Dunstable Downs
DUNSTABLE DOWNS: Gliding site with limited GA activity.
(Invariably known as just DUNSTABLE but originally as PASCOMBE PIT, now known as the ‘Bowl’)
Note: These pictures were obtained from Google Earth ©
Operated by: London Gliding Club
Location: E of B489, 1nm SW of Dunstable town centre
Period of operation: 1930 to 1939, then 1946 to present day
Runways: ‘All over’ grass field with sharply undulating surface, very rough in places
2001: 04/22 900x50 grass 15/33 750x50 grass
18/36 500x50 grass
A MIKE CHARLTON GALLERY
Note: These pictures from postcards were kindly sent by Mike Charlton who has an amazing collection. See, www.aviationpostcard.co.uk
If anybody can offer advice about these pictures, when taken and the types etc, this will be much appreciated.
SOME MORE
In 2022 Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', had a look to see what he could add. Hence the maps and the three pictures that were published in Flight magazine on the 15th August 1935. The local area and area views are from my Google Earth © derived database.
NOTES: Much of the following information was gleaned from Take Up Slack, a most interesting history of the LGC (London Gliding Club) by Edward Hull, which includes various accounts by other LGC members, for example A E Slater and Charles Ellis.
The LGC was the second gliding club to commence operations after the BGA (British Gliding Association) was formed in 1929. After a single initial meeting at STOKE PARK FARM in/near Guildford the decision was made to transfer activities to an area forming part of the Chiltern Hills ridge more or less in the region known as the Dunstable Downs. Various gliding activities took place in and around the area before this exact site was settled upon and over the years the site has been much modified and expanded.
Note: In the 1957 The Aeroplane directory, the fleet was given as: Twelve high-performance sailplanes and training gliders, including dual two-seaters.
LONGER FLIGHTS
By the early 1930s with the availability of much improved aircraft the possibility of making quite long flights in gliders became a possibility. For example Eric Collins flew as far as Rayleigh in ESSEX in April 1934 then shortly afterwards reached Holkham Bay in NORFOLK. The gliding fraternity especially have of course worked tirelessly, (but unknowingly of course), to support my new found theory that every second field in England probably counts as a flying site!
It was from here, (after failing to get an aerotow from HESTON), on the 22nd April 1939, that Geoffrey Stephenson was winch launched in his Gull 1 to make the first crossing of the English Channel in a glider. Departing just before 3PM he routed via HATFIELD, STAPLEFORD, Stanford-le-Hope, CANTERBURY and HAWKINGE, making landfall just east of Cap Gris Nez and eventually landing alongside the village of Le Wast, ten miles east of Boulogne at 5.35PM.
Before WW2 the Imperial College of London Gliding Club shared the facilities as did, from 1994, the London University Gliding Club for about three years.
A STORY
There is a story about a visit arranged here by a Douglas DC-3 airliner! The RT exchanges between the DC-3 crew and an incredulous and quite rightly disbelieving Luton ATCO have been taped or so I was told. I’d love to hear it. Can anybody add further details? Who operated this DC-3 and where had it flown from?
TUGS ETC
As with many well known gliding sites GA types exist alongside perfectly happily - invariably operating as tugs. In 1977 for example DUNSTABLE DOWNS was home to PA-18 Super Cub 150 G-AVOO and Schleicher ASK-14 G-AYRN. The M.S.893A Rallye Commodore G-AYVX was operated by the London Gliding Club as was DHC.1 Chipmunk 22 G-BBMS. Chipmunk G-BMMT was listed as being based here but operated by A T Letts & Ptnrs. The Schleicher ASK.16 was also based here as was DHC.1 Chipmunk belonging it seems to Mr R B Stratton trading as the RAFGSA.
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