621 VGS Historic Flight
Historic Flight Fleet

Historic Flight News

Posted on: February 8th, 2009 by nimbus
WB922 Launching in the Snow

WB922 Launching in the Snow

For those that couldn’t make yesterday what a day to miss!!
We arrived at the airfield to find 6 – 8 inches of snow, Del Kitcher immediately got his car stuck requiring Gav and Brian’s recovery services, it was quite a challenge to all just getting cars to the hangar!
A tractor was borrowed!! this was the only way we were going to get winch and caravan set up and the Sedbergh and Prefect gingerly towed out. Everybody enjoyed some fantastic views of snow bound Wiltshire with 35 launches in all. Gav and Will both converted to the Prefect. Many launches involved snowballing the winch or launch point, no danger of any of us being called up for precision bombing for the RAF, the nearest snow ball was about 100′ from target! The fun didn’t stop with the gliding, what with Ben and Thomas Paynes sledging exploits and we had a tough job prising Andy Trickey out of Brut on cable retrieve, I think the comment was ‘once a staff cadet – always a staff cadet’ !!!

Prefect in the snow.

Prefect in the snow.

Posted on: January 31st, 2009 by PhilW

The first vintage flying of 2009 just squeezed into January on Friday. Although the forecast didn’t look great, the actual weather on the day was just fine for the barge. With the bitterly cold southerly wind blowing about 12 kts the launches were pretty good too – even on one of the shortest runs.

With the sunset still before five the early finish allowed work to start on renovating Barge trailer. The Army’s dust making operation at the other end of the hanger had left a thick layer of dust on the top. A few plywood sections of the trailer were knackered and have been removed so they can be replaced. After some brushing, scrubbing and sanding the blue paint dust made one person look like a smurf with a black eye. The trailer has now had it’s first prep session, but more will be required, as well as some recontructive surgery before it gets a fresh coat of paint.

Watch this space: 2009 is going to be a busy year!

Posted on: December 2nd, 2008 by admin

Last weekend saw fairly thick fog sat over the airfield for most of both Friday and Saturday.

On Friday, with flying the Sedbergh out of the question, those assembled started the task of derigging the aircraft in order to do the repair work required after it’s C of A. Once complete, and with the conditions not improved enough to fly the Prefect the decision was made to take the Primary out onto the airfield.

Autotowing the Primary worked a treat just as long as you kept it below the cloud/fog layer. The bottom of this layer sat between probably 150 and 250 feet all day. It lifted briefly to allow Johno to do a lap of the airfield before it lowered again and we stopped flying when we couldn’t see the windsock from the runway anymore.

Great fun!!!

With the fog grounding the Air Cadet fleet for a good portion of Saturday – the Grasshopper was back out for some more Grasshopping.

Try it – it’s fun!

Posted on: November 16th, 2008 by admin

Hi all,
The Sedbergh C of A this year showed up some work that will be required over the winter. It mainly involves wire brushing rust and then repainting to protect. Unfortunately the glider will require de-rigging in order to gain access to some of the areas requiring attention.

I propose that after the Friday 28th Nov, we aim to take the Sedbergh of line and attend to the work required. We will of course still be able to fly the Prefect and Grasshopper if people so wish, although I realise this doesn’t help the non solo pilots.

Other work that is required – Oil and filter changes on Peugeot, Landrover and winch, perspex to be replaced on winch cab ( I have perspex), orange flashing light to be re-installed on winch, repairing the Sedbergh trailer ( fairly major undertaking!) and anything else that you can think of.

It would make sense to utilise Fridays that we would have flown (this way those that are doing the majority of the flying can get involved with the majority of the maintenance!). Although there is no reason why evening work parties can’t be organised for some smaller jobs ( oil and filter changes).

I will organise glider and trailer work, it would be nice if three of you came forward to take on organising the work on the 3 vehicles. I can’t remember who got the filters for the winch and where they got them from ( any ideas?) I do remember it was an agricultural place in Chippenham and that the engine is a Leyland 500.

Cheers
Tom

Posted on: April 20th, 2008 by admin

WB922 now replacement rudder hinge pins fitted thanks to Andy Trickey for supplying the pins and fitting the rudder and Nick Jefferies for supplying the split pins. Last Friday the rudder cables were reattached, checked and double checked before the aircraft was flying from mid afternoon until sunset.

Posted on: November 20th, 2007 by admin

This Sunday was rubbish for gliding. Very foggy and nil viz. Air Cadet ops were wrapped up by lunch and an intrepid few decided to have a go at auto-towing the Grasshopper as the cloud base seemed about 400′. It turns out we have two auto tow ropes ( approx 100′ and 400′ ). After a very careful team think we attached the rope to the Peugeot, Andy Trickey attached himself to the glider and I put my foot on the accelerator. After a long ground slide ( and a gear change in the car) Andy took off and sailed magestically to about 300′ where he landed ahead. Due to the lack of wind we then did the same in the opposite direction. Phil Woods, myself and Nick Jeffery then had a few launches which resulted in a 180 turn and land down wind. We then had another team huddle as it was suggested that it might be possible in the nil wind to tow in laps around the airfield!! To cut a long story short Andy and myself each achieved a lap on tow followed by a brief circuit after release. The only problem being able to see through the tears of laughter!!! Who needs the hot ships to have extreme fun in gliding!!

Posted on: October 20th, 2007 by admin

Last Friday saw a full days flying for both the Sedbergh and the Primary. With Jim and John having their first flights on the Primary.

Posted on: October 20th, 2007 by admin

Photos of the visit to White Waltham available here: Flickr

Posted on: August 20th, 2007 by admin

It is easiest and safest operated from a winch launch, three G1’s also flew it and had no problems.

Posted on: May 20th, 2007 by admin

The Air Cadet static display was very busy all weekend. Many visitors had flown Sedbergh’s in the past including a number that had soloed in the 1960’s at Weston-Super-Mare and also an ex C-Cat from RAF Spitalgate who had flowen WB922. Useful contacts have been made for spares. Thanks to Adam Clarke, Andy Trickey, John Williams, Nev Cullingford and Brian House who tirelessly showed the public around the gliders all day. A lasting memory will be the Battle of Britain Flight Lancaster flying low over the airfield.