Gary joined the gliding club recently, after a few flights at another local club, which used winch launching, rather than the aerotow method used at VoWHGC. So launching was a difference experience, but one he enjoyed. It was good for some of us to meet Gary for the first time today, while he helped at the launch point, and had some training flights with one of our regular instructors, Pete.
Welcome to New Club Member Gary Thurlow Read More »
It’s been a weekend of achievements coming thick and fast at the gliding centre recently. A typical Saturday or Sunday normally sees a mix of early pilots learning the skills to go solo with our BGA instructors, a few trial lessons flights with visitors to the club, and in good weather, a range of qualified pilots doing cross-country flights, or aerobatics, or maybe converting from one glider type to another. This Sunday especially promised to be a perfect cross-country day, although it turned quite blue
Weekend of Achievements at Vale of White Horse Gliding Centre Read More »
Well, another successful Junior Development Week has just been completed at Vale of White Horse Gliding Centre, near Swindon. Many thanks to DCFI Gordon who organised the week, and was on-site instructing every day. Thanks to all the parents for delivering & collecting their offspring. Thanks also to the ground helpers who kept the whole thing moving including but not limited to Georgina, Pauline, and Martin. Flying-wise,
Another Successful Junior Development Week Read More »
Congratulations to club member and Treasurer Adrian May, who completed his Silver C distance flight from Sandhill Farm to Lasham today, complete with photographic evidence to provide it, as seen above. The Silver C badge requires pilots to complete a flight of at least 5 hrs duration, a soaring height gain of at least 1000m, and
Silver Distance Flight By Adrian May Read More »
As part of our “40 Years at Sandhill Farm” celebrations, we’re offering introductory glider and motor glider flights on the weekend of the Shrivenham Summer Fete, 23rd and 24th August 2025, and the booking page for the flights has just been opened for bookings. To make the flights that weekend as accessible as possible,
Vale of White Horse Gliding Centre and Shrivenham Summer Fete Read More »
The week of 7th July 2015 was a gliding week at the club, with flying on Monday through Friday for solo pilots, as well as our usual weekend flying. The weather across England and Wales was spectacular, with well-developed cumulus for many hours each day at the start of the week, and more blue days towards the end of the week. Cloud base ranged from
VoWHGC Flying Week Has Great Weather Read More »
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,
Club Members Take Advantage of a Strong Thermal Day Read More »
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
Maybe a New Record For Guest Fliers? Read More »
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
Slingby Swallow has a Soaring Flight Read More »
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
Another Busy Day at VoWHGC Read More »
