.

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