The recent January snowfalls grounded the GRP Viking gliders at Hullavington. Not so the sturdy, wooden, 60 year old Slingsby "Barge" which flew again giving pilots and passengers spectacular open air views of Wiltshire in white and a real feel for the sub-zero air temperature!
“Home of 621VGS” by Mike Newton
“WB922 in the snow” by Mike Newton
“Flying until sunset” by Mike Newton
“Snow Flying” by Rob Newbold
A low cloud Saturday morning in December with broken winch and no caravan left us with no way to launch our usual Viking gliders for the weekend and looking for other ways to get airbourne.
So we borrowed a Robin for the morning! You just can’t keep a good VGS on the ground
Unless there is the odd hiccup!
In the late afternoon the cloud cleared allowing us to fly the open cockpit “barge” into the early sunset of a cold, sharp December evening. A good way to end the day!
From Rob Newbold
On Sunday 6th September WB922 was shoehorned into its trailer and taken abroad to Wales to fly as a part of the 634VGS MOD St Athan families day. A lot of behind the scenes work had been undertaken by 634 as St Athan lies within the Cardiff CTR and we would be operating a non radio, non transponder aeroplane within their airspace. With all the permissions in place Pete Turner bought the motor glider across from Mendip and we flew 5 members of the 634 staff including their CO and CFI as well as the St Athan base commander a naval Commodore.
The flying was very interesting as we had fairly brisk 90 degree crosswind at times and even though the St Athan main runway is enormously long we were landing the Sedbergh on a postage stamp of grass outside the VGS hangar which had been checked for obstructions. It was very different being on aerotow over the sea and perhaps slightly odd looking back at Weston-super-mare from a gliding angle we hadn’t seen before!
621 VGS Historic Flight hosted guests from 615 VGS at Kenley. With the nights drawing in fast, a two o’clock start left only five hours before sunset and with the runways being used by the Motorsports Events track day only the main grass section of the airfield available. With what wind there was blowing in a favourable direction, probably one of the better evenings of the year and the right number of regular members – both the Sedburgh and the MK III were operated for the remainder of the daylight hours.
A video of a typical afternoon flying with 621VGS Historic Flight in August 2009 by Rob Newbold
The 26th June was a hot day with more summer Friday flying on the airfield. Al Staceys MKIII is back on site. It was rigged and flown with a number of people being converted to it. At present we have 4 aircraft tucked behind the air cadet fleet. The Prefect will be departing soon though.
A couple of car loads of our VGS collegues from 622 VGS at Upavon dropped in to have a flight and sample the delights of Will Embrey’s BBQ cooking.
Once again another enjoyable evening.
A little disappointing from the weather point of view last Friday. We managed to set up the airfield in time for the drizzle, had a handful of launches in between showers and then got stopped by more heavy rain.
On a more positive note, welcome to our latest flying syndicate member Shaun Stent, for those that don’t know him Shaun was OC 621 before Dave. Shaun got the best of Friday’s weather and after a small number of ‘currency’ flights flew the Sedbergh solo again. There is photographic evidence although we were unsure whether a wide enough lens was available to catch the wide grin on approach!
621 VGS Vintage Flight now named 621 VGS Historic Flight.
It would appear that over the last five years we have become known, by many, as the 621 VGS Historic Flight. Mostly by those who assist us to operate such as the British Army whose airfield we use, the Air Cadets who allow us to use their Hanger and the local Air Traffic and MET services provided by the Royal Air Force. The RAF, Army and Navy have had their own Historic Flights for far longer than we have been operating and we now fall into line with their naming conventions.
This will also allow the Flight to, in the future, pursue other aircraft that are possibly not yet “Vintage” aircraft but nevertheless “Historic” as far as Air Cadet gliding is concerned.
A very pleasant day last Friday with plenty of flying. We were able to keep both the Prefect and Sedbergh flying throughout the afternoon and early evening. Al Stacey popped in and flew his glider( the least we could do as we have had it nearly a year!). Pete Turner has joined the flying syndicate, he flew the Prefect for the first time in many years and was then able to send Pete Asop off in the Sedbergh before he also duly converted to the Prefect. Both Pete and AL may be available to help on Fridays particularly as they are both Full Rated instructors which will help hugely with any check flights that are required.
Just prior to packing up Jane and Chris from 622 VGS turned up to collect a Viking from Serco and were able to have a launch each in the Sedbergh.
Johno is buying a new battery for Brut this week which should help no end, we have a discovered an oil leak also on Brut but at present we are letting it develop! Please don’t forget the Barge trailer still needs sorting and everything needs a wash!!
An excellent day today and it was like turning back the clock at 621! Daryl Mansbridge has joined the flying syndicate and re-soloed the Prefect after 35years! Andy Davey pitched up out of the blue and after a series of checks in the Sedbergh also flew the Prefect which he missed during his time at the VGS as they had just gone out of service. He enjoyed it all so much he has also joined the flying syndicate ( our first overseas member!!). KK got himself current again flying with Tony Webb and flew some Sedbergh soloes.
At the obligatory after flying pub visit it could have been a scene from 621 during the early 80’s.