Bannerdown Gliding Club, based on Keevil Airfield, will be hosting the Bannerdown Regional Gliding Competition including the Interservices Championships from 5-13 August. There will be approximately 45 competition sailplanes conducting cross country flights throughout the week, depending on the weather.
Throughout the week if you happen to look up you may see the fleet of gliders circling overhead as the pilots prepare to start the race, or see them cruising towards the finish line towards the end of the day. The gliders are launched in late morning or early afternoon using powered tug aircraft. This is completed in approximately 90 minutes and the gliders are released in different locations each day depending on the conditions and course that has been set.
During the week you might see competition crews with glider trailers arriving or leaving the airfield if they need to collect gliders that have landed away from site. You may also see more vehicles and caravans at the start and end of the week as pilots and their crews
arrive to stay at the airfield. All competition attendees will be specifically briefed on care when driving in the local area, villages and community. You can track the gliders’ progress online at Bannerdown Regional Gliding Competition 2023
You can find out more information about gliding as a sport and the competition through the club at www.bannerdown.co.uk or email the competition at comp_admin@bannerdown.co.uk.