The aeroclub has extensive experience organising world-class events, which was one of the key reasons it was chosen. Both in the air and on the ground, beautiful and rare aircraft were on display. The event also provides a wonderful opportunity to forge new connections. As Václav Kysilka and Tomáš Barva, whom we spoke with, point out, this isn’t a competition (though some performance comparisons are inevitable at such gatherings), but rather a rally and a meeting of like-minded friends.
What exactly is the Vintage Glider Club (VGC)? Let’s look at a little history (from the VGC website).
The VGC is an international organisation that brings together enthusiasts and owners of historic gliders. Its main mission is to maintain and promote flying with vintage sailplanes, protect their heritage, and provide a platform for sharing knowledge and experience.
When the VGC was founded, there was little interest in historic gliders; even museums paid scant attention to their fate. This gave rise to the VGC’s core idea: the best way to preserve this vital part of gliding history is to entrust it to enthusiasts who will ensure these unique machines remain where they belong—in the air. The club was officially established in 1973 at a historic glider meeting in Coventry, England. A total of 23 vintage gliders from Great Britain, Switzerland, and Germany attended. This encouraging start led to significant growth for the VGC throughout the year, a testament to the passion and dedication of enthusiasts worldwide.
The fundamental idea for the club grew from a rising interest in preserving the older gliders that were beginning to appear at airshows and events. Many of these gliders were being replaced by more modern designs in the 1960s and early 1970s, and they were at risk of disappearing from the skies altogether.
Key Milestones and Development:
- Founding (1973): A group of British glider pilots decided to establish a club focused on operating and saving older sailplanes. The goal was to create an environment where owners could exchange information, source spare parts, and organise rallies.
- International Expansion: Within a few years of its founding, the VGC began to expand beyond the UK. The concept proved immensely popular, and similar clubs and individuals from other countries (including the Czech Republic, where the closely associated Czech Gliding Oldtimer Club, or POTK, was formed) joined or were inspired by its activities.
- Definition of “Vintage”: The VGC has its own definition of what constitutes a “vintage” glider. Initially, this referred to gliders built before 1960. Over time, this boundary has shifted and expanded to include other categories (e.g., “Classic” for gliders built between 1961 and 1970, and “Post-Classic” for those from 1971-1980) to encompass a broader spectrum of historic aircraft.
- Aims and Activities:
- Maintaining Airworthiness: The VGC actively supports the restoration and maintenance of old gliders to an airworthy condition. It provides technical support, access to documentation, and helps with sourcing spare parts.
- Rallies and Events: The club regularly organises International Rallies where owners and fans of historic sailplanes from around the world meet to fly, share experiences, and showcase their aircraft to the public.
- Promotion: The VGC strives to promote historic gliding as an important part of aviation heritage.
Today, the VGC is a recognised international organisation that plays a crucial role in the preservation and active operation of historic gliders worldwide.
.jpg)
A similar group of enthusiastic advocates for flying historic gliders exists in the Czech Republic – the Plachtařský Oldtimer Klub (Czech Gliding Oldtimer Club, or POTK). We spoke with its vice-chairman and VGC representative, Václav Kysilka, about some moments from his aviation career.
Can you tell us about your aviation career?
“I’m originally from Modřany in Prague, which is close to Točná airfield. As a young boy, I used to go there often with my dad to watch the planes. I read a lot about aircraft, built models, and launched a few for fun. That was a time before mobile phones, you know…” he smiles. “Flying just kept pulling me in until I finally gave in. In 1998, I took the plunge and enrolled in basic training at Točná Aeroclub. Like many students, I couldn’t finish the training for financial reasons. But in 2006, I managed to pick it up again at Benešov and complete my pilot’s licence. I’ve been flying actively ever since.
From 2011, I spent 10 years competing in vintage glider competitions. I earned my Gold C badge, and for the last year, I’ve been trying to get more experience flying in the Alps.
I am a member and vice-chairman of POTK and a member of the VGC board.
I can’t help but add a personal note: When I think of that little boy, Vašík, who looked up with awe and respect at those magnificent men in their flying machines, and now I look back on my own journey, it’s a strange feeling. More than anything, I feel a sense of duty to seek out the young boys and girls of today and help them become the next magnificent pilots…”
What makes this international rally of historic gliders so unique?
