The London Gliding Club (LGC) is a members' club whose airfield is located at the foot of the Dunstable Downs. Many privately owned gliders are based there. It has the facilities to train pilots in powerless flight, and in the skills necessary to fly cross country using nature's sources of energy. Aerobatics and instructor training are also available. The LGC is open 364 days a year and is the second largest and one of the oldest Gliding Clubs in the United Kingdom, smaller only than Lasham Gliding Society. The club provides gliding courses, one day courses and trial lessons for members of the public.
The gliding club was formed on 20 February 1930, about a month before the formation of the British Gliding Association. LGC's first flights were made on 16 March 1930 at Stoke Park Farm, near the Guildford works of R.F.Dagnall. They used a German "Zӧgling" primary glider on loan from the BGA and a modified Zӧgling donated by R.F.Dagnall that later become known as the "Dagling". The following weekend training began at the LGC's first permanent site a few miles north of Aldbury near Tring.
By the middle of May 1930, the club had secured the use of Ivinghoe Beacon as a launch site for its gliders, unfortunately the spectacle attracted so much public attention that the club was evicted for "spoiling its peaceful enjoyment by the public"[citation needed]
The club then moved to its current home at the foot of the Dunstable Downs, within the parish boundaries of Totternhoe. This site was chosen because of its favourable position relative to the prevailing westerly winds which allowed hill soaring. Launching was initially by means of a bungee rope and later by winch and aero tow. In 1935, the club's wooden hangars were replaced by the present building designed by the renowned architect and club member Kit Nicholson.[1] The LGC soon became one of the biggest gliding clubs in the country. It hosted many national gliding competitions, and many national and world records were set from it. On 22 April 1939 the first soaring flight across the English Channel was made by Geoffrey Stephenson in a Slingsby Gull 1 glider. The launch was by winch and the landing place was Le Wast in France.[2]
During World War II the airfield was taken over by the military and for the duration was used as a prisoner of war camp. Most of the prisoners were Italian with a few Germans. Many of the pre-war LGC members such as Lawrence Wright were to play an important role in the formation of the Glider Pilot Regiment.
Post war
After World War II the airfield was handed back to the LGC and gliding operations resumed. In the post-war years the airfield was expanded as neighbouring fields were purchased, and the gradual replacement of wood and fabric gliders by high performance glass fibre gliders, often constructed using advanced materials such as carbon fibre. These modern gliders required longer take-off and landing areas, and large areas of the airfield were levelled. Bungee launching from the crest of the Downs became less frequent as the aerotow became more viable, and as winch launches were able to achieve greater height. The club training fleet was modernised, and is constantly kept up to date.
As increased performance by modern gliders enabled flights of long distances (up to 1000 km), the London Gliding Club gradually grew in membership throughout these years, and continues to do so. Many UK speed and distance records are held by pilots flying from Dunstable, and the London Gliding Club regularly hosts regional and national competitions.
^"Sailplane & Glider" (PDF). 10 (5). May 1939: 89. Retrieved 24 December 2012. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
External links
London Gliding Club
British Gliding Association
'Take Up Slack - The History of London Gliding Club 1930-2000'
August 23, 2023
london, gliding, club, members, club, whose, airfield, located, foot, dunstable, downs, many, privately, owned, gliders, based, there, facilities, train, pilots, powerless, flight, skills, necessary, cross, country, using, nature, sources, energy, aerobatics, . The London Gliding Club LGC is a members club whose airfield is located at the foot of the Dunstable Downs Many privately owned gliders are based there It has the facilities to train pilots in powerless flight and in the skills necessary to fly cross country using nature s sources of energy Aerobatics and instructor training are also available The LGC is open 364 days a year and is the second largest and one of the oldest Gliding Clubs in the United Kingdom smaller only than Lasham Gliding Society The club provides gliding courses one day courses and trial lessons for members of the public London Gliding ClubIATA noneICAO noneSummaryAirport typePrivateLocationDunstable Downs BedfordshireCoordinates51 52 18 N 0 32 46 W 51 871733 N 0 546 W 51 871733 0 546Websitehttp www londonglidingclub co ukMapLondon Gliding ClubLocation in BedfordshireRunwaysDirection Length Surfaceft m0 0 Grass0 0 Grass0 0 Grass0 0 Grass Contents 1 History 2 Post war 3 Current club fleet 3 1 Gliders 3 2 Tow planes 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditThe gliding club was formed on 20 February 1930 about a month before the formation of the British Gliding Association LGC s first flights were made on 16 March 1930 at Stoke Park Farm near the Guildford works of R F Dagnall They used a German Zӧgling primary glider on loan from the BGA and a modified Zӧgling donated by R F Dagnall that later become known as the Dagling The following weekend training began at the LGC s first permanent site a few miles north of Aldbury near Tring By the middle of May 1930 the club had secured the use of Ivinghoe Beacon as a launch site for its gliders unfortunately the spectacle attracted so much public attention that the club was evicted for spoiling its peaceful enjoyment by the public citation needed The club then moved to its current home at the foot of the Dunstable Downs within the parish boundaries of Totternhoe This site was chosen because of its favourable position relative to the prevailing westerly winds which allowed hill soaring Launching was initially by means of a bungee rope and later by winch and aero tow In 1935 the club s wooden hangars were replaced by the present building designed by the renowned architect and club member Kit Nicholson 1 The LGC soon became one of the biggest gliding clubs in the country It hosted many national gliding competitions and many national and world records were set from it On 22 April 1939 the first soaring flight across the English Channel was made by Geoffrey Stephenson in a Slingsby Gull 1 glider The launch was by winch and the landing place was Le Wast in France 2 During World War II the airfield was taken over by the military and for the duration was used as a prisoner of war camp Most of the prisoners were Italian with a few Germans Many of the pre war LGC members such as Lawrence Wright were to play an important role in the formation of the Glider Pilot Regiment Post war EditAfter World War II the airfield was handed back to the LGC and gliding operations resumed In the post war years the airfield was expanded as neighbouring fields were purchased and the gradual replacement of wood and fabric gliders by high performance glass fibre gliders often constructed using advanced materials such as carbon fibre These modern gliders required longer take off and landing areas and large areas of the airfield were levelled Bungee launching from the crest of the Downs became less frequent as the aerotow became more viable and as winch launches were able to achieve greater height The club training fleet was modernised and is constantly kept up to date As increased performance by modern gliders enabled flights of long distances up to 1000 km the London Gliding Club gradually grew in membership throughout these years and continues to do so Many UK speed and distance records are held by pilots flying from Dunstable and the London Gliding Club regularly hosts regional and national competitions Current club fleet EditGliders Edit 7 x Schleicher ASK 21 3 x Schleicher ASK 23 Schleicher ASK 13 Schempp Hirth Duo Discus Schleicher ASW 19 Schleicher ASW 24 Pilatus B4 Rotax Falke SF 25c Motor GliderTow planes Edit Piper Super Cub 4 DR400 Robins 1 DR300 RobinsThere is also a Munster Van Gelder Winch with six drumsReferences Edit Alan Powers 2005 Modern The Modern Movement in Britain Merrell pp 198 99 ISBN 9781858942551 Sailplane amp Glider PDF 10 5 May 1939 89 Retrieved 24 December 2012 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help External links EditLondon Gliding Club British Gliding Association Take Up Slack The History of London Gliding Club 1930 2000 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title London Gliding Club amp oldid 1170790433, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
