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season (April to
September), and on Wednesdays, Fridays and at weekends during the winter months. Members of the public can book trial lessons or more intensive one-day courses, as well as five-day courses. Group flying for work parties, clubs, etc takes place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the
320:
The picture shows Aston Down taken from the south. The main (northeast-southwest) runway runs from bottom left to top right, while the shorter 1,000 m (3,300 ft) east-west runway runs left to right. The disused runway in the distance has been partly removed to allow more room for gliders
411:
and Cross
Country Endorsement checks. During the soaring season many members fly private gliders, usually owned jointly by two or more partners. This flying takes the form of either local soaring or more ambitious cross-country flights, often covering several hundred kilometres. Some examples of
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is a comparatively relaxed event, set up in the 1980s as an antidote to what were seen as excessively "serious and steely eyed" regional and national competitions. It gives aspiring cross-country pilots the opportunity to improve by flying with more experienced
607:
houses a briefing room, club room, kitchen and residential accommodation; caravan and camping facilities are also available on site. A large hangar accommodates the club fleet, most of the private gliders owned by club members being stored in
330:
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of 450 to 700 m (1,500 to 2,300 ft)—and sometimes up to 900 m (3,000 ft) when the wind direction is straight down the runway. For many years most launches at Aston Down were by the
732:
The bundle on the cable visible on the right of the picture is a parachute designed to retard the fall of the cable after the pilot has released it at the top of the launch.
449:. As early as 1962 the National Gliding Championships were held at Aston Down under the auspices of the RAF Gliding and Soaring Association, with the UK's first ever 300-km
162:
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or a large, modern back-to-back hangar when not being flown. There is a workshop for maintenance of aircraft, vehicles and winches. The club has built its own glider
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For the dramatic story of this complex auction, in which the airfield was divided into eight lots, see
Roberts (1983). This account features horsetrading with a
572:
from Aston Down took 15th and 5th positions, respectively, out of 33 entrants. In 2011 Duo Discus 572 was placed first in the
National two seater championship
51:
944:
In the clipped terminology of gliding the word "Championship" is usually omitted: hence "Regionals", "Nationals", and even—in defiance of grammar—"a Worlds".
321:
landing on the grass. Blokarting and aeromodelling are restricted to the runway not currently in use for gliding (which varies according to wind direction).
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Cross-country training is undertaken in the club's fibreglass two-seater: the DG500 (of which the DG flew 200-km tasks soon after delivery at Aston Down).
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Pilots from
Cotswold Gliding Club regularly take part in regional and national competitions, as well as informal competitions such as:
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Click on any score to see details of the flight (route, distance and pilot's comments). Most flights can also be viewed in 3D in
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The excellent runway and facilities available at Aston Down make it a frequent choice for hosting regional and national gliding
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242:(UWE) in Bristol. There are about 30 associate members: these include both pilots (with limited flying rights) and
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Aston Down is, by gliding standards, a large airfield. The 1500 m main runway (about one mile) offers scope for
569:
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grants and other loans, the club purchased a large part of the airfield when it was auctioned off by the
1242:
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is an informal competition started in 1974 with the aim of "bring back the fun to competitive flying".
920:
450:
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235:. Having since acquired further land, CGC now owns most of the airfield within the perimeter track.
204:
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710:. On most flying days either the launch point (with bus and gliders) or the winch can be seen here.
595:
held its final round at Aston Down with a 30 km race comprising six circuits of the airfield.
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The modellers have been flying their aircraft at Aston Down since 1962—longer than the CGC itself.
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An informal group of six local gliding clubs who organize friendly cross-country competitions.
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In 2007 Aston Down was the venue for the
British Blokart Championships. In July 2008 the
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399:-qualified instructors. This training takes pilots to solo and well beyond—to advanced
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club, incognito bidders and a behind-the-scenes agreement by private treaty invoking
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In the photograph the main runway appears shorter than the (E-W) cross runway: this
196:. The club maintains a fleet of aircraft for training purposes, and is a centre for
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In 2008 the same two gliders also took part in this competition, which was held at
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recent flights by members of the club can be seen on the BGA Ladder website (
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method, but since the year 2000 the principal method of launch has been by
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886:. The CCE is not internationally recognised, but in conjunction with the
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935:"Task" is gliding jargon for a set course to be flown on any given day.
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Roberts, David (August–September 1983). "The battle for Aston Down".
