Club facilities

The SGC
has a long
history, going back
to early experiments at
soaring the local hills in the 1930's.
The site in its present location was
established in the 1950's to take advantage
of the ridge-soaring possibilities of the adjacent
Lomond and Benarty hills. Hill-soaring remains a
popular activity, although with the increases in performance
of modern gliders, much higher and longer flights are now
possible in suitable weather conditions, using thermal and wave lift.

The SGC club main fleet of consists of modern glass fibre gliders,
including two standard-control K21 training two-seaters, one hand-controlled K21,
a high-performance DG505 two-seater, and three single-seaters for use by more advanced
pilots. Many club-members also have their own private gliders. There are also a number of light
aircraft based onsite, including one or more glider "tugs."

Portmoak is a grass airfield, with runways available to
suit most wind directions. Casual visitors please note this
fact carefully - aircraft land on grass here, and may arrive from
any direction! Gliders make no noise, so you won't be aware of their approach. There may also be steel launch-cables lying on the runway.
These are highly dangerous. Therefore, don't wander (or drive) around on open grass-areas, or on the perimeter-roads without reporting to the clubhouse first.

The clubhouse, with panoramic views of the flying operations, offers basic but comfortable accommodation, snacks, teas and meals, and a licensed bar is available to SGC members. Clubhouse meals, which are of high quality and reasonably priced, are popular with non-flying visitors as well as our own members, especially in view of the interesting view outside, one which not many other restaurants can compete with!

The local area, which is mostly rural in nature and of considerable scenic beauty, offers a wide range of other outdoor activities. A large indoor shopping-mall with ramp access is available at Glenrothes, about 6m distant.

For more information, see the

One of the key developments associated with
WoA was to modify the access to the clubhouse,
in order to permit unaided wheelchair access. As the clubhouse is on a relatively-high foundation, this necessitated the building of a long "wrap-around" ramp, from the car park to the main entrance. The ramp is gentle enough to permit a wheelchair user with normal strength to negotiate it.
In addition, a completely new toilet and shower-block was commissioned. This includes level access to a toilet and shower, both of which have ample space in which to manoeuvre a wheelchair. There is ample free car parking, which is situated on the far side of the clubhouse as you approach from the main entrance. Please do not leave cars unattended in front of the hangars or fuelling-point, as aircraft need access to these at all times.