Congratulations to Derren Francis (Ventus 3TS, Banbury GC), the 2025 18m National Champion! You can view the full results here.

There are several SFCL related FAQs available here for pilots, instructors and CFIs. The FAQs will be updated as required.

A French report following an accident involving a powered aeroplane taking off alongside a winch launch is a reminder of an inherent risk on some airfields and the need for proactive mitigation. You can read the French BEA report in English here. 

Whilst UK airspace is safe, the UK airspace structure is recognised as being inefficient. In addition, new airspace users such as drones need to be accommodated. As previously reported, a Government directed Airspace Modernisation Strategy (AMS) aims to redevelop UK airspace. The BGA has updated its published guidance on airspace…

A reminder that the operator of Chalgrove airfield advises that: Operation. The airfield is owned by Martin Baker and is used by the company to test and evaluate ejector seats. Associated with this there can be fast jets (usually a meteor), ground-based ejector test rigs firing seats upwards and associated…

We’re delighted to report that on the 3rd July 2025,  Liz Sparrow flew an ASG29e over 752.1 kms at 92.4kph and in doing so set the UK feminine Open and 20m class 600km and 750km speed records, and the UK feminine Open and 20m class triangle distance records.

The final race has taken place at the 23rd FAI European Gliding Championships in the 18m, Two-seat, and Open classes at Békéscsaba in Hungary. An awesome performance by Matt Davis, who took the Bronze medal in the 18m class flying a JS3! You can view the results here.  

The final race has been flown at the Women’s World Gliding Championship at Zbraslavice in the Czech Republic. You can view the results here.    

Congratulations to the 2025 National Champion in the Club Class, James Ewence! James, who flies with the Bristol and Gloucestershire GC, competed in a Discus. You can view the competition results here.  

This is a reminder about a useful engineering article by former-LAA chief engineer Francis Donaldson describing Rotax 9-series powerplants. You can view the article here.