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 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.

Halesland - Sat 15.9.07

Halesland is my local airfield being about 8 miles or so from my home. It is situated high up on the Mendip Hills between Priddy and Cheddar near the village of Draycott.

Busy scene with ASK 13 "EPP" BGA 2845

Another ASK 13 is the all orange "FVC" BGA 3550

Halesland is primarily a glider airfield, home to the Mendip Gliding Club - in addition it is also home to two powered motorgliders.

Fournier RF4D is a single seat motor glider based at Halesland

Scheibe SF-25C Falke G-KWAK has been based since 2003 and can be used to tow gliders

Elegant Slingsby Skylark "BKA" BGA 1019 photographed from the car park area

There is a visitors car park which offers a complete view of all activity - no facilities for visitors but the clean hilltop fresh air is free and blows your cobwebs away !

If you are in the area there are two good pubs in nearby Priddy too for a refreshment break.