Expedition reports, cross-country flight achievements, cadet milestones, and airfield updates from Gransden Lodge Airfield.
Once you've arrived at the main gate on the B1046, there's still over a mile of farm track and then the old airfield perimiter road to navigate before arriving at the clubhouse. Please follow this route as it ensures you won't come into conflict with landing or launching gliders, but do also keep a good … Read more "Getting to the club"
After going solo, most glider pilots aim to get their Bronze Badge with Cross-country Endorsement (abbreviated as "Bronze/XC"), which is currently a requirement for making solo cross-country flights from BGA gliding clubs. One of the prerequisites for Bronze/XC is passing the Bronze written exam. Useful study resources for this exam include: Until 30th September 2025, … Read more "Bronze Badge written exam preparation"
Launching a glider into the air requires a fair amount of power, but unlike the the US Navy we don't have steam powered catapults to launch our gliders we make do with a slightly different kind of American power, an 8.2 litre V8 from General Motors. These power units are incredibly reliable and produce enough … Read more "Winch launch as seen from the winch"
A man with a watch knows the time, a man with two is never sure. Segal's law As you would expect the tracking available from FLARM units fitted to all the aircraft at CGC is much better than that from an Android phone, but it's still an interesting comparison. Both use a combination of GPS … Read more "Comparing FLARM GPS to phone GPS"
After you go solo there are many new things to learn, and new goals to reach which can often seem much more distant than the magic objective of âunaccompaniedâ flight ever did. Sadly, many people get lost on the way, and do not receive the help they need. These notes are not much, but perhaps … Read more "Things to do once you are solo"
Keeping track of your progress learning to fly can be more than just keeping your logbook up to date, there's a range of navigation and tracking software that glider pilots can use to create a digital record of each flight. All you need is a smart phone with GPS. As long as you can run … Read more "Tracking your flights"
Ten No 1 Sector RAF Air cadets visited Cambridge Gliding Club at Gransden Lodge Airfield the last year on the Evening of 12th Sep. They took part in STEM activities around how lift works on an aircraft wing, looked at the gliders in the hangar, listened to instructors talk about civilian gliding and best of … Read more "RAF Air Cadets on Cambridge Gliding Club's Flight Simulator"
Winter flying offers a unique and enjoyable experience, with crisp, clear days providing excellent visibility, especially when the sun makes an appearance. While it's important to bundle up for the cold, the cockpit can become surprisingly warm under clear blue skies. Winter is also an ideal time to learn to fly or prepare for the … Read more "Heavy Snow in Bedfordshire"
