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Bowland forest Gliding Club has owned its present 56 acre site since 1973, having previously operated from Squires Gate in Blackpool and Samlesbury Airfield. We are situated at the Southern tip of the Forest of Bowland (designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The local fells offer excellent soaring in most wind directions, with occasional wave an added bonus.We operate every Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the year, weather permitting. The following is an extract from our 'New Members' Handbook': A Very Brief History Of BFGCThe Blackpool and Fylde Gliding Club was formed by Jack Aked in 1950, at Blackpool Airport (Squires Gate). The club remained there until 1965 when gliding became incompatible with the increasing level of power flying. Luckily British Aerospace provided a solution and the club moved to Samlesbury. The gliders were kept on site in trailers and had to be de-rigged at the end of each day, unless permission was given to keep the gliders in a hangar, usually alongside a Canberra, over Saturday night.The arrangement at Samlesbury was always subject to continued permission from BAe and to guarantee security and continued development of the club, it was important that we owned a site. It was well known by the officials of the club that the Bowland fells would provide good soaring and a site within gliding range of the hills was sought. Eventually a retiring farmer was found whose farm was in a location that gave gliding access to South, East and Westerly hill faces - a rare opportunity! Trial flights were made using a portable winch and scaffolding poles to guide the winch cable over hedges, Keith Emslie who is still instructing with us, had the honour of being the first to soar the hills on October 1st 1967. Planning Permission was eventually obtained and in 1971 the site was purchased with the help of interest flee loans from members. The work then started. The depressions that can still be seen on the field used to be hedges which were removed and the ditches drained and filled by members who travelled over from Samlesbury as working parties. The club has progressed immeasurably since that day. We all owe a lot to the elder members of the club who gave us the foundations on which to build a first rate gliding club. In 1993, having recently lost planning permission for aerotow, we decided to reinforce our link with the area by changing the club name to reflect our geographic location - hence the present name, Bowland Forest Gliding Club. The club has a great future. We are seen as being an important asset both by the British Gliding Association and the Sports Council who have assisted with our development over the years. We will continue to introduce people to the sport of gliding and provide training to the highest standard; we are also committed to the development of solo flying from the club. More pilots every year enjoy the thrill of flying cross country and club records are continually being broken. Development efforts continue with improvements to winches, aircraft and buildings. All this is possible through the efforts of members. The progress is tremendously exciting - you are invited to be a part of it. |
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