A CLUB REVIEW OF 2024
The momentum of 2023 continued into 2024 with the on-going popularity amongst our young service population of getting into the air through the Mechanics Endowment Fund (MEF) and Go-Solo funded programmes. However, we could not have imagined the impact that the weather and the RAF Shawbury runway resurfacing programme would have in the latter part of the year on the overall number of flying days. By comparison with 2023, the impact was a reduction of 26% in launches and 29% in flying hours. Stiil, some 38 MEF gliding bursary students flew with us during the year.
During the year we said farewell to Club Oic Kev Morley. We wish Kev well and thank him for his support as he hung up his boots and retired to fly with Cranwell GC.
In his place as Club OiC we extended a warm welcome to RAF Shawbury based Franki Kuwan. Whilst Franki is not an active member of the gliding community he is a keen sportsman and lifelong Arsenal Fan, with football and volleyball being his main sports. His role as OC SSS is well placed to look after our interests.
JANUARY
As we stepped into January, we welcomed Matthew Cook a, “New to RAF Shawbury Gliding Club” Full Cat, who has been flying from the Long Mynd. Matthew is also a member of the (in)famous “Tin Shed” syndicate.
The first named storm of the year, Storm Henk, barrelled in. Luckily we only caught the back end of the storm but once in the air the extensive flooding of the Severn was all too evident
A big well done to Amelia who, flying with Ian, converted to KE, our variable pitch prop version of the Falke.
The RAF Central Fund sponsored Mechanics Endowment Fund (MEF) continued to attract young service personnel from RAF Cosford and, since the move to RAF Shawbury, has also attracted Phase 2 trainees from the Battle Space Management and Aircrew Aviators (on hold) area; they too have an appetite to understand aviation first-hand and to develop their understanding of this fascinating environment.
January also saw the club enjoy the first Wave flights of the season with Wave to 7,000ft which the majority were able to enjoy…….
……that is with the exception of #vulcanbomber who landed out where, quite by sheer luck, the 10,000 odd free-range chickens had got wind of his impending arrival and all done an Ardman-style Chicken Run.
FEBRUARY
February saw almost all flying days either cancelled or scrubbed early due to rain and showers on the day.
Frustrating for all, none more so than Jack trying to complete the Bronze syllabus, who was reduced to making paper aeroplanes!
Also frustrating for our next cohort of MEF students but this is the time when the TMG comes into its own, with its ability to continue to be used to consolidate training whilst dodging the showers.
MARCH
Yet more rain but this is where, for our MEF gliding bursary students, the simulator comes into play.
Thankfully the weather improved for a visit by local BBC reporter Chris Steer from BBC Shropshire, to do a radio/television/podcast about the club and especially Amelia Richardson, her quest for the skies and her success in her achievements to date at such a young age.
We were delighted to provide a stand at RAF Cosford’s FIT4Life. With Ian, John and Alun on hand to answer Qs it was a great way to generate interest in the MEF gliding bursary programme.
APRIL
The start of April saw us show off our ground-breaking STEM initiative with completion of the first autonomous aerotow launch using a Mosraptur Mankΐni2 UAS. The combined accuracy of the aircraft’s operating parameters and meteorological mapping has seen a dramatic increase in aerotow efficiency and reduced the time on tow.
Notable visitors included the Ex-Dear Leader, currently exiled to the US, who popped in on day release.
Many of our MEF students were able to enjoy trips to 6,000ft in R22 and R35 in a Wave bar fixed along the axis Shrewsbury – Telford following the A5/M54. A fantastic experience for them all except for……
……Laura who wasn’t going up!
While some were making the best of variable weather conditions in the UK, others were swanning it in the French Alps on the RAFGSA Exped Parcours Combattants. Five club members attended the exped, including former MEF student Connor who went solo in 2023 and completed his first mountain experience in 2024. Well done Connor.
Some challenging and fantastic flying in the French Alps and if you get a chance when you must grab the opportunity.
MAY
It’s always super to see our young pilots progressing and in May Shawbury based MEF gliding bursary student Kieran was sent solo and later converted to the single seat ASK18. Super job Kieran.
Congratulations were in order too for Laura, who became our newest BI.
Meanwhile, flushed with bragging rights on his return from Sisteron, Connor successfully converted a single seater……
…….and, as a newfound Dad, Will found his work life balance compromised!
JUNE
The start of meteorological Summer saw Colin confirmed as our newest Full Cat……
……and Chris qualified as another club BI at Shawbury. Well done both.
We were into the aerobatics season. First we watched Laura and Ian practicing their respective aerobatics routines over the airfield, Laura in prep for her first aerobatics comp and Ian for the Cosford Air Shaw.
And then it was the 2024 RAF Cosford Air Show. The weather was not brilliant but Ian gave his usual accomplished display, albeit modified because of the light rain. On the ground we were delighted to have the BGA simulator, always a great pull for the younger generations.
JULY
July saw the start of the airfield refurbishment programme. Whilst the signs of the work on all hard surfaces at Shawbury were evident around us they had, as yet, no impact at all on flying.
The Ex-Dear Leader popped his head above the parapet and gave us an update on his US posting – a lot of Swanning around sitting on the porch, flying with a local gliding club and not a lot of work!
