Dorset Gliding Club, Purbeck; Purbeck Flying Festival Marks a New Era for Eyres Field
20 June 2026
Report by Colin Coulthard and Sheila Coulthard
The inaugural Purbeck Flying Festival took place on 20 June 2026, signalling the beginning of a new chapter for Eyres Field. Early conditions were far from ideal, with mist and low cloud covering much of southern England, yet by late morning the weather improved sufficiently to welcome a steady flow of visitors. The event served as the public introduction to Purbeck Flying, the new aviation organisation now based at the airfield.
Eyres Field has undergone significant change in recent months. The Dorset Gliding Club, long‑standing residents of the site, were unable to secure a renewed lease and subsequently vacated the airfield. Their equipment has been placed in storage, and many glider owners have relocated to other sites, though some may return in due course. The departure marked the end of an era, but it also created the opportunity for a new enterprise to take root.
Established on 1 April 2026, Purbeck Flying is led by leaseholder, Chief Pilot and general dogs body Nick Barnes, who outlined the organisation’s intention to develop Eyres Field into a broad‑based aviation hub. The aim is to support motor gliders, microlights, general aviation aircraft, model flying, and a wider community of air‑minded enthusiasts. The Parish Council has expressed support for the initiative, and an application for affiliation with the British Gliding Association is already underway. Although the gliding winches have been removed, a tug pilot has committed to providing aerotow launches on a regular basis, ensuring that gliding remains a viable activity at the site.
The festival was designed to introduce both local residents and visiting pilots to the airfield’s renewed purpose. Despite the challenging start to the day, Eyres Field had received between 80 and 90 expressions of interest from pilots wishing to attend. Once conditions improved, approximately two dozen aircraft arrived, representing a diverse range of types. Among them were a vintage Travel Air 4000, a Pegasus Quik weight‑shift microlight, a Grob G 109 motorglider, and a Cessna 180. Their presence reflected the inclusive aviation environment Purbeck Flying aims to cultivate.
On the ground, visitors were welcomed with refreshments and a well‑received barbecue. Eyres Field RC provided a display of model aircraft, while former Dorset Gliding Club member Carol Marshall demonstrated the rigging of her Alisport Silent 2 Electro. The modern electric glider, weighing only 300 kg including motor, batteries, and pilot, was assembled in approximately 15 minutes. Its folding propeller system, which deploys automatically on engine start and retracts to reduce drag, drew considerable interest. The airfield is also home to another electric aircraft, the Rotec Rally G‑MVRF, notable for its exceptionally light 7 kg electric drivetrain.
Throughout the day, the atmosphere remained welcoming and collegial, with visiting pilots engaging in discussion with club members and sharing their experiences. Purbeck Flying places particular emphasis on hospitality; pilots arriving by air (PPR required) can expect to be greeted personally with refreshments and conversation. Enquiries regarding membership and hangar space are already being received on a near‑daily basis.
Environmental considerations form an important part of the organisation’s ethos. In addition to supporting electric aircraft, the airfield features a substantial array of solar panels adjacent to the clubhouse. Regular gatherings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month, as well as on Saturdays, when flying activities are often accompanied by a barbecue.
Few airfields successfully integrate powered flight and gliding operations. The development of Purbeck Flying will therefore be watched with interest, both locally and within the wider aviation community. The festival demonstrated that Eyres Field retains a strong spirit of aviation enthusiasm, and the prospects for its future appear promising.
