Club History

OGC is one of the oldest clubs in the country, with the first meeting of its earliest elements in 1937. Follow the timeline below to learn a bit more about our historic club. 

Pre-War Period

December 1937

The "Oxford University and City Gliding Club" had its inaugural meeting at Christchurch college in Oxford on 2nd December 1937

Spring 1938

Flying begins at the Cumnor meadow site, which now lies at the bottom of the Farmoor reservoir. An access road, bridge over a ditch and basic hangar is built. Two "Dagling" primaries make up the fleet, one with a streamline nacelle and the other without.

13th of May 1938

The Oxford Gliding Company ltd. forms, though club operations continue as the Oxford University and City Gliding Club.

June 1938

Robert Kronfeld (the first person to glide across the English channel in 1931) becomes the CFI and 'manager' of the club. He's seen in the photo below as the gentleman on the right, with Captain Rattray, who was the temporary CFI prior to Kronfeld's appointment.

Summer 1938

Club pilots and gliders take place in a public air show at RAF Upper Heyford. The photo is of the club's first secretary, Margaret "Peggy" Thring, flying at Dunstable, home of the London Gliding Club at about the same time.

Winter 1938

Club operations move to the Chiltern ridge at Aston Rowant (now where the M40 cuts through towards London) for the 1939 season. At the outbreak of WW2, all recreational flying ceased.

Post-War Period

1951

The efforts of Lawrence Wingfield, Prof. George Varley, Marcus Goodall, Ray Stafford Allen and Mrs Margaret Kronfeld (Robert Kronfeld's widow) lead to the reformation of Oxford Gliding Club at Kidlington Airport (now London Oxford Airport).

1956

An increase in powered aircraft activity lead the club to move to its current home of RAF Weston-on-the-Green airfield.

OGC at Weston

1967

Our first K13 (CCE, but initially known as "Elfin") is donated to the club by Professor Malcolm Laurie, and is still in use to this day at a different gliding club.

1969

The second K13 (CGO, or "Redfin") is bought by a shares scheme set up by club members. Like the other K13, it is still in use today thanks to the efforts of our inspector team.

1977

The club's first glassfibre glider, the Astir "DMH" arrives at OGC, following a similar purchase scheme to CGO.

1986

The new hangar, clubroom and workshop facilities are opened by the club's president, Rt Hon Douglas Hurd MP

1988

The club's vintage glider, the T21 lovingly referred to as "Daisy" arrives at the club. Purchased by members and donated to the club, it was bought from the RAF in its original livery.

1993

The club's first glassfibre two seater aircraft, the Grob Acro "EZE" arrives at OGC. [EZE PIC HERE]

21st Century

2000

The DG505 "JSX" arrives at the club, replacing the Grob Acro. In the same year, Oxford Gliding Club hosts the Junior gliding nationals championship, where fifty young pilots from across the country competed in a gliding competition.

2012

Oxford Gliding Club celebrates its 75th anniversary.

February 2019

OGC adds a K21 to its fleet in order to allow for expanded two-seater training.