Gliding is the most beautiful and absorbing way of flying. Even a first short flight can be a memorable experience, and gliding’s challenges and delights continue to enthral the most experienced pilots. While most flights are made within safe reach of the home field, it is possible to soar higher than the Alps for many miles across country, using only the hidden energy in the air and hardly noticed from the ground. Your first flight may seem remarkable, but your first solo or cross country will be every bit as exciting and very much more rewarding. These will be real achievements, gained by applying new skills and knowledge. Although gliding is very much concerned with personal achievement it is far from a solitary sport as each pilot is very dependent on other enthusiasts. You will be expected to help others just as they help you through activities such as running the field, driving the winch, launching gliders and maintaining equipment.
About Staffordshire Gliding Club
The club was formed at Meir Airfield in 1962 and moved to a moorland site near Leek when Meir closed in 1972. We moved to Seighford in 1992 as it is much more suitable for modern gliding. Since the move we have grown to around 120 members. We are a self help club without any employees, which keeps down the cost of flying and encourages a friendly atmosphere sometimes lacking in the larger professional clubs. The club fleet includes three two-seat training aircraft and two single seat gliders. (See the Fleet page for more information and pictures). In addition to the club fleet there are many privately owned gliders based at Seighford.
The club is registered as a company belonging to the members who elect an Executive Committee at Annual General Meetings. It is non profit making and all the revenue is used to meet operational costs and to fund new developments.
Staffordshire Gliding Club
If you want to arrange a session as a gift for someone else, we sell vouchers for the aerotow, winch and short courses. To purchase a voucher please go to our
We provide corporate ‘Gliding Experience Days’ which is a unique way for a company to make it’s customers, employees and suppliers feel valued! These packages are bespoke and are tailored to your own requirements, but typically include exclusive use of the airfield and its facilities, breakfast, your own hospitality marquee, unlimited refreshments, full buffet lunch, a mix of winch and aerotows, and a souvenir of your day! For more information, please download our latest
The course includes pre and post flight briefings so that you can get the most from your time in the air. Subject to weather, availability and your own preferences, you will take up to 3 aerotows or 6 winch launches or a combination of both to provide between 45 and 60 minutes in the air.
As gliding depends on mutual help, you will be in a team of people including fellow course members and full club members.
4. “taster session” for groups. We can provide 10-15 of you with a flight on a Wednesday evening in the summer months.
“Staffordshire Gliding Club is a Community Amateur Sports Club, and fully supports the promotion and participation in the sport of Gliding. Want to fly with us, but worried about the cost? To discuss options (in confidence), regarding our “Affordable Gliding Scheme” contact the Club Secretary by email. We offer a scheme for those on low and modest incomes that allows full participation in gliding activity for a fixed cost of £520.00 per year.
Our Mission:
To promote and encourage in those of all ages, a practical interest in gliding and to provide an opportunity to participate in this exhilarating and satisfying sport.
To provide an opportunity for qualified glider pilots of all standards to improve their experience and skills, under the guidance of highly experienced instructors and competition pilots.
To promote a positive public image and to work in harmony with the local community and authorities to provide a leisure facility that will be of benefit to all local residents.
Above all, to provide the safest and most enjoyable gliding and flying opportunities.
Staffordshire Gliding Club Limited is a company
Company number 02109141