Category Archives: News

Simone A flies his first solo at Snitterfield

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Last week, student sailplane pilot Simone flew his first solo flight from Stratford on Avon Gliding Club at Snitterfield airfield.

Simone was attending one of our gliding course weeks which he was using to consolidate previous pre-solo flight training he has undertaken with us.

Senior Stratford flight instructor Andy B put Simone through his paces on Wednesday and authorised him to fly his first solo.

Simone took to the air in Stratford’s Schleicher K21 G-CLVU for two successful solo flights over Warwickshire countryside.



Well done Simone!

You too can book one of our week-long gliding instruction courses by inquiring online.

First 300km flight for 2024

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On Thursday, Stratford pilot Andy B flew the first 300km flight from Snitterfield. A rather late one this year as the field condition has been taking it’s sweet time recovering after the continual rains of recent months!

But finally, we’re back in business with a neatly cut airfield and solid ground to fly off. Pretty well everyone local soaring from the club today had a good soaring flight with local climbs to over 5000′ altitude. 😎

Andy sends the following report of his 300km flight:

My first 300k of the year. Massively under-tasked as it turned out. The forecasts suggested an early start and finish so I launched early (11.30). There was lost of spread-out and alto Cu on the first leg but by routing to the south I was able to stay mostly in the sun. Even when this was not possible the lift was still working under the higher cover. I stayed hight (the high cover made me nervous about getting low) and got round the task (Bedford Bridge, Broadway, Northampton South) at 91kph in 3h22).

Landed around 3.30 but could have flown on for another couple of house at least.

Very pleasant flight and restored my faith somewhat after the poor winter and spring…


Snitterfield Southwest > Bedford Bridge > Broadway > Northampton South > Snitterfield Southwest.

Junior Glider Pilot Noah flies solo at Stratford on Avon Gliding Club.

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Congratulations to Junior Glider Pilot Noah who flew solo for the first time at Stratford on Avon Gliding club last Sunday!

Noah, a keen member of our club, was put through his paces with a series of simulated launch failures and unusual attitude recoveries by Stratford senior instructor Mike C to ensure his readiness to fly solo. He then also flew with Stratford’s CFI Pete F in K13 G-DCBW who thoroughly briefed him in readiness for his first solo flight.

Noah’s dad Tom watched as Noah took to the sky for the first time as a solo pilot in command of an aircraft. Noah executed a perfect launch and landing where he was greeted by his elated father.

Noah went on to fly two further consolidating flights the same day, the first of many for this enthusiastic junior glider pilot!

Well done Noah!

Stratford on Avon Gliding Club is an accredited Junior Gliding Centre. If you’d like to know more about becoming a Junior Member at Stratford on Avon Gliding Club, click here.

Stratford Junior Pilot Ben Edkins joins the British Juniors Team!

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Stratford on Avon Gliding Club are delighted to announce that one of our junior pilots, Ben Edkins, has been selected to join the British Junior Gliding Team!

The British Junior Gliding Team is a prestigious team of young glider pilots who have been selected from gliding clubs across the UK for their exceptional talent and commitment to the sport. Ben’s selection for the team is testament to his hard work and dedication to gliding over the past few years.

Ben was first introduced to gliding at Stratford on Avon Gliding Club by his father Chris, also a pilot, when he was just 12 years old. Since then, he has gone from strength to strength. After flying solo on his 14th Birthday he has gone on to become one of the most promising junior glider pilots in the country, competing successfully in regional and national-level competitions.

British Junior Gliding Team 2023

As a valued member of Stratford on Avon Gliding Club, Ben’s determination to succeed and passion for the sport have been evident since day one.

Ben is one of five young pilots from across the UK who have been selected for the British team competing at the European Championships in Denmark this year. The British Junior Gliding Team provides an outstanding opportunity for young pilots to develop their skills and experience, and Ben is clearly well-deserving of this honour.

We wish Ben the best of luck for his upcoming competitions and for all his future gliding endeavours. We are sure he will make the most of this fantastic opportunity and do the UK proud.

Congratulations once again to Ben!

Ryszard P goes solo at Stratford on Avon Gliding Club.

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Ryszard P is our latest solo sailplane pilot at SoAGC.

Ryszard started flying with us in July during one of our gliding courses and has already made it to solo standard!


Ryszard flew his first solo glider flight in one of our two-seat K21 training gliders, G-CLVU.

He had an excellent first flight, returning for a spot-landing on our short ‘crosswind’ runway at Snitterfield Airfield.

Well done Ryszard!

Katharine B is our newest solo glider pilot at SoAGC!

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Congratulations to Katharine B on becoming our latest solo glider pilot at SoAGC!

Katharine flew her first solo flight from Snitterfield last Thurssday, winch launching in our K21 G-CLVU.



Before being signed off for her first solo, Katharine was put through a series of check flights with senior Stratford instructor Andy S.

Congratulations Katharine!


Video by Anastassia M.

SoAGC congratulates our newest solo pilot: Richard Z!

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On Sunday, we congratulated our newest solo sailplane pilot, Richard Z!

Richard is one of our most enthusiastic flying members and he spent part of the day flying with senior instructor Barry K to assess his readiness.

Sunday provided good training weather a with moderate easterly wind and little by way of thermal activity.

Once Richard had been fully checked-out, Barry authorised him for his first solo in Stratford Gliding Club’s K-13 G-DCBW!



Richard’s first solo flight was well flown and finished with a lovely landing. So, after congratulations from Barry and the members on the airfield, he was sent on a second, consolidating solo flight.



Well done Richard!

Peter R re-solos in sailplanes at SoAGC

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Congratulations to Peter R who becomes our latest solo glider pilot at Stratford on Avon Gliding Club.

Peter, an airline pilot, joined us at the end of the last soaring season along with his daughter, also a student sailplane pilot.

Peter was checked out for his first glider solo in some years by senior Stratford instructor Mike C. Peter took to the skies in one of our fleet K21s G-CLVU.

Well done Peter!

Junior Glider Pilot Elliott converts onto the Astir

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Well done to Stratford junior sailplane pilot Elliott who converted onto our Astir CS-77 single-seater G-FECO on Sunday.

Elliott who flew his first solo flight in April this year has since been flying our K13, K21s and SZD Junior club gliders. The Astir presents a more advanced, higher-performance, 15 meter glider with water ballast systems and retractable undercarriage.

The Astir has good cross country performance and is often the type that our members will fly their first cross-country solo flight after gaining the BGA Bronze with cross-country endorsement.

Elliott will now be working towards the full Bronze so he can fly the Astir cross-country next season and also convert onto the club’s LS4.

Well done Elliott!