Support the British Glider Aerobatic Team 2026

Aim

Support the British Glider Aerobatic Team as we proudly represent Great Britain at the World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships 2026

🛩️ Who are we?

We’re the British Glider Aerobatic Team, a group of passionate and dedicated pilots from across the UK who compete in precision aerobatics — showcasing British skill, discipline and teamwork at the highest level.

Our pilots train year-round to represent Great Britain at national and international competitions. In 2026, we’ll be flying at the World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships 2026 in Fayence, France, proudly demonstrating British excellence and sportsmanship on the world stage.

The British Glider Aerobatic Team currently consists of three pilots selected to represent the UK at the World Championships. Alongside them, a squad of four pilots are training and competing at the same level, with the potential to be promoted to the final team during the season.

Funds raised will support the pilots ultimately selected to compete in Fayence.

Meet the Team:

Pilot intros: 

Laura - I got into Aerobatics fairly early on in my gliding journey, a mere 5 years ago, from then, I dreamt of competing in the Worlds and set myself the goal. Since then I have been training in aerobatics, and officially started competing in July 2024. I have since qualified as an aerobatics instructor, and worked up the aerobatics levels and contribute towards making the sport more open. I am putting all my effort and passion into competing in the Worlds and was thrilled when I was chosen for the team.

Neil - Despite flying over 25 years, I only discovered glider aerobatics relatively recently was immediately drawn to the precision, discipline, and challenge of flying at the limits of the envelope. Since then, I've won a national championship, qualified as an advanced aerobatics instructor, and worked with the BGA and CAA to help make the sport more accessible - all with the long term goal of representing the UK at World level. I'm incredibly proud to have been selected as team captain and excited to give it everything on the world stage.  

Alex - My first experience of aerobatics was in 2018 at a “getting into Aeros” course where I learnt the basics manoeuvres. In 2022 I got back in touch with the instructor from the camp where I started to practice aerobatics consistently with the aim of competing in domestic competitions. Since then I have won a Saltby open competition, gained my aerobatics instructor rating as well as a display authorisation. I am very proud to have the opportunity to represent GB on a world stage as it has been a dream of mine since starting my gliding journey.

Meet the squad:

Pilot intros:

Daniel (Top left) - I first discovered the world of aerobatics in 2017 and was immediately captivated by the precision and technical challenge of the sport. My competitive journey moved quickly. I became the national sports champion and went on to win the Dan Smith trophy. After progressing up to the Advanced level, I won the Saltby Open and took 2nd place at the National Championships the same year. I have also attended the USA Nationals, where I placed 3rd in Intermediate and 5th in Advanced.  I’m now focused on representing Great Britain at the 2026 World Championships. For me, the goal is twofold: I want us all to be as competitive as possible on the scoreboard, but I’m just as excited for us to build lasting friendships and create great relations within our international gliding community. To me, the lasting camaraderie between pilots is what truly makes this sport special.

Elliot (Top right) - I’ve been gliding since 2009, starting through the Air Cadets, where I first soloed and later went on to instruct. Aerobatics was something that stayed with me from early on, and over time I found myself drawn back to it for the focus, discipline, and sheer enjoyment it brings to my flying. Since beginning to compete in 2023, I’ve steadily developed my skills through training at Saltby and taking part in domestic competitions. Spending time on the judging line at the 2024 World Glider Aerobatic Championships gave me a real sense of the shared passion behind aerobatics and further fuelled my ambition to compete at that level. I’m now working towards my Advanced badge and feel very proud to have the opportunity to represent Team GB.   

Seb (Bottom left) - I became interested in aerobatics straight away. Even before I left the ground on my first flight in 2014, I knew I wanted to do aerobatics. We went up & did a loop, I was totally sold. All throughout my flying training, I absolutely loved doing any spinning or even just steep stalls, even just watching other pilots at the club who flew aerobatics, especially Graham Drinkell in his B4. It captivated me just from the ground to see the full capacity of what a glider could do.

The precision & intellectual demands of understanding how to fly so accurately as required, at the outer limits of the aircraft’s envelope, is what makes aerobatics so enthralling to me. Nothing is quite so mentally engaging & rewarding as flying a sequence to a high standard.

