Oxford Gliding Club

10/08/2026

Camping weekend at Oxford Gliding Club

A fantastic weekend! A few club members staying overnight during the weekend.

A special thank you to Geoff J, Peter B and everyone else who helped make the weekend such a success. A well done to Theo, who converted to the Astir!

02/08/2026

Well done, OUGC member, Finlay, for going solo yesterday! Pictured with instructor Barry.

16/07/2026

This week, we meet Jade Kosche.

What got you into gliding?: Seeing my friend Tejo gliding first sparked my interest. He was my college mentor at Wolfson during my first year of my DPhil, and I was always curious about it. After I got back from a year of fieldwork, we reconnected, he introduced me to gliding properly, and I decided to give it a go. I've been hooked ever since.

Favourite gliding memory?: Definitely my first flight. There's nothing quite like that moment when you're thinking, "What have I got myself into? " Then the cable releases and suddenly you're just floating. It was equal parts serene and thrilling, and I knew I wanted to keep flying.

Fun fact: I've lived in seven countries (the US, Honduras, Cambodia, Israel, the UK, Lesotho, and Switzerland) and speak five-ish languages.

Next gliding goal?: Going solo!

10/07/2026

Well done, Turan!

Turan Turan scored 400.99 points in 5h 13min in a Mosquito.

06/07/2026

Well done, Jim, who went solo yesterday!

03/07/2026

Pilot profile: This week, we meet Theo. Another one of our keen junior members.

- What got you into gliding?: I first learnt and heard about gliding in RAFAC. I was trying to get some experience in aviation and do some flying and I was told about Oxford Gliding Club. I did my first flight in a T21 and since then I have been completely hooked on it.

- Favourite gliding memory: One of my most memorable flights was around 3 weeks after I had soloed. I was flying in EGZ for my 3rd flight of the day. At the time I hadn’t had much experience soaring and my height record was only 3000ft. As soon as I was off of the launch, I found a 6 knot thermal that took me to 2500ft and then found even better lift just over Weston on the green village that got me to 4800ft. I was able to prove to myself that I can actually soar!

- Fun fact: I hope to become a commercial pilot for BA one day.

- Next gliding goal?: I want to get my spl before Christmas and do a lot of cross country flying in summer 2027.

19/06/2026

Paul Smith posted this pic during the recent Oxford Gliding Club expedition to Serres, in the S French Alps.

19/06/2026

This week, we meet Ollie. He is one of our keen junior members.

- What got you into gliding?: I first heard about gliding after coming to the airfield with my dad for his trial flight when I was 9 and I decided that I wanted to try it.

- Favourite gliding memory: One of my favourite gliding memories was when me and Mike Randle went for a flight and we got to about 5500ft and we did loads of loops and chandelles and other aerobatics which was incredible.

- Fun fact: I have wanted to become a pilot since I was about 3 or 4.

- Next gliding goal: I would like to get my SPL by the end of the summer.

12/06/2026

Pilot Profile - Jess Dudzik

This week, we meet Jess Dudzik! She's an ordinary member of the committee and the junior lead.

- What got you into gliding?: I've been brought up around gliding and the club since early 2015 when I was 6 years old when my dad and my sister started to fly. I had my first flight at 7 in January 2016. I made a few flights, which led me to joining the club in September 2021 as a junior when I was 13.

- Favourite gliding memory: There's too many to choose from. It would be just being around at the club and getting involved in what I can, and always being able to talk to anyone, no matter what.

- Fun fact: I used to have a teddy bear named Oscar that would come out to the club with me when I was younger. Even he made a few flights!

- Next gliding goal?: Complete my silver badge! I've currently got my height, but need to complete my 5 hours and 50km.

05/06/2026

Pilot Profile - George Barrett

This week, we meet George Barrett! He's 28 and is the 3rd generation Barrett pilot. He hopes one day his girls will make the 4th at OGC.

- What got you into gliding?: I inherited the bug from my grandad Graham who's been a member of the club for many years. Had my first flight around 7 with the legendary Carole who has decided to rejoin the club. As soon as I was 13, I started to learn how to fly officially and thanks to the new law change of the solo age from 16 to 14, I went solo not long after my birthday. Making steady progress and converting to lots of different types. And starting my aerobatics journey. After a little break while joining the army and some other passions, I decided to come back to gliding nearly 3 years ago.

- Favourite gliding memory: I have too many great memories to choose one but my childhood at the gliding club I think stands out the most. Long days, cold days and just around great people. Last year, I managed to get into the K6E syndicate with Geoff and Haste, so look forward to a long future flying a beautiful vintage glider.

- Fun Fact: I'm the 3rd generation Barrett Pilot.

- Next gliding goal?: I'm currently working towards my advanced aerobatics certification and hoping to compete in the national championship at Saltby this August. This is something I've always wanted to do and one day be able to teach. Also trying to bring down the average age at the vintage gliding club by becoming a member of that, and going to a few rally's this year, a good way to get out and see lots of lovely old aircraft. If anyone expresses any interest in aerobatics, I'm always up for a chat.