Welcome to the Lakes Gliding Club, Walney, Barrow, Cumbria, UK

March 2009. The first weekend was good with a great turnout on the Sunday which gave blue skies with occasional turbulence. New members from the Andrew Green led team from Lancaster University, this is great as they are from the younger generation. And a number of current members that we have not seen for a while for various reasons. Photo looking to Port Haverigg from the north end of Walney.

February 2009. Our tug is back complete with annual, the K21 is ready, GBW is fixing the IS28 seat, Roy Jones has been on holiday in the local hospital, Jan Eldem went on holiday to the USA and returned with a bad back and engaged to an American Lady and the weather is good. Then the weather was bad! Congratulations to Jan.

January 2010, Happy New Year to you all. An absolutely fabulous day on our first flying weekend with the Lakes and Pennines covered in snow. The renovated Pegasus J7, with the new syndicate, was test flown by Dave North. Rose then had her first flight in it and was ecstatic. Mid January and our equivalent of the Australian Morning Glory arrives, wind SSW off the sea with the wave set up across the mouth of the Duddon Estuary, picture from Andrew Green in the IS28 looking towards Haverigg. Double room can be had at the Abbey House Hotel for Ł49 via booking.com, they will give you the same if you book direct. Jan 24th and the tug is flown to Blackpool before the rain starts, Hopefully it will be back by next weekend. The K21 is serviced, needs rigging and the paperwork completing.

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

The Lakes Gliding Club is 80 years old this July. 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.

IMPORTANT --- Airfield access, Visitors and Members, for security reasons our landlords now require that the airfield gate is kept closed at all times. Sometimes you will find a security guard at the gate and sometimes it will be locked. All members will be given a code for the combination lock on the gate following an airfield briefing. Contact the Webmaster for details. Until you have the lock code 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.

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'

Welcome to the home of the Lakes Gliding Club