The Bothwell Gliding Club is a small one which is currently operated as a syndicate of pilots who share ownership of a Dimona H36 motor glider and a Blanik L13.

We operate predominantly at Cambridge airport (next to the main Hobart airport) with the motor glider, and occasionally at Bothwell with the Blanik.

The club was established in 1975 and was in continuous operation at "Thorpe", Bothwell, until 1997. We then had a break for a few years but re-established the club in 2004 when we purchased the Dimona H36. Just recently we refurbished the Blanik. Although 30 years old, it flies like a new glider. We have a Maule M5-235C for use as a towplane, and also our old winch - which is in need of refurbishment - not yet done.

The airstrip at Bothwell (Summer)

The Dimona H36 at Bothwell

Approach to runway 27, Cambridge

(Glider pilots will know that this approach angle is far too shallow for a glider, even a powered one. I took it from a Cessna 172 belonging to the Aero Club of Southern Tasmania. GM)

The majority of our flying is  our base at Cambridge where we have easy access to soaring around the mountains near to Hobart, the Derwent Valley, andHuon Valley. We still have our old hangar at "Thorpe" and periodically fly from Bothwell as well.

We provide a spectacular Air Experience flight over Mount Wellington and Hobart city. This is the only air experience flight that in Australia that flies over a capital city - and provides breathtaking views of Hobart, Mount Wellington and the Derwent estuary. Flights can usually be arranged for any day of the week if sufficient notice is given, though weekends are preferred.

"Thorpe", Bothwell.   Photo by Dave Hollingsworth, April 2006.

We can also do Air Experience flights from Bothwell, though we do not operate from there regularly

We would only do these by a pre-booked arrangement and if you have a group of people who all would like to have glider flights. The shorter (standard) flights are more economical at Bothwell because we don't need to have air traffic control clearances and there are no landing charges.

Pictured left is the homestead of "Thorpe", Bothwell, owned by the Bignell family. John Bignell was one of the founding members of the Bothwell Gliding Club in 1975. His son Will is also now a very keen and proficient glider and power pilot.

The Bignell family have been kind enough to allow us to use a part of their farm for an airstrip for the last 32 Years!

Thank you to all the Bignells, it has been very much appreciated by all of us who have flown there over the years!

At this time, we will not be accepting students into the club unless they are also members at SCOT. If you wish to learn to fly, you would  be best to join the Soaring Club of Tasmania - and come and fly with us from time to time if you like for a bit of a different experience. Most of us are also members of SCOT.

Champion!

Will Bignell was invited to represent Australia in the aerobatic section of the "Wings" competition to take place in Timaru, New Zealand in February 2008.

The "Wings" competition is an annual competition between the aero clubs that are members of the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs in Australia and their counterparts in New Zealand.

That's Will on the right, occupying the left hand seat of the Dimona whilst we were doing some wave flying near Bothwell.

Will BLITZED the competition, taking out the title for Australia AND  after being invited to take part in the NZ national competition beat the Kiwis in both classes of aerobatics. GM.

The Soaring Club was started in 1975 by Bob King & a few other enthusiasts - incidentally, Bob is still a member at the ripe age of about 75 (I think).

SCOT operates at Woodbury which is near Tunbridge, about half way between Hobart & Launceston on the midland highway.

The club operates a Blanik L13 (2 seat trainer), a Motor Falke (2 seat motor glider) and a Libelle (single seater).

The Blanik wing - on a winch launch.

SCOT has been operating the motor glider and winch launching the sailplanes for a number of years and have just taken delivery of a Pawnee towplane (Dec 2007) for aero tow.

Having been at a fairly low ebb of activity for a number of years, there has been  a large amount of enthusiasm generated and an increase in membership with the expectation of increased activity associated with now being able to aero tow.

Launching by aero tow, whilst more expensive than winch launching, gives much more flexibility in finding "lift" and is a lot less work to operate.

SCOT is accepting new members for flight training now.

See http://www.soaringtasmania.org.au

A GFA Safety briefing seminar in the clubhouse at Woodbury

The hangar at Woodbury