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being set. Recent competitions hosted by CGC include the following:
227:—at that time still a military airfield. In 1980-1, with the help of
1189:
340:
The club's fleet of aircraft includes two recently acquired modern
427:
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In 2008 the club introduced courses specifically designed to give
360:
is available for early solo pilots. All Club gliders have similar
328:
253:
1005:
246:. In 2007 the CGC widened its membership to include Blokarters.
1124:"Blokart Nationals at the Cotswold Gliding Centre (sic), Stroud"
653:
352:
trainer which can also be used for aerobatics training, and two
1032:
904:
632:
The airfield has long since reverted to farmland. See the
274:. The high launches make it easy to contact the abundant
238:
CGC has some 200 members, including 80 students from the
917:
870:
requirements for the UK Cross
Country Endorsement (CCE)
616:
to expand the training opportunities for club members.
522:
2017 Standard, Open, 15m & 20m Multi-Seat
Nationals
407:
based at Aston Down are available for club members for
1217:
723:
is due to the angle at which the photograph was taken.
160:
Location of CGC at Aston Down airfield (see detailed
297:and when westerly or north-westerly winds generate
1169:(2nd ed.). London: John Murray. p. 173.
890:is broadly equivalent to a glider pilot's licence.
215:CGC was formed in 1964. It was initially based at
519:2016 20m Multi-Seat and Standard Class Nationals
376:The club operates seven days a week during the
1207:at 15-minute intervals over the past two hours
540:2024 Standard, Open & 15m Class Nationals
8:
543:2025 Junior Nationals and Cotswold Regionals
531:2021 Junior Nationals and Cotswold Regionals
516:2015 Junior Nationals and Cotswold Regionals
436:at 2004 Standard Class Nationals, Aston Down
1017:https://members.gliding.co.uk/competitions/
741:See the CGC website for further details on
388:a hands-on introduction to soaring flight.
293:is increasingly available, particularly in
1218:Cotswold Radio Control Society (modellers)
223:, but in 1967 moved to its current home,
625:
534:2022 Standard, Open & 15m Nationals
525:2018 Standard, Open & 15m Nationals
344:all-round two-seat training gliders, a
1258:Tourist attractions in Gloucestershire
1253:Organisations based in Gloucestershire
568:In 2007 the club DG 500 and a private
634:Airfield Search Long Newnton airfield
7:
1130:from the original on 7 November 2007
1099:. Wolds Gliding Club. Archived from
979:Competition website can be found at
128:
1126:. Yachts and Yachting Online Ltd.
1076:Pocklington Two Seater Competition
333:The club DG-500 being launched by
258:Aston Down airfield from the south
86:
72:
58:
14:
416:, the last complete season, and
294:
240:University of the West of England
1195:
278:that rise from the well-drained
141:
127:
113:
99:
85:
71:
57:
50:
1205:northeastern end of main runway
981:www.cotswoldgliding.co.uk/comps
701:northeastern end of this runway
474:2007 Inter University Task Week
100:
1006:http://www.cotswoldcomps.co.uk
461:Nationals (shown on the right)
114:
1:
593:Cotswold Cycle Racing League
142:
464:2004 Competition Enterprise
1279:
1047:. See this account of the
562:Two Seater Competition at
528:2019 Club Class Nationals
502:2011 Junior Championships
403:flying. Privately owned
1248:Sport in Gloucestershire
835:Gliding For Power Pilots
1263:Kemble, Gloucestershire
1154:Sailplane & Gliding
923:6 December 2019 at the
918:RAFGSA official website
833:See further details on
813:See further details on
537:2023 Cotswold Regionals
959:28 August 2008 at the
954:Competition Enterprise
847:9 October 2007 at the
840:9 October 2007 at the
820:9 October 2007 at the
800:24 August 2007 at the
793:24 August 2007 at the
773:9 October 2007 at the
766:9 October 2007 at the
755:9 October 2007 at the
748:9 October 2007 at the
575:Competition Enterprise
437:
364:and are equipped with
356:two-seat trainers. An
337:
259:
1190:Cotswold Gliding Club
1027:The other clubs are:
678:Blokart is a form of
431:
332:
257:
174:Cotswold Gliding Club
1167:The Story of Gliding
1081:7 March 2009 at the
1054:4 September 2012 at
986:15 July 2011 at the
882:22 July 2007 at the
875:22 July 2007 at the
706:2 March 2008 at the
639:28 June 2020 at the
556:Rockpolishers League
157:class=notpageimage|
1165:Welch, Ann (1980).
