Northampton Hang-Gliding Club is one of the oldest clubs in the country, starting in the early 70's under the guidance of Ben and Chris Ashman, Robin Rhodes and other pioneers.
The early Rogallo experiments were in wood and polythene sheet, only later and after many disasters, progressing to aluminium and rip-stop nylon.
The first recorded meeting appears to be the AGM held on 15th January 1975, at the Three HorseShoes, Ecton. where under the Chairmanship of John Sharpe a draft Constitution was drawn up. At that time the annual subscription was 2 pounds, with 25 pence per meeting.
The first newsletter was also proposed by Ben Ashman, with the title of Sky !.

In August of 1975, the club had acquired sufficient aluminium tube, together with the necessary wire and a swaging tool, to allow for the manufacture of a club glider, at the cost of £58.62. The club glider was hired out for training puposes, at 50p per day to the member.
Inflation seems to have set in since then !

An early training flight, circa 1978, aboard a kit-built Flexiform Spirit..

Since these early days, the club has had many competition successes, regularly appearing in the Club XC League, and with individual pilots being highly placed in the National Hang Gliding XC League Table.

The club has also been in the forefront of promoting the use of microlight towing in this country, being involved in very early negotiations with the BHPA and CAA.

This is a scene of Aerotowing at the BHPA Festival of Free-flight at RAF Wroughton