Vintage Glider Club

The Vintage Glider Club was founded at Husbands Bosworth in 1973 by half a dozen members originally wit

h the aim of preserving, in airworthy condition, all the remaining pre-war gliders in the UK. Within a very short time that aim was extended to post war gliders such as Slingsby Tutors and T.21s and has eventually included ‘classic’ gliders from the 1960’s. In the ever increasing ‘plastic’ world of gliding where wood and fabric was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain these aims struck a chord elsewhere and so the Vintage Glider Club went International.

As of 2004 the Vintage Glider Club has over 1000 members in over 30 countries with the responsibility of holding nearly 800 gliders in their care. Ranging from Austria to Zimbabwe and Abbott-Baynes to Zlin. The International standing of the Vintage Glider Club was recognised in 2002 with the award of the F.A.I.’s Pirat Gehriger Diploma to our President, Chris Wills.

Today the Vintage Glider Club offers various services to it’s members. It produces a high-quality colour magazine 2/3 times a year distributed to every member. This is the main formal contact point for members where news and information is disseminated. There are regular articles on maintenance and preservation, as well as historical features full of photos and drawings from years gone by. An excellent magazine, worth reading in it's own right. Readers are invited to contribute articles of interest and historical value.

Each year the Vintage Glider Club holds rallies and meetings in several countries, allowing owners, pilots, modelers and enthusiasts hands-on access to a large variety of vintage and Classic gliders. There are usually at least half a dozen in the UK each year at various sites, some of which have become regular fixtures. The UK National Rally is deliberately moved around each year, this year's was at Husbands Bosworth. Likewise the International Rally goes to a different Country each year. Clubs wishing to host the events should contact the VGC Rally Secretary. An average of 25-30 gliders attend the National Rally with perhaps 60-70 attending the International Rally. Numerous Vintage and Oldtimer Clubs have evolved from the initiative shown in 1973. Most of these Clubs are associated to the VGC which is the International focal point.

The website is  increasingly useful in attracting new members. These members vary in age and are from all sectors of aviation. The VGC is a focal point for technical information. There is a Technical Secretary on the Committee and we have a technical representative who attends British Gliding Association meetings on our behalf.

The VGC hold a large archive of Manufacturers drawings and plans, which are in the process of being transferred to microfiche for future reproduction. (We hold drawings for virtually the entire Slingsby line up to the T.31 for instance). As well as photographs from the earliest days of gliding. We hold a database of all our gliders, which includes historical and technical details. Our Sales Department offers ‘branded’ merchandise, books, videos and reprints of technical articles as well as back copies of the magazine.

The Vintage Glider Club is open to all – owners, pilots, enthusiasts and modelers. Young and old. With today's knowledge it is amazing what can be achieved with these old gliders. It is low cost and fun. The growth of the Club Class competitions illustrates this, some of them actually qualify as Classic gliders now.

The primary aim of the VGC is to promote the international preservation, restoration and flying of historical, vintage and classic gliders. This naturally means the VGC needs to locate, collect and preserve documents and artifacts connected with gliding.

Please help and why not join us as well. Associate membership is available to those who wish to support the activities of the club, and all full, associate  and potential members are very welcome at the numerous Rallies. Membership is only £20 a year, though donations towards the running costs of the club are always gratefully received.

Visit the Vintage Glider Club website

Photos - Vintage Glider Club