5 years ago Dumfries & District Gliding Club had less than 10 members and
was struggling to keep flying.
Thanks to the enthusiasm and dedication of the members we have grown our
club to 50 members last year.
Imagination and links with local groups like the Air Museum have helped
enormously, A glider at the museum open day generated over 100 inquiries
and 30+ people arrived to fly during our flying week a few weeks later.
A can do attitude and a desire to share the FUN of flying, a welcoming
smile and an accommodating clubhouse culture attracts and keeps members
from 4 years of age to 78 years of age (everyone of whom has flown at some
point).
We flew 30 Girl Guide leaders as part of their centenary celebrations
(adding two members)
The Local Air Cadet group is also involved with the club and will we hope
generate junior members over the next year.

Do not get the wrong idea we do have our problems and have to work hard to
keep the culture right and the members on board but we have committed to
providing the opportunity for any and all to soar over our beautiful south
west of Scotland.
We built our club house from donated materials and the labour of our
members.
Our fleet is old, the youngest is a 1975 K13 supported by a K7 (just
refurbed by club members) and our single seaters are between 45 and 60
years old except for the chairman's LAK 17. but we can all fly to cloud
base, soar the ridge, find the thermal and hope for the wave.
Staying up for 35 minutes in minimal lift (max 0.3kts on the averager) is
a challenge and landing on our Nth/Sth strip in a westerly crosswind makes
for good pilots.
Who needs $150,000 planes or $20,000 on the panel to fly - 3 dials, a
stick and two pedals, a good pair of eyes and a sensitive seat will keep
you up for hours.
So get out there and fly, tell your friends (give them a flight for their
birthday) build relationships with schools and youth organizations and
show and tell what you do - even lawyers can be persuaded (take them up
and loop them sick if they aren't).
Life is too short to let the tyre on your glider go flat - get in the air
and take the world with you if you can.
Have a look at our club on:
http://dumfriesgliding.110mb.com/index.html
David Neilson
Dumfries & District GLiding Club