Bowland Forest
BOWLAND FOREST: Gliding site (Aka CHIPPING and LOWER COCK HILL FARM)
Operated by: Bowland Forest Gliding Club
Notes: Pictures by the author taken in August 2016.
Note: It might appear, from this picture, that the pilot is initially taking-off askew to the runway. But, on closer inspection you will notice that in fact it is directly lined up with the winch which is clearly visible on the horizon.
Modern gliders are a revelation. Having flown a couple it almost defies belief how incredibly efficient they are. Indeed, I have flown circuits to land in exactly the same way I would fly a powered aircraft. And, these were in conditions of nil wind and where, under a thick overcast, no thermals existed. I strongly suspect that the two types pictured in detail fit exactly this description.
Location: The Bowland Forest is a large area very roughly centred 15nm NE of Preston; the gliding site is near Chipping in the SW corner
Period of operation: Since 1976 to -
SECOND SET OF PICTURES
Runway: 12/30 900 (Roughly with a 3 metre wide ‘centre-line’) grass
Note: In 2016 it was clear that a much wider landing area was available.
NOTES: It appears from the BFGC web-site that the Club was formed in the 1950s before moving here in 1976. Many years ago I made this note: I wonder if anybody can kindly inform me where they were based before - bearing mind that they may well have used several sites.
In August 2016, when calling in for a brief visit, I got the answers. It appears that the club was originally the Blackpool & Fylde Gliding Club operating from BLACKPOOL SQUIRES GATE. When that started to get busy they used both WARTON and SALMESBURY, both English Electric and later BAC (British Aircraft Corporation) sites.
However, with the 'writing on the wall' at both these sites it was decided to become independent, and the present day site at Lower Cock Hill Farm, just SW of Beacon Fell was chosen. By an odd coincidence, by changing their name to the Bowland Forest Gliding Club - their initials, BFGC - remained the same.
Neil Turner
This comment was written on: 2021-04-11 18:50:59In the photo labelled "with Beacon Fell beyond", I think that hill is actually "Parlick" to the north east rather than Beacon Fell to the west.
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