Cranwell Gliding Club

The ASK-13 (K-13) has long been the training work horse of  many gliding clubs.  The K13 with its single piece canopy, provides good visibility,  it is easy to maintain and is well suited to club flying, it is likely to be around for many years to come. Cranwell Gliding Club uses this aircraft to complement its fleet of training aircraft.  It has often been said that you have to fly a K13, and it is ideal for both spin training and practice launch failures

The Astir CS is used at Cranwell as the first stage of progression into a single seat fibre glass aircraft.  It has good cross country performance, is well instrumented and robust.  The Astir CS is a delightful little aircraft to fly, together with a retractable undercarriage, powerful airbrakes and good soaring characteristics making it ideal for a first cross country attempt.

The ASK-18 (K-18), Its a lovely glider one of the most advanced wood & fabric single seaters made. These however were only built in small numbers due to the advent of fibre glass gliders such as the Astir.  The Astir came into production at a similar time, and in terms of contruction was more cost effective, thus superceding the K18.  The K18 is complimentry to our single seater fleet  and is a  very capable cross country aircraft with good soaring characteristics, good performance and it easy to fly.

 (Waiting for conditions to improve!)

The LS8 is Cranwell Gliding Club high performance solo glider. It is mainly used for competitions and long distance badge attempts.  The aircraft is a delight to fly in terms of comfort, performance and instrumentation, it gives pilots a real opportunity to pit their flying skills, against prevailing weather conditions or in a competition. It can be flown in either the standard class or open class configuration. 

(LS8 in 18m  mode)

The Discus is Cranwell's other high performance glass single seat glider, for the somewhat more experienced pilot, its powerful airbrakes and extremely good performance makes this and ideal aircraft for both cross country flying and competitions.  This aircraft has recently been refurbished and equipped with the latest set of instrumentation which should enable pilots to maximise its performance.

The Duo Discus is Cranwell Gliding Club's advanced two seater. Its primary purpose is to teaching cross country flying skills, however it may also be flown solo.  The Duo as it is called enables those pilots who want to improve their cross country techniques to fly with an experienced cross country instructor in order to improve their knowledge and skills in the development of efficient soaring techniques, navigation and use of the instrumentation.  The club's Duo is has good cross country performance and on soarable days can usually be found flying a task.  Readers may note that a two seater Duo Discus was used in the 1999 film The Thomas Crown Affair.

The ASK-21 (K-21) is a primarily designed as a basic instruction two seat fibre glass training glider. The aircraft has good stable flying characteristics that will introduce the ab initio pilot to their very first solo flight.  It can also be used for aerobatics, this year Cranwell's K21 was one of the glider pair that made up the team providing the glider aerobatics display at the RAF Waddingtom Air Show. It is capable of flying cross country (having glide ratio around 33:1). Whenever Cranwell is flying this glider is usually to be found on the field or soaring above it.

(K21 being winch launched)

This is Nottingham Universities two seat trainer, the glider is usually very busy during university term time, especially just after the start of autumn term, but is available to Cranwell members (Uni students generally get priority for this glider ). It is similar to the K21 in providing basic training.

This is Nottingham Universities single seater glider. The Skylark 2 is a nice little aircraft, which in its heyday many of todays "older pilots" will have achieved a considerable number of badge claims.  It was given to the University on the condition that it is passed (When they have finished with it) on in order to promote the sport of gliding.  While by modern standard it is not the highest of performers the Skylark is still well within bounds of those who are seeking to complete their Silver Badge, as well as being easy to maintain and insure.