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|
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| Gareth
Lloyd |
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| Last
month, our intrepid reporter took control of a helicopter at
Cranfield. This time he found out what it's like to fly over
the Chilterns - without an engine! |
Having
had a fantastic time a few weeks ago flying a helicopter I was asked
to try my hand at gliding.
I’ve
seen them flying over the Chiltern Hills from the London Gliding
Club since I was tiny and it’s always been something I’d
wanted to do, only one thing worried me…there’s no engine!
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| Gareth's
latest mode of transport awaits him |
On
arriving I went straight into the reception area and registered
before having to drive around the huge perimeter of the air field
on a rough mud track, to find a yellow mobile control tower on the
far West side.
I was
introduced to my pilot who would be taking me through my paces.
Adrian Hobbs, like me, was a fairly big guy and I still could not
imagine how we could possibly stay in the air without an engine
powering us.
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| Gareth
looks a bit nervous |
I had
the choice of either being winched up to 1,000 feet or being aerotowed
to 2,000 feet. Being the dare devil I am I chose the latter!
Adrian
drove us in a little buggy to collect our glider, which had just
landed on the other side of the field.
We
turned it round and hooked it onto the back of the buggy and walked
it slowly back to where it needed to be for take off. I held one
of the wings, which were really long in relation to the tiny cockpit.
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| Adrian
explains how it stays in the air |
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| It's
a bit cramped - but he's in |
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| Well
worth it - the view over Dunstable |
While
the glider was being hooked on to the plane that would take us up,
Adrian set me up for our flight.
Firstly
I was put into my parachute, which wasn’t the most comfortable
item for a bloke to be wearing, and then I was squeezed into the
front seat.
My
legs had to be bent right up for them to fit in and even when I
was slouched right down into the seat the canopy that went over
me was touching the top of my head.
Once
Adrian was shut into the cockpit behind me, we had to do all of
the pre-flight checks including ensuring that when the rudder was
pushed left, the left flap did move.
Oddly
enough so did the right (which Adrian assured me was supposed to
happen). He then gave the aeroplane pilot a hand signal and we were
off.
We
were dragged at a considerable speed, so fast I wondered what exact
hand signal Adrian had given. I was also worried at how close to
the end of the field we were getting before we had even taken off.
The ride up was extremely bumpy; in fact I queried why on earth
I’d agreed to this!! |
|
Gareth
Lloyd
|
The
ride up was extremely bumpy; in fact I queried why on earth I’d
agreed to this!! In the end the plane managed to carry the huge
weight that was sat inside our glider to the full 2000 feet, when
it released us.
The
minute we were released it felt amazing, the sudden silence, the
amazing views. I felt free; the only thing keeping me up was the
heat from the sun and I was literally on a natural high.
Adrian
taught me how to use all the controls and even let me take over
to guide the glider through the clouds and over Bedfordshire. I
handled it well, but despite being a lot easier than the helicopter,
I don’t think I was quite ready for any of the wild aerobatics
that were on offer. In all honesty, I don’t think my stomach
would have coped!!
|
The only thing keeping me up was the heat from the sun and I
was literally on a natural high |
|
Gareth
Lloyd
|
I brought
the glider round to a point where we could think about landing and
Adrian took over the controls to take us down. The landing, like
the taking off was very bumpy, so I was quite relieved that it didn’t
take long to bring the glider to a halt.
My
experience with the London Gliding Club was one of the most liberating
experiences of my life. Admittedly I was lucky to have had such
good weather- I wouldn’t fancy doing it on a dark cloudy winter’s
day, but this is something I would recommend to anyone!
| Helen
Whittaker, Leighton Buzzard |
Wednesday
30
October, 2002 |
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| Well
Gareth I'm amazed, there are obviously people out there brave
enough to go up in the air with you and no engine. Seriously
though, well done. |
| Naomi,
Flitwick |
Monday
28
October, 2002 |
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| hey
Gareth well done!! I wouldnt do it better myself! |
| Ingrid
Willis, Luton |
Monday
28
October, 2002 |
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| Nice
one Gareth! Ron tried it once, and felt sick for days!! Mind
you it was extremely windy at the time - in fact if it had been
any worse they wouldn't have gone up. When are you going to
start your training. What next, a Jumbo Jet?? |
| Leanne
Spark, Milton Keynes |
Monday
28
October, 2002 |
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| Nice
one Big Cheese! I'm very impressed, didn't think you had much
guts, but i think i have changed my mind now! |
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