Cross Country Flying

The first ever gliding cross-country flight by a British glider was achieved from Dunstable in 1932 and it was the same Dunstable pilot that was achieved Britain’s first ‘Silver C’ qualification. In 1939 Geoffrey Stevenson achieved the first soaring flight across the English Channel, taking a winch launch from Dunstable in his Gull glider, landing in Northern France.

Cross-country gliding remains the centre of attention at Dunstable and we continue to set records and win prizes. LGC members currently hold 14 UK records, the more recent achievements include the UK Open Free Triangle and UK Open Triangle distance (837km - 2019), 750km Triangle speed (106kph - 2018), UK 750km Out & Return Speed (94kph - 2019), and the UK Free Distance record (1094km - 2018).

On any ‘soarable’ day you will find LGC pilots preparing their gliders, assessing the weather and planning the task for the day. We have appropriate briefing facilities, along with computing, wifi available across the whole airfield to enable pilots to use the most advanced meteorology and flight planning tools.

A ‘grid’ of 30 gliders or more is not unusual and as soon as conditions are right the grid launch takes priority over other airfield activities.

Normally a range of tasks are set, taking into account glider performance and pilot experience and ability. We often go as far afield as Devon, Wales, North Yorkshire, and the East Anglia coast. On the right day when the weather is just right a favourite trip is to go to the Isle of Wight, whilst not the longest trip from the club crossing to/from the island adds that bit more excitement to the flight.

The gliders tend to return at around the same time late in the afternoon, providing an exciting spectacle for the public enjoying the views from the top of the Downs.

The club provides training at all levels of cross-country flying, from the ‘Cross-country endorsement’, through to the ‘Silver Bage’ and beyond to the most advanced levels. We hold an annual Soaring Course, participate in the Interclub League, of course host the Dunstable Regionals competition as well as occasionally hosting National competitions.