Nottingham University Gliding Club

Expeditions

NUGC organise several expeditions each year to different airfields around the country. We go to Portmoak in Scotland every year at Easter to sample the Scottish countryside and flying conditions, which can be amongst the best in the country. We also make an appearance at the Inter University Gliding Competition in the summer, and will probably organise a couple more throughout the year.

Portmoak

Each Easter, NUGC visits Portmoak airfield, which is about 20 minutes drive North of Edinburgh, on the shores of Loch Leven. The airfield is situated near 2 ridges - the Bishop hill, which faces West, and Benarty hill, which faces North. If the wind is blowing towards these hills, they will generate lift, which can be used to stay up for hours, giving much longer flights than you might have enjoyed before.

Portmoak also experiences wave coming from the Scottish highlands in the right conditions, which can be used to gain more height than the ridges or thermals will let you.

Several other clubs, both university and otherwise usually join us for this trip, so it is also a fantastic opportunity to meet lots of people from other clubs, and of course plenty of socialising happens as well! We take our own gliders, including our 2-seater Acro for NUGC members to fly.

We normally send an email out on the mailing list about the Portmoak trip just after the Christmas break, so keep your eyes open if you want to come along.

Inter-University Gliding Competition

This is another week away that we usually make an appearance at. The inter-unis are a pretty fun week away, with a slight competitive element, but nothing too serious! Anyone can take part, whether you have never been before, or are already a national champion - there are points available for everything from learning landings to cross country flights, badge claims and aerobatics. The emphasis is definitely on having fun and getting some great flying done in the summer thermals, as well as socialising with all the other university clubs who turn up!

The location of the inter-unis changes year to year, but previous years have seen us travel to Sutton Bank and Pocklington in Yorkshire, Aston Down and Nympsfield in Gloucestershire and Lasham in Hampshire. A different university will take on the task of hosting it each year - Nottingham last hosted the competition in 2005 (at Sutton Bank) and 2001 (at Saltby).

Again, emails will go out about the inter-unis towards the end of the year, and it is usually held in the second half of July, or first half of August. We try to take our own gliders to this event as well, as well as using the fleet of the host club.

Other Expeditions

We also arrange a couple of smaller expeditions during the year, usually just a few days or a weekend away. Previous visits have taken us to Sutton Bank for their fireworks party, the Long Mynd for new year, and Bicester in Oxfordshire in the summer months. The inter-club league runs a series of mini competitions from May to July in our region (East Midlands), at 5 different airfields a year, which is also worth a trip to support Cranwell, or even fly in the competition for them.

What To Take

This is an attempt at an ultimate list of things to take on an expedition - built up and perfected over a few years. Obviously the requirements for a weekend away will be much less than a whole week or 9 days, so pack accordingly. There is also a chance that we have forgotten something important here - use your own judgement as well and don't forget anything important to you!