InTouch Magazine Articles Archive

Issue 14, January 2008

Sky Crusaders

By Janet Wright.

Tucked away behind Dhekelia Garrison Military Base there is an airfield, Kingsfield Airfield to be exact, where the Crusaders Gliding Club have been enjoying their gliding activities since 1966. The club was based at Akrotiri from 1958 to 1966. by Janet Wright I had no idea it even existed until our son came over on holiday back in September, and told us he had been talking to a member of the club on the internet who had invited him to visit the airfield with a view to going up in one of the five gliders the club owns. They are two ASK 13's, an ASK 8, a Slingsby T21 and a Falke Motor Glider.

Needless to say, he had a wonderful time with the very friendly group of people he met there, and he even got to fly the glider for a while, perhaps better add here that he has flown before!
The club is essentially a Military Club, RAF GSA (Gliding and Soaring Association), and ispart ofDhekelia Base.The Officer in Command is Squadron Leader Darren Thorley. The longest serving ChiefFlying Instructor is Avo Mangoian, who has been teaching at the Club for over 30 years. He has seen many of his pupils achieve solo status and some have gone on to be instructors themselves.The current Chief Flying Instructor is Eddie Ustenler, whose passion for gliding began as a young boy watching the gliders at Kingsfield from his home in Pyla. Many of the current members have been flying with the club for many years, Bill Cundall started flyingat the club in 1976, along with his wife Sue, whotold me they had both learned to flyat the same time and she took her first flight on her birthday! She stillflies occasionally.

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