VGC News/Newsletters - Lakes Gliding Club

RA875-924 Ibuilt by Slingsbys at Kirbymoorside to contract
6/A41/3258CB 20 (a) dated 20.8.43. Issued out to '(5) 8 EGS
(Elementary Gliding School) which w,as based at Ayr OA
12.5.44. (This was moved to CreetowD. near Wigtown by
6.45). Nothing is known until 5 4.46 when it was declared
Cat.B. (unit unknown at this time) To Western Airways at
Weston-Super-Mare by 9.3.47 for repair. Here, there is
another gap in its records but, by 31.lO 48, it was at 27 (E) GS
at RAF OustOI1. Cat B 8.2.49 and to Slingsby for repair on the
following day. It was awaiting collection on 29. 4.49 and was
sent to 186 GS RAF Woodvale, later RAF Howarden. It was
sold to the RAFGSA on the 19 3.54, (listed as "From Store")
It was flown by the White Rose Club as RAFGSA 273. It was
later sold to civilians and became BGA 1143 in AuguSl 1963.
This was the Cadet owned by Jock MaAson and was flown
from the RAF Chilterns Club while it was at Weston on the
Green in 1979'. It was later on streng,th of the RAF Bannerdown
Club at RAF Hullavington, where it was still owned and
kept airworthy by Jock Manson. It moved with the Bannerdown
Club to Keevil where Hwas sydicate operated and flown
until very recently. If lthis is the aircra~l, it seems to have
moved fmm Ithe Il'lilitary to the civilians. and then back again
to the military. 11 means that we now have two airworthy
Slingsby Cadets flying within the VGC out of the total of the
431 built of the Slingsby Type 7. John SpfQule's 1936 "C"
getter lives on. (.John Sproule designed it while workiQg at
Slingsby Sailplanes in 1936.) It is quite clear that this one wiU
also be at Bicester durin,g the last week in May for our week
lon$ British National and 50 years RAFGSA Anniversary
vac Rally.
Mike Powell has organized the saving of two T.21 bs at
Shennington. One of these has been sold to German owners,
while the other has been taken on as a restoration project by a
local AlR CADET UNIT. He will be able to inspect their
work.
It seems that in spite of the bad summer weather in 199'8
the Vintage glider scene in Britain is very much alive. Even
after no less than 4 gliders (1.21 b, Hols del' Teufe, Condor IV
and Weihe) have been sold to German owners and three more
(Scud I, Willow Wren and Gull 3) having been bought by the
Brooklands Museum, we shall be able to make up these losses
by the Millennium (unless the vintage gliders which are currently
for sale, go abroad).
BICESTER. Bicester airfield which has for years been the
RAFGSA Centre, is for sale and is to be developed for light
industry. Cut Off Date is the 31 st DECEMBER 1999. What
will happen to the gliding operation on it is not known.
LASHAM GLIDING CENTRE. Lasham Airfield has been
sold by the Ministry of Defence. As of 31st January 1999, we
understand that negotiations have taken place for the glider
pilots to buy the site. This is achieved and we can envisage a
new glorious era for gliding 'at Lasham, which could be about
to obtain a second large wartime RAF Hangar. Certainly the
Radar Unit, which controlled most of the South han Qf the aIrfield
(with police and dogs!), is being dismantled. This means
Security ofTermre and we can forsee more development of the
VGC Centre at Lasham, perhaps with its Own hangar and an
old glider museum ete !!..! These are indeed exciting times,
We salute the Lasham members who are clearly frying to
win the 3rd Battle for Lasham. On Salurday the 16th January,
Jochen Kruse bought the fate Mike Birch's CONDOR 4 BGA
2292 (D-8538) and took it to Germany, where he will restore
it. In Britain we seem to have the scintilating news that 21
Vintage gliders are for sale, and among Ithem are Scud 2,
BAC-7, Viking I, Gull I of Britain's pre-1940 fleet. 4 gliders
have been sold to Germany and 3 mote have been bought by
Brooklands Museum. This means that 28 gliders might be, at
the worst, lost to us to ft.y here. As an attempt to recover from
this loss, at least 6 GRUNAU BABIES are being restored as
well as I SKY, I DAGLING, I CADET and I MINIMOA!! It
is also possible that 2 OLYMPIAS are being restored. The
above sale is partly due to their owners perhaps becoming too
old to handle the heavy old machines, and also, the gliders
were not flown much in 1998 due to the worst British Summer
weather ever known.
We have heard from Don Knight that "The Falcon continues
to give much pleasure to all who fly it.This year's weather has
been rather disappointing, as you know; but J have managed
several memorable flights. I am always caugl1t out by the cold.
Si.tting under the wing as one does in the Falcon, the sun
which should warm you up never shines on the pilot!! I have
now taken to wearing lots @f woollies and windproofs even
when it is 80 in the shade. I'm afmid it provokes comments
about my failing faculties... but at least I am warm.
Below is a picture ofChris Wills in the Falcon showing how
the pilot is in shadow even on a sunny day. Above is the
Falcon inflight. Graham Ferder
I recently took over the gliders at The Brooklands Museum.
They bought several of Mike Beach's fleet. The connection
between Brooklands and gliding is pretty tenuous. Only the
Lane School operated there as far as I know anq that closed
early in Brooklands history. Space is at a premium and so far
I have only managed to rig the Scud I. 1 am finishing off the
Willow Wren and that will be on show in the not too distant
future. There is also Prince Bira's Slingsby Gull there, but that
will need much thought to do it justice."
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