“It’s a flying museum of vintage sailplanes, operated by enthusiasts from all over Europe. The aircraft are in excellent condition. Occasionally, new types are added, fresh from restoration or after a VGC member acquires one. These are often unique machines, with only one or a few examples existing in the world. Sometimes pilots even sell their sailplanes to each other at the event. You know, we’re all getting older, our strength wanes, and some friends are no longer with us…
The variety of types and the age of some models is fascinating. The enthusiasm of the long-time friends who care for them is inspiring. These friends, some with their families, meet year after year in different European countries. It’s a truly beautiful experience.”
What personally drew you to gliding, and specifically to vintage sailplanes?
“As it sometimes happens, it was by chance. A member of the GAC Benešov club had signed up for the revived Šohaj competition at Raná in 2011 but had to cancel at the last minute. Since I had flown the aircraft a few times a couple of weeks before, I was sent as a replacement. Until then, I had only ever flown locally—around Vlašim, Sedlčany, Orlík, Konopiště. I had never been sent on a cross-country task, and it had never occurred to me to try. And now, a competition! I didn’t even have a proper logger; I was handed a tangle of wires and a barely functional radio, and off I went. It meant a lot to me. My white Benešov LG-125 Šohaj was on loan from the Military Technical Museum—I felt like a combat pilot! Those were the thoughts and emotions running through my head. It didn’t occur to me that I was a complete novice among connoisseurs and seasoned aces, and I didn’t even know how to rig the Šohaj properly.
Fortunately, the pilots from both Raná and Medlánky took me under their wing. A very strong bond was formed, and we’ve been great friends for over a decade. And the Moravian guys knew I was from Prague! I think they took pity on me.
Raná and Medlánky are the cradles of Czech gliding, and both groups have become very dear to my heart. To this day, I visit both places every year; I’m a local everywhere now. They call me ‘Our guy from Prague’.”
Can you briefly introduce the POTK?
“It was founded in the autumn of 1991 by a group of enthusiasts gathered around Petr Hanáček. POTK is dedicated to the history of gliding in our country, the technical condition of old wooden gliders and sailplanes, bringing them to airworthy status, building replicas, and organising annual rallies for these and other flying veterans. We also participate in similar events abroad. We welcome anyone interested to become a member. You don’t have to own a sailplane to be our friend.”
What kinds of vintage sailplanes can we see at the rally?
“A complete mix. There’s a lineup of over fifty gliders spanning the pre-WWII, wartime, and post-war periods. Sailplanes with open and enclosed cockpits. V-tails and conventional tails. Tandem and side-by-side seating configurations. High-wing and low-wing designs. Wooden and mixed constructions. You’ll see English, Swiss, German, Romanian, and other designs. Czechoslovakia is represented by types like the LF-109 Pionýr, but it’s impossible to single out just one or a few. Almost all of them are unique.”
https://vgc2025.eu/home/en/participants/
What is the history of these gatherings, and how has the tradition been maintained?
“The International Vintage Glider Club was founded in 1973 by vintage glider enthusiasts led by Chris Wills (27 August 1931–4 May 2011). The club’s goal was, and still is, to preserve the rich history of gliding and ensure that the machines that paved the way through gliding’s history are here for future generations. The mission of the Czech POTK is practically identical.
It works thanks to a love of flying and history, and behind it all are hundreds of hours of volunteer work of all kinds. This year’s rally in Hosín is proof of that. My wife can certainly attest to how many hours are really needed to organise an event like this…”
Why is it important to keep historic aircraft airworthy? Is it more of a technical challenge or a passion?
“Let me give you an extreme example: When you’re sitting on a ‘wired-up chair without instruments,’ like the SG-38 Schulgleiter (known as ‘Honza’ in Czech), it’s very different from sitting in a modern cockpit, looking at displays and out through a canopy. You’re scared and joyful at the same time. This is where the emotion, the passion, truly comes to the fore. Our predecessors had to fly like this because there was no other way. And they are the ones who brought us to where we are today. So, it’s also an expression of respect and an attempt to step into their shoes. We all have a connection to technology and are like overgrown kids. I mean, when you walk through a technical museum, don’t you want to take that steam locomotive for a ride? Or that old motorcycle with a sidecar? I think we all have those thoughts of what it would be like to try… well, we actually know.”
What is the biggest challenge in organising such events?
