News
We had our first open day since COVID on Saturday 24th June. It was a huge success - with over 120 flights in a single day (even Manchester Airport only manages 587 flights per day!) It was a huge team effort with help from over 70 members and their family.
Looking forward to next year…
Congratulations to Rohan who went solo on his 14th Birthday - a fantastic achievement.
The club will be closed on Monday 19th September as a mark of respect.
Wolds Gliding Club has been recognised by the BGA for
“creating and energetically maintaining an exemplary safety culture”
…with a prestigious award at the recent BGA conference. The Saundby Sword Safety Award 2022 was received on behalf of the Club by Alan Rands from BGA Chairman Andy Perkins. The valuable sword itself has to remain at the BGA but the Club has received a fine engraved glass trophy for permanent display at Pocklington.
The Saundby Sword was donated to the BGA to be used as a safety award by the late Dr Peter Saundby and is the ceremonial sword issued to his father, Air Marshal Sir Robert Saundby. During his time as an RAF flying instructor his father had actively promoted improvements to flight safety.
A glider pilot as well as a senior RAF medical officer Peter Saundby was for many years a medical advisor to the BGA and for other air sports and was himself recognised as always having been a great advocate for better safety.
Wolds Gliding Club members at Pocklington airfield are looking forward to a new two-seater training glider and trailer for the club after winning a grant of nearly £117,000 from East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s commuted sums fund.
Deputy chief flying instructor Graham Wadforth, who led the team that put the grant bid together, said “An important feature of the new glider is that it can be fitted with hand controls which will allow disabled pilots without full leg function to practice all aspects of gliding flying in an aircraft with a much superior performance than the Club’s existing adapted glider. This will enable those pilots to participate in every aspect of glider flight, some of which are presently denied to them.”
Club chairman Craig Scott commented “The Council noted that, as well as being a members’ sports club, the club is part of the tourism offering of the area to the general public. As the Covid-19 situation improves we are hoping to be welcoming visitors again soon to try gliding and before long some of them will be able to enjoy their experience in one of the most advanced two-seater trainers available”
The new glider will be similar to the one in the picture below - a DG1001 Club Neo:
Pleased to announce that the club is back open for members. When COVID allows we will reopen to the public.
…as title
First day back after lockdown and we were back in the air. Unfortunately we still can’t take visitors, but things are starting to look good for next year now we have the vaccine. Only 2 more weeks and the nights begin to get shorter!
Unfortunately, due to the latest lockdown restrictions the club will be closed from Thursday 5th November.
Busiest weekend this year. Mostly private owners flying their own gliders - but we are now allowed to fly dual in a glider so instruction is underway again. Still a way to go before we can fly with members of the public - but we’re heading in the right direction.
In case you were wondering how far a glider can travel - one of our members went 500km - down to Cambridge and Banbury then back to Pocklington (without landing!) - and a handful of others managed a mere 300km!
