Darmstadt D-15 West Preussen BGA.214 glider at Woofa Bank, Ilkley.

During the weekend of 23rd / 24th May 1931 a gliding meeting was organised by the Ilkley Gliding Club in conjuction with Messers J Lyon and Co Ltd (famous for Lyons' Tea and Cakes). A site that was already used by the Ilkley Gliding Club between Addingham and Silsden, at Woofa Bank was selected and it was intended that Lyons' would bring two modern gliders to give gliding demonstrations while the local club and also the Bradford and Leeds clubs would bring their more basic machines. Unfortunately the weather over the weekend was so poor that hardly any flying was done. The wind direction was totally wrong to make flights from the site, periodic thunderstorms and rain also effected the conditions. On Monday, 25th May 1931 the weather improved enough for some flying to take place. Around a thousand people watched the events. Lyons' brought two of what were regarded as being the greatest flying machines in the country at that time. On the Monday their pilot managed to get airborne in the West Preussen glider. He climbed to between 150 and 200 feet, flew toward the eastern end of the hill and turned to return to where it took off. Soon after making the turn the glider entered a spin, the pilot was unable to regain control and it crashed, nose first. The glider was badly damaged but the pilot escaped injury. On the same date gliders belonging to the Ilkley and also the Bradford club were damaged.

Pilot - Mr Hans Werner Krause.