Welcome to the home of the Lakes Gliding Club

 

Fancy a trial flight in a Glider, buy one as a gift, click here for a GIFT VOUCHER

 

June 2008 and the weather has been kind to us. Flying Saturdays and Sundays and catching up on a number of air experience flights. There are two camps on the airfield at the moment, the bus lot and the hangar lot. Kate turned up in her steel toe capped multicoloured wellies to help with the laying of concrete. More photos of progress added to the hangar gallery. The erection has started. Peter Craven has obtained a copy of our original Articles of Association and pointed out that the first two Directors were named Craven and Redshaw in 1936. These are now in the Members Only section for those that like a bit of history. Rose went to Hus Bos and had foul weather whilst we had the sunshine. All the main steelwork was up by Sat 14th and covered by the end of June - amazing, special thanks to all those that took a weeks holiday to help. Even BAE was impressed. You can now buy a trial flight as a gift online.

 

May 2008 The spoof 500km flights on the 1st April caught out not only some of our Club members but also the news of the "amazing achievements" spread round various websites and bars. Gotcha - don't believe every story you pick up about the Lakes Capstan. The new hangar is ordered and due for delivery at the end of May. The groundwork needs doing in May so we can erect in June. Good news, BAE has finished the repairs to No1 hangar apron and we are now back in our end of the hangar. May 17th & we fill all the holes for the hangar uprights with 12 cu m concrete followed by soup, bangers & buns c/o Rose. New photo album of hangar progress added, Gallery 15

 

April 2008 An excellent start to the month, on the first day of flying the Capstan completed a 503km triangle at a remarkable speed of 59kph. This is the first 500km by a Capstan and only the second 500km from Walney. Neil Moffatt achieved 463km in his Lak 19 being forced to land at Cark by the rain and at the base of the Haverthwaite ridge. An article will be in the next issue of S&G. We are about to order our new hangar and the new trailer parking area has been prepared. The new EASA regulations are still holding up the completion of the K21 C of A and the Astir is now due for its C of A. Several other gliders have experienced delays due to the new EASA regulations. Breaking news, Neil Moffat apparently did not land out at Cark in the rain as he actually managed to stay airborne in lift from a large house roof. When the rain stopped, a thermal set off from a garden bonfire which allowed him to gain enough height to just make the railway line to the west where he would have been forced to land out in a field, but Jan (one of our members) happened by in his train and he was able to get just sufficient lift from the bow wave to make Walney, making his approach under the bridge to Walney Island to complete a total of 504km in 2hours 35minutes." The AGM took place on the 27th April, and a lively very well attended meeting it was. Check out the changes in Club Officers following the AGM. We have a female Chairman for the first time in our history, well done Rose. Our thanks to the retiring Officers for all their time, effort and contribution over the years.

 

March 2008 some good flying going on and the days are getting longer. The apron outside No1 hangar is being repaired so we will be swapping ends with BAE for 4/5 weeks. The tug will be in one of the No3 hangars (thanks lads) and we may have to rig the two seater each weekend. The funds for the new hangar are being collected and lots of paperwork being generated to satisfy BAE Systems. We are still online to erect the new hangar in June. Dave North (CFI) has changed his mobile number.

 

February 2008 and the Tug is back. It got held up waiting for the CAA paperwork. Let's get flying again. The K21 has finished its C of A and progress is being made on evaluating new hangar options. Anyone wanting an update on hangars should talk to Dave North. Did you know that our Club has been flying from Walney airfield for 57 years of its 78 year history, ask Peter R for details he was there in 1945 and remembers it well (just).

 

And a Happy New Year to all. 6th January 2008. The tug has just left for Sherburn for its C of A and the K21 has been given its annual inspection. The tug is likely to be missing for 2 weeks. The Club gliders are now coated in numerous Golf registrations and more of the private owners are following suit - thanks EASA. We still have the IS28 and Astir to C of A, so help is needed. The gliding holidays for 2008 are being organised and a new Trial Flight Certificate has been produced, see Club Management section. Last year was not the best for gliding weather at ours and many other clubs, got to be better this year. Don't forget that you will need check flights if you have not been flying over the winter months. The username and password have changed to access the Members and Club Management section, contact Peter Redshaw if you have difficulties in logging in.

 

See the Web Diaries within the Archive section for previous months updates on activities.

 

The Lakes Gliding Club is over 75 years old. The Club was founded in July 1930 and was originally called The Furness Gliding Club. Some 50 clubs were started in 1930. The Lakes Gliding Club was in there early and was considered to be the Wasserkuppe (German gliding centre) of England due to the numerous hills and their gentle slopes. The club was formally operated as The Furness Gliding Propriety Ltd. The original brass plaque is hanging behind our bar. We are still the same Ltd Company but with a different trading name ----- The Lakes Gliding Club. To record our history in more detail and in electronic format, the club's regular contributions to the Sailplane and Gliding magazine that started in September 1930 are being scanned and converted to PDF format. See the new section on Sailplane and Gliding News within the Archive section.

 

Wondering what to do for some excitement? This is what gliding is all about. Read the story of a wonderful flight from Walney by Justin Wills, an internationally renowned glider pilot. 

 

 

Click the picture. 

 

IMPORTANT ____Airfield access, Visitors and Members, for security reasons our landlords now require that the airfield gate is kept  locked at all times. All members will be given a key for the gate following an airfield briefing and once a BAE pass has been issued.  Contact the Webmaster for details. Until you have a key you will need to phone the club mobile as you get to the gate to have a  member come and let you in. Bring some change because if you forget your mobile or don’t have one there is a payphone at the airfield end of North Scale. The number to phone is on a notice on the gate. It is 07860 135447.

 

Check the What's New page if you are a regular visitor, or go directly to  Members Only.  Contact the Webmaster if you need a password. 

 

We are an enthusiastic friendly group of people all dedicated to flying, mainly gliding but we also have power and hang gliding types in our midst. Our club is based at Walney Airfield, Walney Island, adjacent to Barrow in Furness in Cumbria, on the edge of the English Lake District. Walney Island is in the Irish Sea on the West coast of England, about half-way between Wales and Scotland. The area provides us with some spectacular flying as well as spectacular views. If you've explored this area on the ground and thought it was awe-inspiring, imagine what it's like from the air! Have a look at the Scafell picture.

 

coniston.jpg (106942 bytes) Coniston Water     Wastwater.JPG (106104 bytes) Wast Water     Ullswater1.jpg (36364 bytes) Ullswater     scafell.jpg (121458 bytes) Scafell

 

If you're already a pilot and want to find out more about the Lakes Gliding Club then start at "The Club" section. If you're new to gliding and want to find out how you could learn to fly, or have a TRIAL FLIGHT to find out what it's like, then start at the "Beginners" section.

 

The Lakes Gliding Club is a year round training and soaring site, has a range of gliders available for club members and a well proven training programme. So whatever flying experience you have, you will be more than welcome to experience soaring flight in a glider at the friendliest gliding club in the UK.


The Lakes Gliding Club, Walney Airfield, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, UK. LA14 3YJ  If you have any problems viewing this site please e-mail       The 'Webmaster'