Loughborough Students Union Gliding Club

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Location Loughborough, UK
Base Airfield RAF Wittering
Affiliations Athletic Union, BGA & RAF GSA
Membership 44 (Students)
1 (Alumni)
1 (Associate)
Website LSUGC
AS-K13 Dual Seat Aircraft.
Type designation AS-K13
BGA Registration Number 1501
Tail Letters CCE
Gliding Team 2006/7.


Loughborough Students' Union Gliding Club (LSUGC) is an Athletic Union Sports Club of the Students' Union of Loughborough University. Membership is open to Students, Staff and Alumni of the institutions within the University.

LSUGC is affiliated to the Four Counties Gliding Club based at RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire. It now only has a Schleicher ASK-13 for basic flying training.

Contents

[edit] Club History

[edit] Beginnings

LSUGC is believed to have originated alongside the Loughborough Students' Union Hang Gliding Club back in 1966. The Club retainined its identity of Loughborough University Gliding Club up to 1990 when the Student and Athletic Unions merged together as an independent organisation - Loughborough Students. Post 1990 it became Loughborough Students Union Gliding Club.

[edit] Achievements

LSUGC established itself at Husbands Bosworth with an affiliation to the Coventry Gliding Club (trading as The Soaring Centre) during the 1990s. Gaining a large membership and skilled pilots and several instructors, LSUGC subsequently won the Inter Universities Task Week (IUTW) in 1999, with a healthy membership. The following year LSUGC hosted the IUTW2000 at Husbands Bosworth.

[edit] Development of a Fleet

After reducing membership levels since 2000, development funds were used to purchase a fleet of a single seat and dual seat aircraft. In May 2005 the Club purchased an Schleicher ASK-13 and a Schleicher Ka-8. This provided a suitable progression from dual to single seat solo development.

[edit] Move to greater horizons

In May 2006, LSUGC found its position with the Soaring Centre becoming detrimental to the development of its fleet and the retention of its membership. The Club consequently left Husbands Bosworth to arrive at RAF Wittering with the Four Counties Gliding Club of the RAF Gliding and Soaring Association. A mutual agreement between the two Clubs was created to support each other. The October 2006 Freshers brought in 46 members exceeding its 1999 high. Within the first year of moving to RAF Wittering, five ab-initios achieved solo standard, two members completed their Bronze Soaring Durations and two members achieved their X-Country Durations. In April 2007 the Club's ASK13-CEE returned from major refurbishment.

[edit] Fleet History

Aircraft owned by LSUGC:

[edit] Club Chairs

  • Ian Harman (....-2003)
  • Katie Meadows (2003-2004)
  • Dave Gethin (2004-2005)
  • Timothy Pennock (2005-2007)
  • Robert Lockwood (2007-2008)
  • Jonathon Morris (2008-present)

[edit] Links

Type Reg Date Bought Date Sold Additional Comments
AS-K13 BGA 1501 - CFE April 2005 N/A BGA 1501 previously owned by Lasham Gliding Society as No.3, The Scotish Gliding Union holding Competition Number 486, and finally the Dublin Gliding Club under EI-143. Under LSUGC this aircraft returned to CCE.