“Securing enough people for the organising team and coordinating them. We were very lucky to connect with a troop of ‘Aviation Scouts’ led by Zorka Vernerová (yes, even the Scouts have an aviation section). Their nine-member group provided a continuous boost to our organising team. The Scouts are organised and skilled. We were constantly surprised when they would reappear and report: ‘Done, what’s the next task?’
Of course, everyone deserves praise. The tow pilots, the winch operator, the kitchen staff—everyone worked their socks off.
We had fantastic weather, so our vintage gliders weren’t dropping back into the airfield like ripe pears, and we managed to get all the flying done beautifully. The god of thermals, who we nicknamed ‘Thermos’, was on our side.”
How do pilots and their vintage aircraft prepare for the rally? What requirements do they have to meet to participate?
“The gliders don’t need any extra special preparation. They have to be technically sound and have all their paperwork in order for flying at their home airfields anyway. What you do pay much more attention to than usual is the technical condition of the transport trailer you’ll use to haul your pride and joy for hundreds and hundreds of kilometres.
A special case are the sailplanes operated outside of EASA regulations, which, under European rules, must apply for permission to enter Czech airspace. Some pilots overlooked this, but Mr. Líska from the Czech CAA was incredibly helpful, working proactively at the last minute to get everything sorted out. My thanks and best wishes go out to him again.”
Safety must be paramount. How do you manage this with historic aircraft?
“It might surprise you, but from a safety perspective, operating vintage aircraft isn’t all that different from regular operations. Operationally, it’s always about the movement of gliders, tow planes, and towing vehicles on the airfield surface.
For clarity, everyone on the airfield outside the restaurant had to wear a coloured wristband. Organisers and helpers had yellow, and others had different colours. There were several colours for different reasons: green for an active solo pilot, orange for a pilot flying with an instructor, and white for a visitor. The important thing was that you shouldn’t encounter anyone without a wristband, for instance in the campsite or among the aircraft. Or see a pilot with an orange band in a single-seater. Everyone understood that we were protecting each other, and they praised the measures; it worked well.”
What is a typical day at the rally like?
“We’re an older crowd and we’re on holiday, so unlike at competitions, our briefing isn’t until 10 a.m. We discuss the meteorological situation, how and where we’ll be flying, review the previous day, and so on. Given the large number of German-speaking visitors, I also provided simultaneous translation into English and German. Translating terms like ‘pressure drop’ or ‘undulating cold front’ was quite a challenge…
After the briefing, the aircraft are gradually towed to the launch point, followed by winch and aerotow operations. In the evening, when most of the flying was done, a group of enthusiasts would perform auto-tows on the empty runway—launching a glider using a rope attached to a car. It’s quite a spectacle.
Then it’s time to put the aircraft away in the hangar, which, with this number of gliders, is a huge logistical puzzle. The experience of our Czech friends Jiří Leník from Raná and Dušan Patočka from Vrchlabí proved invaluable here. Even so, it always took over two hours.
The final, pleasant part of the day was a good dinner (thanks again to the kitchen staff), sitting with friends over a beer, and discussing the day’s beautiful flying.”
Who are the participants? Are they mainly veterans, or is the younger generation also involved?
“Most participants are well over 60, some even over 80. But you’ll find younger people too, and we were especially grateful for the help from local young volunteers and the Aviation Scouts. Getting them involved in activities is a great way to attract young people to flying. That’s why we also made sure that every one of them got a flight.”
What do the pilots talk about most?
“For example, flying a rare aircraft. That gives you a fantastic feeling. For others, it’s flying with a friend in a semi-open cockpit, sitting side-by-side. You share beautiful emotions during the flight, and everything feels more intense. Sometimes it’s about the altitude gained, circling in a thermal with birds of prey, and similar experiences. And for me personally? It’s flying the aforementioned SG-38 Schulgleiter. That ‘winged chair’ is the most breathtaking machine I have ever flown.”
What are the future plans for the rally?
“We are always expanding the event, with a different country each year. Last year it was Lithuania, this year it’s Hosín near České Budějovice. Next year, we have a meeting planned in Denmark, which we are really looking forward to.
The basic format of the event should remain the same. During the week, there’s an opening and closing ceremony where the president rings our large VGC Rally bells. We have an international evening where each country presents its local delicacies and drinks, which is a wonderful social occasion. We also have a formal meeting on the agenda—after all, we are a proper organisation. This year, we planned a pig roast for the final party on Friday.”
Can the public get involved, perhaps see the aircraft up close?
