Cercle Luxembourgeois de Vol à Voile
HistoryOn 9 March 1958, the statutes of the Luxembourg Gliding Club (CLVV) were signed by 35 enthusiasts. At first, the club had neither an airfield nor aircraft, but after the dissolution of the gliding section of LASEL, the CLVV received its equipment and continued operations at Reichelange.
In 1958, the CLVV became a member of the Luxembourg Aero‑Club and thereby of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale.
The airfield at Reichelange was difficult to use due to its short 600‑metre runway. After an unsuccessful search for a suitable airfield in Luxembourg, the club moved to Basse‑Yutz in France at the end of 1958 and remained there until 1963.
In 1963, the CLVV returned to Luxembourg and operated from the “Bésenerbierg” in Reckingen/Mersch. The site proved too small for all members and equipment, leading to a split:
- – The “Northern Group” formed in 1962 under instructor René Geiben and operated from Useldange.
- – The “Southern Gliding Club” was founded in 1967 in Dudelange but continued flying under the CLVV’s umbrella.
In winter 1969/1970, activities at Reckingen ended when the landowners terminated the lease. The club had to leave Luxembourg again, this time relocating to Virton in Belgium, where all installations were rebuilt.
During winter 1973/1974, the CLVV left Belgium. As the Northern Club still had a field at Useldange but only a few members, both clubs merged in 1974. After many years of moving between different airfields, the CLVV finally established a permanent base at Useldange. In 1979, the Luxembourg State purchased the necessary land to secure continued gliding operations.
History of CLVV
The club achieved several sporting milestones:
- Renato Zanitzer participated in the World Gliding Championships in 1978.
- René Geiben represented Luxembourg at the German Championships in 1980.
- Daniel Zanitzer competed in the first European Glider Aerobatics Championship in 1984.
- Carlo Lecuit received the Paul Tissandier Diploma from the FAI in 2004 and has been President of the FAL since 2006.
Initiated in 2008 by Arnold Weber, the “Sauer‑Cup” became a cross‑border competition between pilots from CLVV and neighbouring German clubs.
Since 1974, the Useldange airfield has been operated exclusively by the CLVV and fully developed with substantial support from the Luxembourg State. The club has a 1200 m² hangar and a 1000 × 60 m grass runway. Useldange is home to the National Gliding School and the National Gliding Centre.
IIn 2018, the CLVV owns 6 gliders (3 single-seaters and 2 double-seaters) and a motorglider. The club thus has a complete type of series, from the glider to the glider with retractable motor and a touring motor gliderl.
