THE PRIMARY CLUB

The Ultimate Gliding Experience!

The ultimate gliding experience eventually took place on Thursday 13th July 2006. Two previous attempts were abandoned due to high winds and a thunderstorm. The 13th was a perfect night for gliding. The sun shone, the thermals were excellent and a skylark could be heard singing high up in the sky. Everybody arrived in good time and had plenty of time to feel a glider and to ask questions.

After feeling the glider George remarked that it was like he remembered sailplanes to be with long slim wings. He likened the glider to an Albatross - aerodynamically sound. He was feeling OK and excited about going up in the glider.

Linda thought the plane was much, much, much bigger than she had expected but the cockpit was much smaller than she had expected. She was feeling worried, nervous and very anxious about the forthcoming flight.

Johnny said the glider was very clean and well looked after. He was excited about the flight - but was there a toilet anywhere?

Dave and Phill felt full of anticipation but slightly apprehensive about flying in the glider especially as it was so thin and made of plastic.

Marylyn was surprised at how sleek and birdlike the plane felt. She was feeling calm and looking forward to having a rough ride!

Audrey and Jim were looking forward to the experience. We all made our way to the far end of the runway, which was really just a big field on top of a plateau. Two gleaming gliders were waiting attached to little planes by very long thin ropes. As George had heard that the bar was open and Linda was getting so nervous we were worried she might back out, these two brave members of BlindVoice UK went up first.

Getting into the glider was quite tricky but the volunteers were very patient and understanding. Some of the passengers sat in the front of the cockpit and some in the back depending on their size and weight compared to their pilot. Everyone was fitted with a parachute that was strapped over the shoulders and around the legs. Phill had a slight misfortune when the lady tightened both his leg straps at the same time pulling his legs together suddenly at the same time. Ahh!
All the flights went up and landed perfectly.

George landed and when asked what he thought of the flight said, ‘Champion – brilliant. I enjoyed it. It beats power flights. Better than I imagined.’

Linda said, ‘I’d rather go up there than on a big dipper any day.’ 
Marylyn said, ‘Terrific – everything and more than I expected.’
Audrey said, ‘Wonderful, absolutely wonderful, like a motorbike ride without the noise.’
Jim found the experience very pleasant and gentle.
According to his pilot, Dave had a very interesting reaction to doing a loop the loop, he put his fingers in his ears.
Johnny’s first words on landing were ‘Wey hey!’
Phill was equally thrilled and managed to say, ‘Oh wow! That was amazing.’ as the cockpit was opened.

We all retired to the bar where a new beer called wonky donkey was found very refreshing by some of our party. We were also given a lovely buffet with some home made cake. The volunteers were all friendly and couldn’t have been more helpful making the whole night a wonderful experience that we will never forget.