Talgarth, Wales - 29.5.09

Talgarth - Home of the Black Mountain Gliding Club

Yet another new airfield for me. I stopped here late in the afternoon just as they were packing up the gliders and getting a BBQ ready. Friendly reception and permission granted to wander around once I had asked.

Europa G-DLCB minus propeller was built in 1996

Piper Pa-25-235 Pawnee G-AZPA - many of these old ag-planes found new life a glider tugs - this example was built back in 1970 and arrived at Talgarth for glider duties in 1982

This airfield is set in a very lovely location right at the foot of the Black Mountains - I'm told these offer excellent soaring conditions making Talgarth one of the best gliding locations in the UK. The club house facilities look in excellent condition too.

G-DEGZ two seater Schleicher ASK 21 this example built in 1980

G-DDVY Schempp-Hirth Cirrus c/n 52 is 40 years old being built in 1969

SZD 51-1 Junior G-CFHF c/n W-952 was one of the last examples to be built at the SZD Wroclaw factory - production continued at Bielsko-Biala

Altogether on this visit I logged 2 aircraft and 15 gliders.

Click Here to visit the Black Mountains Gliding Club website

Halesland, Somerset - 10.5.09

Halesland airfield is high up on top of the Mendip Hills in Somerset. It's not a particularly busy airfield but it is a lovely setting.



Slingsby T 50 Skylark 4 BGA 1019 coded "BKA" - this glider was built in 1962 and is exempt from taking up one of the new CAA "G-" registrations. Behind is based tug Scheibe SF25C Falke G-KWAK.



G-CFTN is a Schleicher K8B built in 1961 and operated in Germany as D-8539 before being imported into the UK in 1989 becoming BGA 3515 - this is based at Halesland with the Mendip Gliding Club.


External Link to The Mendip Gliding club website

Halesland airfield - Sat 20.9.08

This grass airstrip is my local airfield - it is high up on the Mendip Hills about 6 miles West of Wells, just north of the village of Draycott.

Since my last visit many of the resident gliders have now applied CAA "G-........" registrations - outside on this beautiful afternoon were,


Slingsby T 50 Skylark BGA 1019 coded "BKA" - this old glider is exempt from having a "G-....." registration.



G-CFVC is a Schleicher AS K13 formerly BGA 3550 owned by resident Mendip Gliding Club


G-CJAR coded "P3" is a Schempp Hirth Discs BT - this lovely glider has a pop up sustainer engine to maintain flight if needed - seen here being washed prior to dismantling into a trailer. The pilot tells me he operates this glider from both here and Usk in South Wales.


The hanger had 2 gliders and one Fournier motorglider ( G-AVWY ) - this is Schleicher K8B G-DDOY formerly BGA 2307 - this is based and belongs to Mendip Gliding Club. Note that the tailcode of "DOY" was previously "DQY" when it operated as a BGA glider.