PWR-02
Piper PA-28 Warrior
Flight training, checkouts, currency flying, member hire, touring.
- Seats
- 4
- Role
- Training
- Availability
- Club members
- Status
- Active
Cotswolds · Gloucestershire · United Kingdom
Vale Air & Soaring Club
Find Lift. Fly Further.
Gliding, powered flying and specialist aviation from the heart of the Cotswolds.
From your first flight to advanced cross country soaring, powered aircraft training and specialist parachute operations, Vale Air brings pilots, students and enthusiasts together at one of Britain's most distinctive fictional aviation clubs.
Flying Today
Updated 08:35 local
Weatherstatus operating: GOOD
Surfacestatus operating: GRASS / DRY
Windstatus operating: 240° / 8 kt
Glidingstatus operating: OPERATING
Powered Flyingstatus operating: OPERATING
Parachute Opsstatus scheduled: SCHEDULED
Introduction
More Than a Flying Club
Vale Air & Soaring Club combines the atmosphere of a traditional British gliding club with modern powered flight training and specialist aircraft operations.
From first time trial flights and student training to cross country soaring, aircraft hire, aerotow and parachute flying, everything revolves around one thing: helping people fly safely, confidently and more often.
The Club in Numbers
0+
Active Members
0
Club Gliders
0
Light Aircraft
0
Parachute Aircraft
0
Gliding Instructors
0+
Annual Launches & Movements
Gliding
Discover Silent Flight
Gliding is the heart of Vale Air. Engineless flight, thermals rising off the Cotswold escarpment and a club grid that runs from first launches to long summer tasks — most of our members started with a single trial flight.
- First flights
- Trial experiences
- Student training
- Solo progression
- Cross country flying
- Club competitions
- Advanced coaching
- Youth flying
Training Path
- 1Trial FlightYour first taste of soaring, flown with an instructor.
- 2Student PilotStructured training through launches, circuits and landings.
- 3First SoloYour first flight as pilot in command.
- 4Solo ConsolidationBuilding hours, handling and confidence.
- 5Cross CountryNavigation, field selection and task flying.
- 6Advanced SoaringCoaching, badges and club competitions.
Two Ways to Launch
Winch Launch
Fast, affordable and exciting.
Aerotow
Aircraft tow to altitude for soaring and cross country operations.
Powered Flying
Powered Flight
Vale operates powered aircraft alongside the glider fleet — for training, currency, touring, member hire, aerotow duties and pilot development. Grass operations, real weather decisions and proper airmanship from day one.
PWR-01
Robin DR400
Aerotow launching, tug pilot training, club flying and currency.
- Seats
- 4
- Primary role
- Glider tug
- Surface
- Grass capable
- Status
- Active
Specialist Operations
Built for the Climb
Specialist parachute aircraft operations from Vale Airfield.
Cessna 206 Stationair “The Lift”
A dedicated aircraft configured for climb performance, flown by approved pilots and available to approved parachuting organisations by prior arrangement.
- Parachute aircraft hire
- Approved operator support
- Jump pilot training
- Jump pilot currency
- Specialist flying days
- Aviation events
- Photography operations
- Club training
Aircraft Data
- Club ID
- JMP-01
- Role
- Parachute operations
- Capacity
- Pilot + jump load
- Operations
- By prior arrangement
Operational Status
Updated 08:35 local
Parachute Opsstatus scheduled: SCHEDULED
Aircraftstatus operating: SERVICEABLE
Parachuting activities are operated subject to appropriate permissions, approvals, weather and operational requirements. Vale does not offer casual walk in parachuting; jumps are undertaken through approved operations and partner organisations.
Training
Learn. Progress. Fly.
Structured training, patient instructors and a club that expects you to keep progressing. Whichever route you take, the syllabus is clear and every flight has a purpose.
Glider Training
For
- Beginners
- Students
- Returning pilots
- Cross country pilots
Trial Flight → Student → Solo → Advanced
Powered Flight Training
For
- Powered flying students
- Licence holders
- Currency
- Checkout and club hire
Ground school → Circuits → Navigation → Checkout
Specialist Training
For
- Tug pilots
- Parachute aircraft pilots
- Instructors
- Operational familiarisation
Briefing → Supervised sorties → Sign off
Pilot Progress · Demo Record
- Student
- Emily Parker
- Current stage
- Pre Solo
- Flights
- 27
- Solo status
- Not yet
- Next exercise
- Circuit consolidation
Illustrative training record shown for demonstration purposes.
Fleet
Our Fleet
Nine aircraft, each with a club name and an asset ID that follows it through the hangar, the booking sheet and the maintenance log.
