Congratulations Laura on selection for the 2026 British Aerobatics Glider Team
With only 5 years gliding experience, with her technical ability, her strong commitment to both the club and shared learning Laura is highly regarded by the club as one for the future.
Whilst flying her Pilatus B4 and also qualifying as a BI, it is her various aeros routines at RAF Shawbury both on the ground and overhead that that has captured our attention and that is such an inspiration to our young pilots. It has been a privilege to watch.
In 2024 Laura decided to challenge herself by entering her first aerobatics competition, The Saltby Open, held at Buckminster Gliding Club in Lincolnshire. The annual Saltby Open Aerobatic Competition took place 12-14 July and to our delight Laura won the BAeA Club Class plaque. Pushing herself further Laura then went on to compete in the Dan Smith comp later in the year
With her aeros training taken as far as it could be at Shawbury, Laura then went on to train at other clubs on higher performance aircraft better suited to aerobatics competitions and we are delighted that our aerobatics champ has taken her aeros to this next stage.
Laura has now been nominated as a team member by British Aerobatics from the squad of six high-potential pilots who have been training together this year in preparation selection for the World Championships in Fayence, France in 2026.
Left to right: Guy Westgate (Instructor), Neil Oakley, Laura Martin, Dan Weston, Alex Philips, Graham Saw (instructor), Phil Tooley, Simon Smith
image courtesy of https://www.aerobatics.org.uk/teams/glider
Top job Laura and many congratulations.