903:by clicking on the
786:Further details on
395:from the club's 30
233:Ministry of Defence
30: /
1238:Gliding in England
1049:2007 Rockpolishers
993:2011-07-15 at the
966:2008-08-28 at the
438:
338:
285:to give excellent
260:
194:South West England
180:airfield, between
176:(CGC) is based at
1192:Official website
366:audio variometers
291:Aerotow launching
1270:
1213:UWE Gliding Club
1199:
1180:
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614:flight simulator
391:Members receive
372:Gliding activity
313:downwind of the
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34:51.712°N 2.131°W
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1103:on 13 July 2012
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1083:Wayback Machine
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877:Wayback Machine
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849:Wayback Machine
842:Wayback Machine
832:
828:
822:Wayback Machine
812:
808:
802:Wayback Machine
795:Wayback Machine
788:holiday courses
785:
781:
775:Wayback Machine
768:Wayback Machine
761:one-day courses
757:Wayback Machine
750:Wayback Machine
740:
736:
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727:
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708:Wayback Machine
694:
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682:using portable
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641:Wayback Machine
631:
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362:instrumentation
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315:Welsh mountains
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190:Gloucestershire
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1184:External links
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1061:2012-09-04 at
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888:Bronze C badge
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39:51.712; -2.131
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699:monitors the
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605:control tower
603:The original
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409:field landing
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405:motor gliders
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401:cross-country
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289:conditions.
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244:aeromodellers
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53:
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43:
1243:Flying clubs
1166:
1163:
1157:
1153:
1150:
1132:. Retrieved
1122:Rob Jewell.
1117:
1105:. Retrieved
1101:the original
1091:
1070:
1023:
1012:
1001:
975:
949:
940:
931:
912:
901:Google Earth
895:
864:
855:
829:
815:group flying
809:
782:
737:
728:
715:
691:
680:land sailing
674:
665:
658:Crichel Down
648:
628:
602:
590:
587:Other sports
551:
447:competitions
444:
432:Competition
424:Competitions
390:
386:power pilots
383:
375:
339:
319:
295:competitions
261:
237:
217:Long Newnton
214:
205:competitions
173:
171:
15:
1160:(4): 160–2.
1134:13 November
684:land yachts
564:Pocklington
548:Other sites
305:ridge (or "
182:Cirencester
163:map sources
135:Cirencester
37: /
1232:Categories
1147:References
1029:Nympsfield
907:file link.
599:Facilities
580:North Hill
570:Duo Discus
507:Open Class
493:Open Class
479:Club Class
441:Aston Down
325:Club fleet
225:Aston Down
178:Aston Down
93:Cheltenham
79:Gloucester
65:Aston Down
22:51°42′43″N
1107:25 August
1097:"TSC2011"
1045:Long Mynd
582:in Devon.
513:Nationals
499:Nationals
488:Nationals
481:Nationals
471:Nationals
348:advanced
311:wave lift
283:limestone
25:2°07′52″W
1203:view of
1128:Archived
1079:Archived
1059:Archived
1052:Archived
1037:Talgarth
991:Archived
984:Archived
964:Archived
957:Archived
921:Archived
916:See the
880:Archived
873:Archived
868:See the
845:Archived
838:Archived
818:Archived
798:Archived
791:Archived
771:Archived
764:Archived
753:Archived
746:Archived
704:Archived
695:The CGC
637:Archived
610:trailers
486:15 Metre
469:15 Metre
393:training
381:summer.
303:Cotswold
301:off the
280:Cotswold
276:thermals
264:launches
250:Airfield
1086:pilots.
1041:Shobdon
378:soaring
287:soaring
221:Tetbury
201:gliding
107:Bristol
1201:Webcam
1173:
697:webcam
660:rules.
509:&
358:ASK-23
354:ASK-13
346:DG 500
342:ASK-21
309:") or
186:Stroud
121:Stroud
1158:XXXIV
620:Notes
505:2013
491:2010
484:2009
477:2008
467:2006
457:2004
335:winch
272:winch
1171:ISBN
1136:2007
1109:2020
1074:The
1043:and
759:and
654:polo
495:and
451:task
434:grid
418:2009
414:2008
307:Edge
299:lift
211:Club
203:and
184:and
172:The
149:Bath
1033:Usk
905:KML
420:).
397:BGA
188:in
1234::
1156:.
1039:,
1035:,
1031:,
368:.
317:.
207:.
192:,
1179:.
1138:.
1111:.
1065:.
824:.
804:.
777:.
686:.
643:.
167:)
165:]
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
