East-west sail
Some photos here from a motor glider flight today from Cambridge to Membury. If you'd like to give it a go, come to our open weekend next week! Thanks to Kristian for the photos!
News & Club Stories
Expedition reports, cross-country flight achievements, cadet milestones, and airfield updates from Gransden Lodge Airfield.
Pilots of the future
Last week we were visited by students (16-18) from Stansted Airport College. They are all on the Pilot Enrichment Programme so are all very keen to learn to fly! They took winch launches, aerotow launches, spent time in our simulator and some flew in the tug. Many were able to experience the joy of finding … Read more "Pilots of the future"
Sunset flying
Yesterday evening we had one of our regular evening flying sessions with Cambridge University Gliding Club. The sunset was particularly beautiful! If you'd like to see this sunset, you can book the airfield for an evening yourself! You just need a group of about 10+ people who want to fly. I recommend also using our … Read more "Sunset flying"
Early cross-countries and crops
Cambridge Gliding Club trains student pilots all year. In the winter training flights are fairly short because there are no thermals to keep gliders aloft; around April the thermals start to kick off, and a new cadre of newly-qualified pilots start to think about their first cross-country flights. Cross-country means "out of gliding range of … Read more "Early cross-countries and crops"
Becoming the Youngest Licensed Pilot in the UK
I just received my Sailplane Pilot Licence — and it has since been confirmed by the British Gliding Association that I am currently the youngest person in the UK to hold a pilot’s licence. I’m 16, and I haven’t sat my GCSEs yet. I joined Cambridge Gliding Club in August 2023 with no prior flying … Read more "Becoming the Youngest Licensed Pilot in the UK"
A marginal day?
Here are some clouds. Note that they do not look tall and fluffy. Tall and fluffy usually comes from strong thermals, the rising columns of warm air which keep us in the sky. Given the look of the clouds, I thought that yesterday wouldn't have a lot of lift. I was wrong! It was amazing for … Read more "A marginal day?"
International Women's Day 2026
We are celebrating International Women's Day by featuring the stories, gliding journeys, and achievements of women pilots at the Cambridge Gliding Centre and the Cambridge University Gliding Club. We hope these stories will inspire more girls and women to take up gliding and discover the many pleasures and challenges of flying. Jo Brand – CGC … Read more "International Women's Day 2026"
Old North Road
Immediately east of the club is the dead-straight road called Old North Road — this was the Roman road Ermine Street from Bishopsgate in London up to York. It's extremely handy for demonstrating the effects of the glider's rudder — specifically, that it yaws the glider (turns it to point in a different direction) but doesn't … Read more "Old North Road"
Spring arrives…
Well, that winter was a bit rubbish wasn't it? The less said about that the better. So here are some photos of gliding this week. Look at the blue sky! And the little fluffly clouds! Eagle-eyed readers will spot muddy knees though. Evidence that there's still moisture around on the ground. (Hooking gliders onto the … Read more "Spring arrives…"