Hols-der-Teufel 1 BGA.127(2) glider at Sutton Bank.

On Sunday, 13th October 1935 members of the Yorkshire Gliding Club held a flying meeting at Sutton Bank. During the day this pilot launched off the south slope but lost height almost immediately so landed downwind a couple of minutes later without incident. As there were no other pilots ready to fly the glider was re-attached to the launch winch and he took off again a short time later. After four minutes of flying the glider entered into a spin, the pilot lost control and it crashed onto what was described as being the "first terrace". The pilot sustained a sprained ankle and minor head injuries. The glider was extensively damaged, so much so that it was described as being fit for firewood for the clubhouse stove. This Hols glider was the first glider to be flown from the Sutton Bank site by what became known as the Yorkshire Gliding Club.

Pilot - Mr Henry Taylor Blakeston.


In the Winter 1985 newsletter of the Vintage Glider Club Harold Holdsworth mentions the crash of the Hols Der Teufel Mk.2 in which he states that Henry Blakeston crashed into the south slope of Roulston Scar. After this Mr Holdsworth was asked to rebuild the glider by Fred Slingsby in his Kirkbymoorside workshop over the 1935-36 Winter. BGA.127 appears to have not been the Mk.2 though.