This year’s annual Air League Flying Day at Bicester proved to be a great success with a massive improvement in numbers from previous years.  Over 40 glider launches were carried out, allowing every young member to have at least one flight with some even having two. With glorious weather and an abundance of thermals, average flight times were in the region of thirty minutes, allowing young Air League members to really get some hands-on time.

The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of Windrushers Gliding Club who facilitated the day. Also on hand were instructors from the Upward Bound Trust and together they provided over six instructors which ensured the day ran smoothly. A range of gliders were flown during the day, including the legendary Slingsby T21 Sedbergh, a glider which was a lot older than the average age in attendance!

Towards the end of the day, the Twister Duo made an appearance. One of the newest air display acts on the airshow circuit, the two single seat composite kit aircraft provided a fantastic aerial finale to a fantastic day. The weather stayed strong throughout the whole day, and on into the evening, providing a glorious backdrop to the legendary Bicester barbeque where young members had the chance to exchange flying stories in a relaxed atmosphere, whatever their level of experience.

Thanks to the support from Today’s Pilot and Oxford Academy of Aviation, all those attending left with a ‘goody bag’ packed to the brim with aviation related books and pamphlets.

If you are a young flyer reading this and are not a member of the Air League, join now and take advantage of the many scholarships and bursaries available.