As soon as I had gone solo I started training in aerobatics almost immediately, as I was so fascinated by it. David Aherne especially, was a massive help along with Mark Butcher too. We went to Saltby where I first met George Rizk, who took my flying to the next level. I completed for the first time in August 2016, the Saltby Open, where I won the Baldwin trophy for the highest scoring under 25 & then got signed off for rolling in October of the same year.

I had a stop in my flying in early 2017 but re soloed in July 2024. I got resigned off for Sports & rolling again, followed by some intermediate figures, with the absolutely fantastic aerobatic instructor Mark Erlund. In September of last year I won the Nationals at Sports class & following this was given the privilege of joining the British aerobatic squad, finally getting to fly the MDM Fox & High performance SZD 59, which I’d always dreamed of since properly getting into aerobatics. I aim to get the Advanced aerobatic enforcement as soon as possible & am planning to go to Arizona very soon to make this happen.

Simon (Bottom right) - I love the crazy mix of visceral joy, thought, and precise skill of flying aerobatics. In 2022 I asked my club's aerobatics instructor, "Will it be bonkers for me to enter an Aerobatics competition?". With a "go for it" he put me in touch with Andy Cunningham at Dunstable. Not long after I'd joined British Aerobatics, I completed my British Aerobatics Flight Evaluation, and was flying in my first competition; what a fantastic adventure! 

Somewhat unexpectedly, I found myself immersed in a welcoming and supportive competition community. Competitors, judges and instructors want every pilot to be the best they can. Their feedback and knowledge helped make my flying competitive enough to place on a few podiums and to win a place on the British Aerobatics Gliding Squad. I was thrilled to be selected. Flying with Guy Westgate, hanging out with the other squad members, and flying the SZD-59 have been especial highlights.

With help from my Club I've also become an Aerobatics Instructor. If I don't become a Champion perhaps one of my students will. I can't lose! Let the fun and adventure continue!

Why are we crowdfunding?

Representing Britain internationally is a huge honour — but also a significant financial challenge.

We’re raising funds to help our pilots cover essential costs such as travel, accommodation, entry fees, and glider transport to the 2026 International Championships in Fayence.

While we’re supported by British Aerobatics, the national governing body for the sport, there’s no financial assistance available for the team. Every contribution will help ensure that Great Britain is once again proudly represented in international glider aerobatic competition — a sport where precision, control, and courage define every flight.

💰 How we’ll spend the money raised

Every penny raised will go directly to team and competition expenses, including:

✈️ Travel and accommodation
🚚 Glider transport and logistics
🎟️ Entry fees and towing costs
🛫 Training and site flights in France

Below is an estimation of the costs it will take the team pilots to get to the Worlds (all costs are approximations):

We’ll share updates, photos, and results along the way so you can see how your support helps the team take flight. You can also check out our website at GliderAeros.org or scan the QR code:

🌍 Community impact

The British Glider Aerobatic Team is part of the wider community nurtured by British Aerobatics, which since 1974 has worked to promote and develop aerobatic flying in the UK.

Our shared aims are to:

• Promote and encourage aerobatic flying as a way of improving piloting skill and safety
• Inspire young pilots to discover aerobatics and pursue competition flying
• Support progressive training and coaching opportunities for all ability levels
• Strengthen the UK’s presence at international competitions
• Build communication between aerobatic pilots and the wider flying community

Aerobatics is a challenging, rewarding, and surprisingly accessible sport — and through our success, we hope to encourage the next generation of pilots to aim higher, fly safer, and represent Britain with pride.

❤️ How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our goal and make this project a success:

Make a pledge. Every contribution, large or small, brings us closer to competing in Fayence.

Spread the word. Share our campaign on social media and tell your friends to back the British team.

Offer rewards. If you’re a local business, donate something we can offer our supporters — we’ll give you a public shoutout!

Fundraise for us. Want to run your own mini-fundraiser or sponsored event? Click the Contact Project button — it only takes a few minutes to set up.

Let’s get Britain back on the international stage.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 24th July 2026 at 7:08pm