January 2026 - Normal Service to be Resumed
As we look forward to resuming normal service it’s worth looking back at the challenges that the Club faced in 2025 during the RAF Shawbury Airfield Operating Surfaces (AOS) project. Our flying was temporarily suspended for an eight week period in late 2024 pending the completion of an updated Safety Assessment of Change (SAoC). It was with thanks to all for the hard work behind the scenes that our revised SAoC was accepted by RAF Shawbury and that our flying programme recommenced on 22 December 2024.
During the initial phases of the AOS programme we were able to successfully operate from the southern part of runway 18/36 but then as the work progressed we were confined to the grassed areas of the airfield and although the ground was unsuitable for aerotowing in the early months of 2025, fortunately we were able to make good use of our two motor gliders.
Once the ground dried out and the grass started to be cut we restarted aerotowing, albeit with a reduced launch rate as evident in the stats. However, the launch rate fell even further as both weather and ground conditions worsened towards to end of 2025.
Despite the challenges of an aerotow operation only launching off grass, 2025 was not without a few notable successes.
The “Two Harrys”, Harry C and Harry M went solo, our last solo pilots who flew off the hard runnway. Cosford based, both started their gliding journeys through our MEF gliding scholarship programme before progressing to the RAFGSA Go-Solo scheme.
CFI Ian Gallacher was awarded a Royal Aero Club Award Certificate of Merit in recognition of his service to the causes of aviation in general and sporting aviation in particular. Top Job Ian and many congratulations
We ran a highly successful Women and Inclusivity in Gliding (WinG) Day when we were super excited to welcome ten ladies for an immersive day including ground and safety briefs and also simulator sessions for some before our visitors went flying. A fantastic day.
We all got used to seeing Laura performing her aeros over the airfield as she completed the assessment for her Aerobatic Instructor endorsement. All credit to her and many congratulations on being awarded the RAFGSA Lyne Trophy for the best female achievement in the past year and also on being nominated as a team member by British Aerobatics for the World Championships in Fayence, France in 2026.
In July one club member went to try his luck in Scotland. Ian and the Airborne Pyrotechnics team took a round Britain trip.
In August our highly successful RAF Central Fund sponsored Mechanics Endowment Fund (MEF) Gliding Bursary Programme saw the 100th student take control and pilot an RSGC aircraft at RAF Shawbury. It is probably true to say that it is up there with the best of any UK introduction to gliding programme and the cheapest way to get hands on flying. What was more remarkable was that the crew of two, AR Rebecca Hall and instructor AR Bradley Lefley Kemp are both in training at RAF Cosford.
We successfully made the transition to the new SFCL licencing arrangements and have updated our Orders and Responsibilities.
And we managed to continue flying despite having to vacate H4 for a two week period for the for the Station 75th Anniversary activities. Hard work and hope we don’t have to do that again too soon.
Looking Forward
As the club nears the end of ops from the grass, our current planning sees our first day of flying on the runways scheduled for Sun 11 Jan 26. This will be a day for Club members only and no visitors, with a focus on:
A tour of the airfield aimed at re-familiarising members with runway ops, the new airfield signs, etc.
Check flights for those members who require them.
There will be a discounted rate for a second and subsequent launches to catch up with recency and currency.
Please support and be patient as we transition back to normal ops and thanks to Club members for keeping the faith during the year. We wish you all the best for 2026 and hope that you will enjoy a successful year’s gliding and soaring once again over beautiful Shropshire.
