On Sunday, junior glider pilot Ed F flew solo for the first time at Stratford on Avon Gliding club making him the youngest solo pilot in the country!
Ed was tested and authorised for his first solo by full-cat instructor Barry K. Ed flew Stratford’s K13 G-DCBW twice as club members looked on.
While powered aircraft pilots must wait until the age of 16 to fly solo, UK glider pilots can begin learning when they are 13 years old and fly solo at the age of 14.
Well done Ed!
The CAA has notified the updated frequencies to be used by glider traffic from 3rd January 2019.
The original frequencies and their updated frequencies are as follows:
| Original Frequency | NEW FREQUENCY | Primary Use | Secondary Use | Max use level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 129.975MHz | 129.980MHz | Common Glider Field Frequency As a situational awareness/control frequency within a 10 NM radius and up to a height of 3,000 ft above certain approved airfields. | FL40 | |
| 118.685MHz | Common Glider Field Frequency 2 As a situational awareness/control frequency within a 10 NM radius and up to a height of 3,000 ft above certain approved airfields. | FL40 | ||
| 130.100MHz | 130.105MHz | Situational Awareness | Competition Start/Finish | FL40 |
| 130.125MHz | 130.130MHz | Cross Country Training | Competition Start/Finish | FL40 |
| 130.400MHz | 130.535MHz | Cloud Flying | Other Situational Awareness | FL100 |
| 129.900MHz | 129.905MHz | Ground To Ground (Ground Retrieval Purposes Only) | Para/Hang-Glider | FL40 |
| 129.890MHz | Coaching | FL40 | ||
| 130.405MHz | Coaching | FL40 |
The Diversion & Distress frequency 121.5MHz will remain permanently on 25kHz spacing.
Also, a reminder that our neighbours at EGBW Wellesbourne have already made the change from 124.025MHz to their new 8.33kHz frequency 124.030MHz.
Our nearest neighbour Gliding Club, Bidford is now on 118.685MHz.
Safetycom is now 135.480MHz.
On bank holiday Monday, 15 year old junior glider pilot Ben L flew his first solo glider flight at Stratford on Avon Gliding Club!
Earlier in the day, Ben flew with senior full-category instructor Allan W in a series of simulated launch failures to ensure he was up to the required high standards of handling and airmanship for solo flight.
Making the grade, Allan briefed and authorised Ben for his first solo in our club K-13 trainer G-DCBW.
https://www.facebook.com/StratfordOnAvonGlidingClub/videos/1656060841115326/
Ben flew an excellent first solo flight and landing whereupon he was congratulated on his achievement by mum and dad, his fellow solo junior glider pilots and the rest of the Stratford Gliding club members.
Ben is already studying for his Bronze C exams and is keen to become a cross-country glider pilot.
Well done Ben!
Congratulation go to David R who on Thursday flew his first solo sailplane flight at Stratford on Avon Gliding Club.
David flew with instructor Andy B in the morning as was referred to Stratford full-cat instructor Steve F in the afternoon for solo-standard checks.
Making the grade, David was sent solo in K13 G-DCBW.
https://www.facebook.com/StratfordOnAvonGlidingClub/videos/1638870729501004/?permPage=1
Well done David!
14 year old glider pilot Ben E has converted onto Stratford on Avon Gliding Club’s Astir single-seater today.
Ben, who went solo only ten months ago on his 14th birthday at Snitterfield recently spent a week crewing for another Stratford junior pilot at the UK Junior Nationals competition at Nympsfield.
Already flying the two seaters and the SZD Junior single seater, the Astir is Ben’s first serious cross-country capable aircraft with retractable undercarriage and water ballast systems.
Ben will be able to enter cross-country competitive flying himself when he turns 16 and completes his Silver C. In the mean time, he will be able to work towards his Bronze Endorsement / Licence.
Well done to John R who went solo today at Stratford on Avon Gliding Club.
His authorising full-cat was Steve F who sent him up the wire in K13 G-DCBW.
Congratulations to junior glider pilot Alistair who went solo on Saturday at Stratford on Avon Gliding Club.
Alistair was sent solo by senior instructor Andy S on a very hot day at Snitterfield Airfield.
Well done to 14 year old Ben Edkins who converted on Stratford Gliding Club’s K21 G-CGAG on Sunday.
Ben about to launch in G-CGAG
Ben originally went solo in one of Stratford’s K13 gliders on his 14th birthday in October 2016 and the K21 is his first composite glider. The two-seat K21 acts as a stepping stone to Stratford Gliding Club’s all-composite single seater fleet.
Ben, one of the UK’s youngest solo pilots, had to demonstrate his flying ability and airmanship in the K21 flying with senior instructor Barry K before being cleared for his first solo on type.
Junior glider pilots are able to solo at the age of 14 under EASA regulations but must be 16 before flying solo cross-country. In the mean time, Ben will be able to work towards further single-seat type conversions and his BGA Bronze badge / LAPL(S) licence.
Thanks to the help of Phil, Dan and Monsy, the airfield weather station now has a new anemometer and batteries and is back up and working again.
The pole is heavier than we remembered!
Stratford on Avon Gliding Club for many years utilised a double-decker bus as a ‘control’ vehicle for the airfield. Our second such bus was ‘138’ an ex Plymouth Transport Leyland Atlantean.
The bus system had it’s shortcomings, especially the weight being incompatible with much of the field’s surface and the advent of telemetry signalling meant we no longer needed the height it afforded for signal lamps.
The double-decker has now been replaced by the compact trailer received from Needwood Forest and Atlantean 138 has headed off behind a wrecking wagon to it’s new home at Plymouth City Transport Preservation Group.
