Expedition reports, cross-country flight achievements, cadet milestones, and airfield updates from Gransden Lodge Airfield.
The heat on sunny days creates bubbles or columns of rising air (thermals) that frequently become cumulus clouds at height. Many of our members enjoy flying around the country by circling in the rising air and then gliding to the next thermal. The picture shows the tracks of all the flights from our airfield at … Read more "Friday 23rd May was a good day."
David Howse, Cambridge Gliding Club's Treasurer, has been awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Royal Aero Club. It's "For those who have served the cause of aviation in general, or sporting aviation in particular, by their work, dedication or initiative". Please join with me in congratulating David, and expressing your gratitude for his enormous contribution … Read more "David Howse – Awarded Certificate of Merit by the Royal Aero Club"
Cambridge Gliding Club was recently contacted by the family of the late Edmund (Ed) Miller FGAvA, a celebrated British aviation artist whose work has long paid tribute to the legacy, innovation, and emotion of flight. Ed was a regular visitor to the club and featured us in a number of paintings which the family kindly … Read more "Gift of paintings by Edmund Miller"
Sunday, May 4th was a cold and gusty day at Gransden Lodge but this didn`t dampen the enthusiasm to celebrate the 75th anniversary of one of the oldest club members – Slingsby T-21B, known to all as 'Bluebell'. Initially delivered to Cambridge University Gliding Club (now Cambridge Gliding Centre) in 1950, she performed as a … Read more "75 years and still flying high!"
During World War Two one of the major users of Gransden Lodge airfield was the Canadian No. 405 Squadron. Throughout the conflict it had served to mark targets as part of the R.A.F.’s Pathfinder Force, but at the war’s end it took part in several operations that were decidedly less warlike in nature. As the … Read more "V.E. Day at Gransden Lodge"
First day of a task week at Lleweni Parc run by Chris Gill. As the forecast weather was "iffy" Chris set a free distance task with up to 6 legs scored on WeGlide. We clocked up 247 km like that. There was a fantastic convergence running up and down the coast from Prestatyn to Conwy. … Read more "North Wales Expedition Flight"
This week is a great week for gliding, by April standards. Each of the little fluffy clouds you're seeing are at the top of a thermal, so we're getting lovely long flights. Come along and try it! Everyone is achieving new milestones in their gliding journeys. Some have converted to new types of glider, others … Read more "Sightseeing tour of Cambridge"
Air Cadet and CGC member Harry Wick has been featured in the Ely Standard having gone solo aged 14. Cambridge Gliding Club has a great track record in enabling the progress of young pilots, and it's always great to see such achievements recognised. Congratulating Harry in the photos is instructor Andy Beaty, rightly proud of … Read more "14 year old Harry goes solo"
Sunday was a pretty good day for gliding, at least by April standards. Lots of people had multi-hour flights. I was in one of our pair of SZD Junior gliders. The Junior is a great glider but is not very efficient at high speed. You typically need high speed when flying into wind — and for … Read more "Birdies or eagles?"