GLD-01
ACTIVE
Schleicher ASK 21
Two Seat Training Glider
“Kestrel” · 2 seats
GLD-02
ACTIVE
Schleicher ASK 21
Two Seat Training Glider
“Merlin” · 2 seats
GLD-03
ACTIVE
Duo Discus
Advanced Two Seat Glider
“Peregrine” · 2 seats
GLD-04
ACTIVE
SZD Junior
Single Seat Training Glider
“Swift” · 1 seat
GLD-05
ACTIVE
LS4
Cross Country Glider
“Harrier” · 1 seat
GLD-06
ACTIVE
Discus 2
Advanced / Competition Glider
“Falcon” · 1 seat
PWR-01
ACTIVE
Robin DR400
Aerotow / Club Aircraft
“Tug One” · 4 seats
PWR-02
ACTIVE
Piper PA-28 Warrior
Training / Touring Aircraft
“Vale Two” · 4 seats
JMP-01
BY ARRANGEMENT
Cessna 206 Stationair
Parachute Operations Aircraft
“The Lift” · 6 seats
Membership
Join the Club
Membership gives you access to the fleet, the instructors and a community that flies together all season.
Full Flying Member
Gliding access and club facilities.
- Glider fleet access
- Instruction and coaching
- Clubhouse and briefing rooms
Contact us for current membership rates.
Powered Flying Member
Powered aircraft access subject to club approval.
- PA-28 hire after checkout
- Training and currency flying
- Touring bookings
Contact us for current membership rates.
Most Popular
Combined Member
Gliding and powered aircraft membership.
- Full glider fleet access
- Powered aircraft hire
- Priority on training slots
Contact us for current membership rates.
Junior Member
For younger pilots progressing through the club.
- Reduced member rate
- Youth flying programme
- Mentoring and career days
Contact us for current membership rates.
Social Member
For aviation enthusiasts who want to be part of the community.
- Clubhouse and events
- Guest speaker evenings
- Volunteering opportunities
Contact us for current membership rates.
Visiting Pilot
Visiting pilots can contact the operations team regarding temporary membership, reciprocal arrangements, briefings and aircraft access.
Visit
Vale Airfield
A purpose built fictional grass aviation airfield in the Cotswolds, developed for gliding, powered flight and specialist aviation operations.
Facilities
- 1,150 metre grass runway
- Secondary grass landing strip
- Glider launch area
- Aerotow operations
- Parachute drop zone
- Two hangars
- Engineering workshop
- Briefing rooms
- Operations office
- Clubhouse
- Pilot lounge
- Café
- Viewing area
- Training room
- Weather station
- Fuel facility
- Visitor parking
Airfield Layout
Stylised diagram of a fictional airfield. Not for navigation.
Operations
Flying Conditions
A snapshot of the airfield as the duty team sees it: surface, wind, cloud base and what is running today.
Wind
240° / 8 kt
Visibility
10 km+
Cloud
FEW 3,500 ft
Temperature
18°C
QNH
1017 hPa
Runway
Dry
Vale Airfield Status
Updated 08:35 local
Glidingstatus operating: OPEN
Powered Flyingstatus operating: OPEN
Aerotowstatus operating: ACTIVE
Parachute Opsstatus scheduled: SCHEDULED
Runwaystatus operating: DRY
Conditions shown are demonstration data. Pilots must use official operational weather sources and airfield briefings.
Experience Flights
Your First Flight Starts Here
No licence, no experience and no commitment required. Just a clear morning and somebody to strap you in.
Glider Experience
Experience silent flight over the countryside.
From current published club rates
Powered Flight Experience
Discover light aviation from the front seat.
From current published club rates
Aviation Gift Voucher
Give someone their first flying experience.
From current published club rates
Contact the club for current pricing and availability.
Youth & Community
The Next Generation of Pilots
Vale exists partly to put younger people in the front seat. Junior members fly at reduced rates, help run the launch point and learn the airfield from the ground up.
- Junior membership
- Youth gliding
- Aviation career days
- STEM events
- Schools programmes
- Local community
- Pilot mentoring
- Volunteer opportunities
Club Life
More Than Flying
Some of the best moments happen before take off and after landing. Vale Air is built around pilots, instructors, volunteers, families and people who simply love aviation.
- Flying Days
- Club Competitions
- BBQs
- Expeditions
- Training Evenings
- Youth Events
- Guest Speakers
- Aviation Nights
Events
What's On at Vale
Competitions, coaching weekends and open days through the flying season.
Late June
Summer Soaring Weekend
Advanced soaring and club competition.
Mid July
Vale Open Day
Aircraft displays, trial flights and clubhouse activities.
August
Junior Aviation Weekend
Aviation introduction and youth flying programme.
September
Cross Country Masterclass
Advanced glider coaching.
Voices
From the Launch Point
“From my first trial flight to going solo, the instructors made the whole journey feel achievable.”
Student Pilot “The combination of serious flying and a genuinely friendly club atmosphere is what keeps me coming back.”
Club Member “One of the best ways to understand soaring is simply to experience it.”
Trial Flight Guest
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact
Come Fly With Us
Tell us what you would like to do and the operations team will come back to you with options, timings and what to expect on the day.
Vale Air & Soaring ClubVale AirfieldCotswoldsGloucestershireUnited Kingdom
Airfield visits by prior arrangement.
Vale Air is a fictional organisation; the address, telephone number and email above are demonstration details only.