2025: A record year for the club
2025 was a year of club members and the club itself achieve record performances.
The club has been rated as one of the top five gliding clubs for growth in the UK last year. The is reflected by 19 new members joining the club last year, our best performance so far.
Freddie Turner in July at 26 years old, become the youngest UK pilot to fly 1,000 kilometres in one flight (1007.6k at 98.3 kph average speed) and put him at the top of the British Gliding Association ladder.
Navboys interview with Freddie can be found with this link https://youtu.be/er0ipglYDjs?si=0qV6aozEOVVRdVW_
Jordan Johnson, another club member and a junior, managed a difficult 750 kilometre flight along the South Coast. Jordan has been top of the British Gliding Association’s Junior Ladder and awarded the prestigious Phil Lever trophy as “Most Promising Junior Pilot”.
Placeholder photo until Jordan supplies another
John Scott is one of our Power Pilots. In 2025 he entered a flying completion called ……. .
John’s lovely “DOTY” being refuelled.
Lee Balthazor, another Power Pilot, continued his work with the Royal Aeronautical Society to encourage diversity within flying. The programme brings together young people aged 6-19 to design, develop and build a real-life mobile flight simulator which will travel to Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) schools and public events around the UK to introduce people from all backgrounds to the wonder of flight.
Paul Kaye, treasurer at the club, also aimed for long distance tasks, demonstrating just how far our members go around the country from Bidford.
Temporary phot of Paul Kaye until supplied with alternative
The club would not function without the help of some dedicated club members. Whilst many members assist, the core work is delivered by Allan Wallace, Allan Bain, Chris Morris and Barry Kerby. These members keep the gliders, buildings and facilities maintained in cold and difficult conditions to ensure we have a working fleet of 5 club gliders for both students and approved pilots.
