view from the glider cockpit over VoWHGC

Club Members Take Advantage of a Strong Thermal Day

Club News /

Today was forecast to be 5-star, with strong thermals, moderate wind moving from westerly to north easterly during the day, and a cloud base above 5000 feet from late morning to well into the evening, extending across most of England and Wales. Club members lucky enough to be able to fly instead of work midweek took advantage of the fantastic soaring conditions, with  both of the club single seaters in action (our Astir CS and K6e), as well as a couple of private gliders (an ASW20L and a Standard Cirrus) Many thanks to Pete,

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Maybe a record for introductory fliers at VoWHGC?

Maybe a New Record For Guest Fliers?

Introductory Flights, Club News /

This weekend, we had a total of 12 visitors take one of our introductory gliding or motor gliding flights, which we believe may be a new record.  Good weather meant the gazebo at the launch point was welcome to provide some shade, and pilot duties for the flights were shared between Milan, Adrian, Gerry and Stuart. Thanks to everyone who made these flights possible, whether doing the actual flying, or making sure

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Slingby Swallow Vintage Glider at VoWHGC

Slingby Swallow has a Soaring Flight

Club News /

Our Deputy CFI, Gordon, rigged and flew his vintage Slingsby Swallow this weekend.  Designed in 1957, the T45 Swallow was one of Slingsby’s most successful gliders commercially, with slightly over 100 produced, of which around 25 were exported to Spain. They were also purchased by the RAF Air Training Corps and military gliding and soaring associations in the UK. This beautiful example is the last but one Swallow built, in 1968, before a fire at the Slingsby factory

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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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tomas martensson new flying member and gliding re solo at VoWHGC e1748265971328

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 –

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Congratulations to Lucy Swinburn – Many Happy Returns?

Introductory Flights /

Congratulations to Lucy Swinburn on making her first glider flight today.  The flight was a birthday surprise from husband Jason, and he and their children, as well as labradoodle Lola, all came 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 2000 feet. If you’d like to try gliding,

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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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