Club News

News about general club activities, such as changes at the club, elections, new facilities, open days, etc

private-gliders-ready-to-launch-at-VoWHGC

VoWHGC Flying Week Has Great Weather

Club News, Flying Away /

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 slightly over 6000 ‘ to around 4000’ throughout the week, making for some good opportunities to gain silver height gains (2 achieved this week), or embark on cross-country tasks. Lots of private gliders, modern and vintage, were flown, including a Standard Cirrus, a Nimbus 2, an ASW 20L, an ASW 19, and a Pirat aerobatic glider, as well as our full fleet of club-owned gliders: Grob Twin Astir, Schleicher K13, Schleicher K6e, and Grob Astir CS. You can see a selection of pictures from the week’s flying in the gallery below. 20250710_112116 20250710_112427 WhatsApp Image 2025-07-08 at 19.08.30_b9f32446 20250710_112218

VoWHGC Flying Week Has Great Weather Read More »

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, who carried out towing duties to get us all launched by late morning, and to Al for seeing us back at the end of the day.

Club Members Take Advantage of a Strong Thermal Day Read More »

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 our guests were welcomed, had completed the necessary paperwork, and had some great souvenir photos. If you’re interested in experiencing gliding or motor gliding, it’s really simple to arrange at VoWHGC using the links on our homepage.  We’d love you to join us, whether for an experience flight, or maybe as a full flying member of the club?

Maybe a New Record For Guest Fliers? Read More »

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 put an end to production.  Gordon took it off for a two and a half hour soaring flight, before it was derigged and placed safely back in its trailer.

Slingby Swallow has a Soaring Flight Read More »

IMG 20250615 WA0006 e1750281150142

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.

Another Busy Day at VoWHGC Read More »

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

Our Pawnee Tug Back on Duty (Almost!) Read More »

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 – just fill in our membership form available here on the club website.

Welcome to New Club Member Tomas Martensson Read More »

marco vourla nunez first glider solo flight 1 e1747518183187

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.

Congratulations to Marco on His First Glider Solo Flight Read More »

Scroll to Top