“The public is always welcome. Remember that little boy Vašík I mentioned? We are especially happy to invite children and young people to come and see the aircraft. We often let them sit in the cockpit and tell them about flying. One day, it might be them who take up the mantle in a few years and carry it forward. Of course, everything happens under the supervision of an experienced pilot.”
Do you have a message for our readers, whether they are aviation fans or people hearing about the event for the first time?
“Look for us and come for a visit. We are pilots at an airfield near you. You don’t have to own an aircraft to be a pilot. You don’t have to own a vintage glider to be a member of the Czech Gliding Oldtimer Club and fly with us in our machines. Just come and have a chat with us. We don’t bite.”
Unique gliders are flown not only in Hosín. One of the other centres of traditional flying is the aforementioned Raná airfield, a site with a long history of conventional gliding, hang gliding, and paragliding. A member of the local aeroclub is Mr. Tomáš Barva, a flight instructor who also has extensive experience with historic gliders.
Tomáš, what is the oldest type of glider you have ever flown?
“In terms of type, it would definitely be the SG-38, the Schulgleiter model from 1938. Of course, the aircraft itself wasn’t that old, but a replica built exactly to the original plans. Even back in 1938, it wasn’t a mass-produced item—it was common for individual clubs to build their own aircraft.”
How do the flight characteristics of a vintage glider differ from modern ones?
“The characteristics of old gliders are a product of their time. Primarily, they have a poorer glide ratio and a significantly lower maximum permitted speed. They often have a lower minimum (stall) speed, which is actually pleasant in weak lift or when ridge soaring.”
How demanding is the maintenance of such an aircraft? Are original materials and techniques used?
“I don’t have experience with building or repairs, but in the words of my friend Jiří Leník, wood is a fantastic material that really only requires being stored in a dry place. If you don’t allow water and wood-decaying fungi to damage it, a wooden glider can easily last a hundred years or more.”
What are the biggest technical challenges when flying vintage gliders?
“I don’t know if you can call it a challenge, but with the SG-38 primary trainer, for example, the complete absence of any instruments is interesting. No variometer, no airspeed indicator, no altimeter. I think this made it excellent training for pilots, because any instruments in more modern machines were just an added bonus. The most common feedback I give my students is that they don’t watch the yaw string or slip indicator and make skidding or slipping turns. The ‘SG’ has no such aid. There, the pilot literally slides down the seat in a slipping turn (and vice versa) and naturally tries to coordinate the turn correctly to avoid sliding off the seat.”
What does it feel like to fly such an old machine?
“In a word, beautiful! Older gliders tend to be less sensitive to control inputs, they are slower, and often don’t have airbrakes, yet flying them is a wonderful experience. Especially those without a canopy, where the wind blows through your hair.”
What is your most memorable experience with this type of glider?
“It might sound strange, but I have a fear of heights and suffer from vertigo. Unless I have wings. With wings, I love altitude, and practicing stalls and spins is one of my favourite exercises. I used to wonder why I feel completely safe in an aircraft. Is it the enclosed cockpit? When I first took part in our ‘Bungee Launching at Raná’ event, flying the aforementioned SG-38 with bungee cord launches, I was enthusiastically helping out but had no desire to get behind the controls. I almost got away with it, but at the end of the day, my friend Pepa noticed I was the only one who hadn’t flown and ordered: ‘Get in!’ I didn’t want to make a scene, so I thought, I’ll just survive it, and sat on the wooden seat without any cockpit, without any instruments. My first flight was short and low, but the experience was amazing. After landing, I even shouted that I never wanted to fly anything else!”
What motivates you to fly in vintage glider competitions? How does the atmosphere compare to modern contests?
“As a competitor, I’ve only really participated in one event, our Ulf’s Memorial. The atmosphere really suits my nature. It’s primarily about meeting friends and having some relaxed flying. There is a competitive spirit, but it’s definitely not the main priority.”
How big a role do weather and pilot experience play with vintage gliders?
“Just as with any other glider, a significant one. With vintage gliders, you generally fly shorter tasks due to their lower performance. They are slower and don’t have the penetration of modern gliders. Even with modern machines, there’s always the risk of landing at another airfield or in a field if you misjudge the weather.”
Do you have to be a member of an organisation like POTK to compete?
“No, you don’t.”
Sources: Vintage Glider Club, vgc2025.eu, POTK
Photo Gallery – Marked photos by Anna Petrželová, unmarked photos by Ilja Petřík.
