Gliding

    "On Saturday 25th October 2003 a group of three cadets were taken up to Wethersfield for our gliding lessons. During the day we were taught how to glide, as well as how to attach the glider and send it up into the air.

Cdt. Campen in the glider - The Grob Viking

    First we were taken into a small room where we watched a video on gliding. This video was not very different to the one we have seen on flying. Then we were shown around the glider, shown how to get in, and shown what to touch and what not to touch. Then, after about 5 minutes, we were told to get into the back of a Land Rover to be taken over to the runway. Cpl. Robinson was taken up almost straight away after being used as an example for "how to put on a parachute". Cdt. Campen went next, and finally me. While Cpl. Robinson was getting ready for takeoff, one of the instructors told Cdt. Campen and I what to do to get him into the air. 2 people are needed for this.

    The first person stands next to the wing, while the second person goes to get the wire. The pilot then says to the wing person, "level wing", which means the wing person must then lift the wing to make the glider level for takeoff. Then the pilot says, "cable on" which is when the second person puts a small ring up into the bottom of the glider. The second person will say, "open" and the pilot opens the clip and confirms the order, "open". Now you say, "close" and the pilot closes the clip and the loop should be held in place. the pilot then confirms the order, "close" and he should be ready for takeoff. To make sure the wire is on you stand up and give the wire a tug and move the glider a few inches.

    Now the person on the win has their go. The pilot will say, "all clear" if there are no gliders above and behind, or, "not clear" if if there is. If clear then the pilot will put up his index finger and say, "take down the slack". The wing person will then confirm this order to the pilot and he will give a signal to the winch a mile and a half down the runway. "Take down the slack" means that the winch must then begin to winch in the wire. When the slack has all gone the pilot will put two fingers up and shout out, "all out" and you have to confirm this so that the pilot can signal the winch to pull him out at an extremely fast speed (0-60 in 3.4 seconds). The glider will then shoot down the runway and be off the ground in about 15 metres.

Two Grob Vikings holding next to the runway.

    At the peak of the climb (1500ft) the nose of the glider will then start to point to the ground. Then the pilot will release the cable and the glider's nose will then come back up to the proper height. Once the glider is in the air the pilot can teach you about rolls, pitch, and other tricks if you ask him.

Various views from inside the glider

    All together the day was extremely good as well as extremely cold, and the people who went would like to say "thankyou" to the C.O. for taking us!"

Cdt. Ford-Lissenden

(Photos by Cpl. Robinson)