621 VGS Historic Flight
Historic Flight Fleet

Historic Flight News

Posted on: May 9th, 2021 by admin

After a couple of false starts, many complications delivered by the COVID situation and some significant efforts to make the trailer serviceable, the Sedbergh wings have undertaken a journey across the country and are now being worked on. We are now confident of a reasonably quick resolution to the fabric issues and hope to have her back flying at Nympsfield soon. We shall keep you updated!

Meanwhile, we were thrilled to re-start operations again at BGGC last month and look forward to a growing attendance throughout the year as COVID restrictions continue to ease.

Posted on: July 1st, 2020 by admin

Your help is needed. Sadly the 621 Historic Flight flagship, the mighty Sedbergh, needs a repair in able to return to flight. We are currently seeking donations to cover the cost of the repair which is going to be in the region of £1,000.

We will be providing the expertise and considerable labour to achieve this repair and the funding asked for will be to provide the hired workshop time, fabric, dopes and paints involved.

Our Sedbergh is still in stunning condition, 7 years after a refurb that saw it win best civilian entrant at RIAT in 2016.

Unfortunately COVID-19 saw her shut away in a metal shed which became an oven and the fabric has pulled off of the majority of the ribs under the starboard wing. It’s going to be heartbreaking to break into the perfect fabric to replace it up to the aileron.

Having just been welcomed to our new home at BGGC, Nympsfield, we are greatly saddened by this recent blow to our fleet and are desperate to get our Sedbergh back into the skies.

UPDATE APRIL 2021 – Thank you to a wealth of generous supporters, the GoFundMe campaign raised over £2,500. Naturally, the impacts of COVID-19 have slowed down the repair process but further news on that front is inbound and we sincerely hope to see her back in the skies later this year.

Posted on: June 1st, 2020 by admin

We moved from Hullavington to Sandhill Farm, home of Vale of White Horse Gliding Club.   We gave it a shot, but for many reasons the site doesn’t work for us.   Part of the flight will now be operated alongside Bristol and Gloucester Gliding Club at Nympsfield.   We await confirmation of the remaining part.

For more updates you can view our Facebook page.

 

Posted on: August 31st, 2016 by admin

If it is – then it was a good one to finish on.    A stunning day with the Sedbergh soaring to cloud base from the first launch of the day.  The Swallow and Venture were also soaring.   Sadly the MK3 and Prefect were unable to join them as they were due a C of A.

bargelaunch

The airfield is due to be sold in the very near future.

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Posted on: August 27th, 2016 by admin

The day started with a flypast by the Red Arrows.  Due to pass close to Hullavington, and with an ex 621 staff member flying Red 4 they were only to happy to pass over us.

The weather didn’t play ball all day though and we had to take shelter as a Thunderstorm passed the airfield.  After it passed the aircraft returned to the field.   With a social planned for the evening there were lots of people about.

 

Posted on: August 6th, 2016 by admin

Some great soaring today starting with the Sedbergh soaring away from the first launch.   We even had aircraft sharing thermals today as well.

sharing

 

They are further away from each other than they look from this picture!

We carry out a series of checks before each launch following the mnemonic CBSIFTCBE.  Controls, Ballast, Straps, Instruments, Flaps, Trim, Canopies, Eventualities (although not all our aircraft have all of these of course).   The last of these, Eventualities, is where we plan for what could happen during the launch – as sometimes it does happen.  It’s not often captured in a photo though.

launchfailure

 

You can see the cable has gone slack.   The glider released the cable and landing straight ahead.  It’s something we learn as a student to deal with and regularly practice.

Posted on: July 30th, 2016 by admin

Today we had visitors from 618 VGS (Odiham).   A nice sunny day with some soaring as well.

618vgsvisit

Posted on: July 23rd, 2016 by admin

After a week at RIAT watching the noisy new stuff flying, the Historic Flight was back operating at Hullavington.   With the airfield due to be sold soon every opportunity has to be taken.   The Historic Flight flew on the 17th before a special treat on the 24th July – a Tiger Moth and Chipmunk joining in the fun (or adding to it).

tigermothandchipmunk

The aircraft flew in from Compton Abbas and spent the day flying members of the Flight.   Lots of very happy people on the airfield!   Many Thanks to those that made this happen.

We also had a visitor from 631 VGS who brought with him some parts he found in a cupboard.   Thanks Gary!     I think he found his way into everything and I think he enjoyed it!

Happy Passenger

And another Venture ZA634 popped in to say hello to ours.

2ventures

 

What a day!

Posted on: July 15th, 2016 by admin

The 621 VGS Historic Flight joined up with the VGS to display at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2016.   The Sedbergh, Primary and MKIII were loaded into trailers along with a VGS Viking, and the Venture prepped for it’s transit flight.  A Vigilant from 612 VGS would also form part of the display.

A great deal of work had been done by a number of people to get the trailers ready for their trip.  Darren Melling-Poyser spent a lot of hours on Sedbergh trailer, along with others, as Al Stacey repaired his.

The finishing touches to the trailers were being made as we de-rigged the aircraft and loaded them into the trailers during Tuesday and we were ready to depart to Fairford early on Wednesday.

RIAT Departure

 

The rest of Wednesday was spent rigging the aircraft at Fairford.    You don’t usually rig so many at once, but we had lots of people so that wasn’t the problem.   What made it harder was the Typhoons, F16’s, F35 and others doing there display practice – which if not being very noisy – would distract several which had bought big cameras.

riat_rig

In order to keep the aircraft safe during bad weather and for overnight shelter, a marquee was ordered as a temporary hanger.   In order to keep the costs down it was ordered to size.  The aircraft were rolled in on trolleys sideways.  This often drew a small crowd of those on site early or still there at the end of the day.    With some big thunderstorms looking like they would pass over the site on Sunday, it was good to know we had somewhere to run to.

riat_hangar

On Thursday we did the final setup and polish of our static display before the first round of judging.  The Sedbergh and the Grasshopper were entered into the Concourse D’Elegance and the judges kept coming back – what did that mean?

The display also included the VGS equipment.  Slightly more modern than the Historic Flights.  A brand new Winch, a brand new Tractor, a brand new Ford Ranger, a new (ish) Glider Trailer and a Launch Point Caravan.

riat_setup

On the Friday night RIAT holds a Gala Dinner, a chance for VIP’s including the Chief of Staff’s from several Air Forces and government ministers to Aircrew and Ground Crew that have taken part in the Crew Challenge event.   It is also the night the Concourse D’Elegance awards are presented.   We knew from the Judges visits that one of the aircraft had done well.  There was strong competition with aircraft such as the Blackburn B2 from the Shuttleworth collection being displayed as well as the excellent Chipmunks we were parked next too.    It was only right that Flt Lt Adam Clarke went up to the podium to collect the award for the Best Civilian Aircraft in show!

riat_award

Saturday and Sunday were full public display days.  It was great to hear so many stories from people who’d first solo’s had been in the different aircraft types we had taken.  We even had a couple who’s first solo had been in those exact aircraft!

We spend Sunday evening and Monday returning the aircraft back to Hullavington and re-rigging them.   It was a long hard but successful week.

Posted on: June 25th, 2016 by admin

A less than ideal flying day, however the Swallow and the Venture were out and flying.   Work well underway repairing the trailers for the coming expedition to the Royal International Air Tattoo.

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