2023

Welcome to 2024! Time to look back over the last year through rose tinted glasses and misty eyes. Apologies if I’ve missed anyone or anything off this list.

Some Numbers

  • We currently have 145 ‘full flying members’ and 31 ‘social’ members

  • We did 4133 winch launches and 1170 aerotows (perhaps we need more tugs?)

  • We flew 2181 hours (over 222 flyable days)

  • We flew 246 voucher flights

  • We flew more than we did in any year since 2018

Solos

Plenty of people were crazy enough to want to fly on their own:

  • Rohan Raisbeck

  • Henry Fillingham

  • Henry Leites

  • Callum Ellis

  • Magnus Mckie

  • Sergio Cazador

  • Peter Holmes

  • Ben Ward

  • Bella Reid

Many of those have also transitioned into the junior…


Achievements

Andy Butler had his 5000’th flight - with his very first instructor Bill Young

Mal Gibson, Mike Johnson, Tim Sykes, Rodger Murray and Sue Room all got their BI rating. Thanks to Tony Kendall and Chris Price for getting the next generation of instructors through their training.

  • Sue Room also got her tuggie ticket.

  • Callum Ellis managed his Bronze 1 hr

  • Cyprian Rudy got his Silver Height and Duration endorsements

  • Paul Cartmell transitioned to the Junior and got his 1hr towards his Bronze

  • Tim Milner had a great year competing all over the world.

    • International Club Class Winner in July

    • Part of the UK team that came 4th in the FAI World Gliding Championships in Australia

    • 7th in the individual Club Class (at the World Championships)


Planning

Our friend Mr Fielder had his latest planning attempt (for the field at the end of 36) rejected in April and another potential development area near the airfield (POC-K) has been ‘deallocated’ (so a good year for planning!)

New Toys

The long awaited K21b (G-DMBD) was collected from Germany (and should be ready to go in January ‘24 - just waiting for the Campaign Against Aviation to issue the paperwork.) Thanks to Mal Gibson, Steve Ruffell and Bill Young for making the trip.

Because you can never have enough tugs, we decided to buy another one. We got another Pawnee - just like in the films…

The Eurofox re-entered active service - thanks to Steve Wilkinson, Alan West and Mal Gibson (who spent a huge amount of time doing battle with the CAA/LAA and various other bureaucracies…)

Events

Inter-club League

We tried to organise the inter-club league (Pock, Rufforth, Sutton Bank) but the weather was largely against us. That said - it did go ahead at Rufforth - where team Pocklington smashed it. The only record of scores was a hand written note (which looks suspiciously like Eric’s handwriting.)


Open Day

We had a fantastic Open Day in June. We flew 126 visitors over 10 hrs and raised over £4000 for club funds. A massive club effort we can all be proud of …and look at that sky!

Two Seater Comp

Another great two seater comp - thanks to everyone involved (especially, the organisers, Alan Rands and Mike Jordy) In addition to a great comp we also raised thousands of pounds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Despite his best efforts, Jonathan only managed 3 landouts this year…

Keren and Bernie

Keren and Bernie worked tirelessly throughout the year - keeping us all fed and watered - a big thanks to them! Unbeknownst to many, they also raised a huge amount of money - not only for charity but also club funds.


Evening Visits

We hosted 14 evening visits over the summer - thanks to everyone who helped out (especially Mark Cass for herding cats.) This generated about £6000 this year - which can go towards new toys!

Fettling

There was a lot of fettling undertaken in 2023. Thanks to everyone who works hard behind the scenes making sure winch cables are replaced, windsocks changed, trailers refurbished, signs erected, pot holes filled - and whatever it is that Andy is doing?

Absent Friends

Sadly, we lost two of our most popular members this year. John Paskins and Rodger Murray. Our thoughts are with their families…