Present Day
The Buckminster Gliding Club was founded at Saltby in 1971. Today its members fly cross-country and aerobatics and they train new pilots.
The club owns two Puchacz and one ASK 21 two-seater training gliders, and two single seaters: a Ka 8 and an Astir. Two ex-RAF Venture T2 motor gliders are also used for training. Aerotows use the club's Rallye tug, and a privately-owned Robin DR400 is also available. The winch-launch uses a Skylaunch winch.
The club has a campsite, adjacent to the car park and main hangar, currently housing a number of caravans and statics, both serviced with electricity. This campsite becomes busier in the main summer months, and particularly during competition weeks and weekends. Some members also choose to pitch tents.
The club has about 100 full time members (at January 2007). Some own shares in some of the latest types of gliders, such as: LS8-18, ASW28-18, ASW 22 and Duo Discus T. Motor gliders are also based there. Its members compete in several competitions each year, and annually the club itself hosts one round in the Eastern Interclub League, the first round of the 'Yellow Bung Trophy' and two national aerobatics competitions.
The club is currently (at January 2007) expanding its operations and has in recent years:
- Increased its cross country flying activities,
- Started NPPL training,
- Bought the new K21 training glider,
- Rented further land on which to rig gliders,
- Built new offices and store rooms above the main clubroom at the front of the main hangar,
- Installed a broadband connection and Wifi hotspot to improve communications for both the club office and members and visitors.
In 2006 the club built a new private hangar to house ten aircraft, in such a way that any aircraft may be moved in or out without the need to move another aircraft. Due to the success of this, a further three bays will soon be added to one end of the hangar.
The 2006 summer soaring season was the most active for the club for some years. Five members competed at the Midland Regional Competition at The Soaring Centre (Husbands Bosworth), and others competed at the Bicester Regionals, Lasham Regionals, Competition Enterprise at Aboyne and The Northerns at the Yorkshire Gliding Club (Sutton Bank). The club was once again very active in the Eastern Interclub League, and won overall in the two part Yellow Bung Trophy.
The 2007 soaring season sees further pushes into rated competitions with pilots entered into the Midland Regionals Competition at The Soaring Centre (Husbands Bosworth), the Bicester Regionals, The Gransden Regionals at the Cambridge Gliding Centre, the 18 m Nationals and Competition Enterprise.
Each year in September the club hosts a popular 1940's big band night in the hangar and visitors are encouraged to dress in period costume for this event.
In late 2007 the club continued the expansion of its facilities with new building work that will see a new toilet block and extended clubhouse and kitchen area built.
Read more about this topic: Buckminster Gliding Club
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
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—Bible: Hebrew Exodus, 20:8-11.
The fourth commandment.