Connor maintained his high profile and got super excited at getting a mention in RAF News
Our MEF gliding bursary programme continued at pace, attracting more students than we could manage from both RAF Cosford and RAF Shawbury – and all thanks to the RAF Central Fund for their continued support.
And congratulations were due to Charlie McNab, one of our MEF gliding bursary students who was sent solo by Norm.
Laura’s aero practice throughout the year all paid in off in her first aerobatics competition, The Saltby Open, held at Buckminster Gliding Club in Lincolnshire. Laura had entered the Club Class, which serves as a starter for those getting into aerobatic competition for the first time, and came first in her class wining the BAeA Club Class plaque.😍😍😍Brilliant.
Congrats to Rob who converted to the single seat Astir R66…….
…….and to Paul Sutton #MASHcutter who, flying with surgical precision, was sent solo by instructor Matthew Cooke
AUGUST
Laura continued her aerobatics progress and it was many congrats on being awarded her BGA Aerobatic Sports Badge after a super routine over the airfield,
We always enjoy supporting the annual RAF Shawbury Families Day, it’s a great event and one to which we always look forward. This year John Luke drove the tug, whilst Ian gave his usual impressive display in R22. On the ground, Amelia provided the commentary.
Some great weather in August allowed more of our MEF Gliding bursary students to enjoy some local soaring.
Fantastic to see such enthusiastic youngsters coming through the system and August saw us host a visit by Air Cadets from Essex Wing on their Annual Camp at RAF Shawbury. Club Oic (and drill pig!🤣) WO Kev Morley scored the their Drill Competition whilst Colin covered all thing aeronautical.
SEPTEMBER
A super blog by Vicky, one of our MEF bursary students funded by the RAF Central Fund, is worth a read ……@ https://www.rafshawburygc.co.uk/blog/hm5uh1nbim9dlny1igfafrclb8igja
…as there are common themes that are reflected by our fantastic MEF students, all of whom want to fly.
It was at the end of September that another cohort of young MEF bursary students got their chance to fly in Wave, a fantastic experience. Sadly, we had to limit flight times in order to get everyone up the super conditions.
OCTOBER
October saw our newly arrived Duo-Discus (R2) out on the airfield for the first time and it was kept fully occupied with instructor checks. Amazing conspicuity with its red-flashing anti-collision lights. In the hazy and dull conditions these lights were, at one stage, the only glimpse we got of R2 at High Key.
A big well done to Jack who persevered with his training and achieved his Bronze badge. Top job Jack
Apart from thise highlights, October was a washout with a succession of weather affected flying days ending with Storm Ashley.
On the airfield the first signs of the increased pace of the Airfield Operating Surfaces (AOS) project were becoming evident as various parts of the airfield were shut down, although with so much grass there had still been no impact on the flying programme.
NOVEMBER
With the AOS project at full chat all flying at Shawbury was temporarily suspended, pending the completion of an updated Safety Assessment of Change (SAoC). However, this did not stop us flying with a number of members flying further afield at Denbigh, the Mynd and Seighford.
It was with many thanks to Matthew Cooke who arranged a club day with the Midland Gliding Club (The Myndies😁). Sadly, the ridge was not working but in a short flying window a number of club members were able to rekindle their skills in the lost art of winch launching. A great day out and many thanks Matthew.
Interesting contrast in Hangar stacking! 🤓
We sent our Duo-Discus (R2) to Denbigh for a week where members could fly under the watchful eye of Norm Potts. Fantastic venue but the longed-for Wave conditions never really happened, so from time to time we hired Lleweni Parc’s Grob 109B
DECEMBER
As concerns began to be raised about the long term viability of the club, thanks to a great deal of hard work behind the scenes the updated SAoC was accepted by RAF Shawbury and our flying programme recommenced on 22 December – or it would have done had the weather played ball. However, it did provide an opportunity for a detailed ground recce to ensure that tug pilots and instructors understood the impact on launch points and the routes from Hangar 4. Vital in an aero-tow only operation, Engine Failure After Take-Off (EFATO)/Power Loss After Take-Off (PLATO) options were all expansively explained by Colin.
Our last flying day in 2024 was on 29 Dec 24 after an eleven week pause and the weather gods were looking on us kindly. In this phase of the AOS project we had 2,000fft of r’way 18/36 and acres of grass to work with. It was a good trial of our revised procedures before we up the tempo and welcome our first 2025 cohort of young MEF bursary students.
WHAT WILL 2025 BRING?
We have a full programme to meet the demands of our young MEF gliding scholarship aviators.
The Airfield Operating Surfaces (AOS) programme is scheduled to last until October 25 and judging by our initial experience it will be challenging, but we are optimistic that all the hard work done to get the updated SAoC accepted the impact on our flying programme will be minimal.
We have a busy schedule of training for our permanent members to ensure that we continue to see progression for them.
The club have already booked a week at Lleweni Parc in March. Some members will be selected for the RAFGSA Exped Parcours Combattants in April/May 2025 and we will be participating in the Inter-services Regional Gliding Competition to be hosted at Middle Wallop in July 2025.