Sutton bank gliders light up the Yorkshire skies as vintage week flies into region

The Yorkshire Gliding Club welcomed pilots from across the country for one of the most iconic sights in the region.

This year the annual vintage glider spectacle sees the public watching on from the Cleveland Way, skirting the North York Moors National Park, and the famous White Horse of Kilburn due to the airfield being shut to members of the public due to coronavirus restrictions.

It is the first year Jerry Henderson-Newton, the airfield director member of Yorks Gliding club, has organised the famous Slingsby week, where pilots can enjoy climbs to over 10,000ft as well as opportunities to fly their classic aircraft on cross countries of hundreds of kilometers.

Mr Henderson-Newton said: “It’s absolutely been a challenge. We are trying desperately to get things back to normal but it’s been very difficult with coronavirus restrictions.

“Despite the airfield being closed to the public we’ve still had plenty of people coming to look - and there is plenty to see.

“It’s special as we have some really old wooden gliders - some of which were made in Kirkbymoorside and Thirsk - alongside the more modern gliders and a real mix of colours."

This year, Andrew Jarvis the president of vintage Glider Club, was awarded with a unique prize for notable flying - he was presented on Monday with the legendary mechanical chicken named Henrietta, after landing just three miles away from Sutton Bank on a flight.

Mr Henderson-Newton said: “It was one of the highlights. Henrietta has become known as the ‘Slingsby Chick’ and is awarded to someone who has done something notable. Andrew certainly deserved it this year.”

Sutton Bank has been a part of UK gliding since 1934 and this year the Slingsby week runs until this Saturday (5th September) and once again the annual event is raising funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

"We are still here, we are still flying, it is a very difficult time at the moment but we appreciate the public's support," Mr Henderson Newton said.

Chris Booker, the marketing director of Yorkshire Gliding Club, added: "With people not being able to easily travel abroad or too far, they are looking for places to go and things to do at home. Gliding is a sport that gets you out into the fresh air, offers mental and physical exercise and we can do it within social distancing and covid guidelines.

"It might be approaching the end of summer but we fly all year round, and this part of the year is very good for those who want to learn to fly, in preparation for next spring.

"Our sport is less expensive than people might think at first, and is open to everyone with discounts for junior members who can fly solo from age 14, and some of our senior pilots fly well into their 80’s."

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James Mitchinson