Kingston Deverill - The Park 6.12.09

At last we had some blue skies, so I managed to get out to visit the gliding airfield at Kingston Deverill known as "The Park", just south of Warminster.

The airfield is home to The Bath, Wilts and North Dorset Gliding Club - a friendly chat with club members gave permission to access their hanger area.


G-DFLL SZD 9 Bis Bocian 1D c/n F-877 painted in a very warm red colour scheme. This Bocian was built at SZD Krosno in Poland back in 1965 and was originally delivered to Finland as OH-KBP before becoming OH-336. In 1988 it was imported into the UK and became BGA 3345 "FLL". With the CAA now administering glider restrigrations it became G-DFLL in September 2009. Perhaps the best looking Bocian in the UK. The clubs Piper Pawnee G-BUXY can be seen in the background.



The club also operate G-DCEB a SZD 9 Bis Bocian 1E - the 1E version has a sprung center wheel which is better suited for the heavy landings it encounters as a training glider. This Bocian is c/n P-433 and was built at SZD Jezow in Poland in 1968. It was exported to the UK in 1968 and became BGA 1474 "CEB".

The club has two other Bocians which are not currently airworthy - BGA 2034 "DDN" and BGA 4090 "HPH" stored dismantled in their hanger.





G-DBNH Schleicher Ka 6CR c/n 6115 is a single seat glider used by club members. This example was built in 1963 and was sold to the UK as BGA 1098 "BNH" and became G-DBNH in July 2008.


G-CJAZ Grob G102 Astir Jeans c/n 2073 was built in Germany in 1975 as D-7586. It was imported in the UK in 1997 and became BGA 4371 "JAZ" and became G-CJAZ in 9.08.


External Link below to The Bath, Wilts and North Dorset Gliding Club website

http://www.bwnd.co.uk/

Poland - Radom Piastow airfield

The airfield at Radom Piastow ( EPRP ) is approx 6 miles North West of Radom city. This grass airfield is home to the local Aeroklub Radomski operating both aircraft and gliders. In addition there are also some privately owned aircraft too.

There is small elegant clubhouse that includes a cafe open to the public. Permission was granted to walk over to most of the hangers during my visit on 28.8.09.

SP-ZUD PZL M-18 Dromader recently repainted into this bright yellow c/s, this aircraft was built in 1983 and is used for aerial fire fighting.

SP-KMC Cessna 182Q Skylane was built in 1978 and imported into Poland in 2001 from German as D-EVER

SP-FRK PZL Koliber 150 was built in 1984 as SP-ARK a Koliber 110 - it became SP-FRK in 1989 and was converted to 150 standard in 1993

SP-AFM PZL 104 Wilga 35A was built in 1982 and delivered to the Polish Aeroklub. I've seen it active at Radom Piastow in 1997 and 2000 - now it looks in need of some attention

SP-SMWD Ekolot JK-05 Junior a Polish built ultralight being pushed back into a small private hanger

SP-ACM Extra 300L c/n 48 was built in 1997

SP-KGK Cessna 152 dismantled inside the Aeroklub glider hanger - this aircraft was built in 1977 and was imported to Poland from Germany as D-EDLN in 2005

SP-3038 SZD 9Bis Bocian 1E two seat trainer was built in 1976

SP-2503 SZD 30 Pirat was the second Pirat to be built ( in 1966 ) and is now the oldest remaining example of this singe seat design after the prototype ( SP-2502 ) was destroyed in 1966. Based with Aeroklub LOT.

In total I logged 36 aircraft and gliders at Piastow of which 18 were gliders. Two private hangers on the Western side of the club housewere not accessed.