20 December 2021 celebrates our first anniversary as the RAF Shawbury Gliding Club (RSGC).  It’s the day on which we aero-towed the fleet across and swapped the cramped, damp, dark environs of Cosford Hangar 12 for the warm, well-lit and dry conditions of Hangar 4 at RAF Shawbury.

Our arrival marked the end of a number of years of planning with RAF Shawbury by club members Nigel Readman and Alan Swan.  The planned move had not been taken lightly and not without some sadness.  Over the years many thousands of service personnel based at RAF Cosford have been introduced to the sport of gliding, the definitive experience in free flying.  However, a change to how the Tutors operated at RAF Cosford made the concurrent flying of RAF powered aircraft and gliders no longer viable; the opportunity to glide at RAF Cosford had become restrictive.  This impacted upon, amongst other things, the number of flying days, the volume of students and the opportunities for instructors to maintain their ratings.  Both operationally and financially the viability of the Club looked less than secure in the longer term.

The road move of vehicles, trailers and equipment took place on 9 December but the fly over had been delayed, partially as a result of Covid, but principally because a series of winter weather systems on successive December weekends had pushed back the date.  Eventually, with light winds and showers forecast the CFI, Ian Gallacher, gave the go-ahead and on a wet Sunday morning the first aircraft set off at 10:15

In anticipation of our arrival the launch point at RAF Shawbury had been set up on r’way 18………

…….which, despite the rain showers, all found easy to find……..

..……with the exception of R38, piloted by Nigel Readman which suddenly appeared, snotting overhead RAF Shawbury at c 80kts and seemingly heading for Sleap!

Nevertheless, by 14:00 all aircraft were on the ground, and all members of the RAF Cosford launch point party travelling by vehicle had also arrived.

Over the course of this year the club blog has highlighted the undoubted success of our first year at RAF Shawbury which has been a great accomplishment. We are all looking forward to the 2022 flying year and continuing that success.