A meeting in August 1930 saw the establishment of the “Belfast Gliding & Aviation Club”, which later became the Ulster Gilding Centre that we know today.

Ours was one of the earliest clubs to be formed in the UK; the British Gliding Association itself only having been created in 1929. Our first glider was a Reynard primary trainer. The image below gives you the flavour of what early glider training looked like. Your first flight was also your first solo! Very different from today…

1931

14th March 1931 First flying meeting. Gliders hand launch by bungee.

First locations fields at Comber & Ballymiscaw then also at Clandeboye flights of just a few seconds. Activity moves to a larger area at Holestone, Doagh where they do hand launches & auto-tows (bungee attached to car via rope and pulley).

Reynard Primary trainer awaiting launch at Holestone Co Antrim 1931.

1932

Auto-tow from beach Minerstown; flights of 150sec.

Then 5 mins But no proper soaring yet. One or two landings in shallow water… July 1932 Operations tried at Benone Strand, Magilligan; ridge soaring now possible: 25mins.