Club News

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

20250816 104503 scaled e1755370324937

Welcome to New Club Member Tracy Thompson

Club News /

Welcome to our latest joiner at the club.  Tracy had done some gliding training previously at another local club recently, but had never aerotowed before, and found that a much easier method to learn by.  She joined at the same time as one of her colleagues, Gary, and it was great to see them at the club this Saturday picking up their training again, with one of our instructors, Pete.  Thanks Tracy, for managing the log-keeping today at the launch point, too!

Welcome to New Club Member Tracy Thompson Read More »

20250816 104439 1 scaled e1755371006648

Welcome to New Club Member Gary Thurlow

Club News /

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 »

WhatsApp Image 2025 08 05 at 19.34.13 392ffe7d e1754945433897

Weekend of Achievements at Vale of White Horse Gliding Centre

Club News, First Solos, Flying Away, Junior Flying /

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 »

WhatsApp Image 2025 07 30 at 20.12.03 044d2214 e1754233873674

Another Successful Junior Development Week

Club News, Junior Flying /

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 »

Slingsby Sedbergh T.21

Vale of White Horse Gliding Centre and Shrivenham Summer Fete

Club News, Introductory Flights /

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 »

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,

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

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

Slingby Swallow has a Soaring Flight Read More »

Scroll to Top