The Scottish Gliding Union (also known as the Scottish Gliding Centre) is the largest gliding club in Scotland. The body is based at Portmoak Airfield, Scotlandwell, KY13 9JJ.
Aircraft
The Scottish Gliding Union's fleet currently consists of:
- 2 Aeropro Eurofox tug aircraft (G-OSGU and G-OSGC)
- 3 Schleicher ASK 21 training gliders (G-CLOV “LOV,” G-OWAI “WA1” and “HPV”)
- 3 SZD-51 Junior single-seat gliders (“HHD,” “FFY” and “FUS”)
- 1 Glaser-Dirks DG-505 high performance glider (G-CEYC “5GC”)
- 1 Allstar SZD-54 Perkoz glider (“LZS”)
- 1 Grob G103c Twin III glider (“XH”)
Accidents
Tug aircraft overturned during landing
On 21 December 2020, G-OSGC, an Aeropro Eurofox tug aircraft operated by the Scottish Gliding Union was overturned during landing after providing its 5th aerotow of the day.
The aircraft was reportedly overturned due to soft terrain which caused it to “rapidly decelerate” before becoming inverted. [2]
There were no injuries and the aircraft has returned to service.
Glider crash during winch launch
On 4 September 2012, a Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3 glider, G-EENN, piloted by a 49-year-old off-duty air traffic controller crashed at Portmoak Airfield during a winch-launch after the pilot did not release the launch cable during a “wing-drop”.
After the aircraft's wing touched the ground, the aircraft cartwheeled down the airfield, fatally injuring the pilot. [3]
The British Gliding Association advises that pilots should immediately release from the launch cable if they cannot keep their aircraft's wings level. [4]
References
- ↑ "aircraft:start [Portmoak Pilot's Information and Airfield Manual]". pilots.scottishglidingcentre.co.uk. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ↑ "Incident Aeropro Eurofox 912(S) G-OSGC, 21 Dec 2020". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ↑ "Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3 glider, G-EENN, 4 September 2012". GOV.UK. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ↑ "Managing Flying Risk - Winch launching". Pilot & Club Info. Retrieved 19 June 2023.