Jacquie Budd takes to the air ...
Jacquie Budd gliding
Sky-high above the Long Mynd
Jacquie Budd takes to the air ...
Strapped into a parachute and anchored firmly to the glider ’ s seat , I watched the winch rope slowly tighten . Three , deep breath . Two , deep breath . One … and woosh , we were airborne . Catapulted into the air , climbing so steeply that the grey clouds above were my only view . Then we levelled out and the vista opened up , floating high above the Long Mynd .
They say gliding is the closest humans can get to flying like a bird , and it ’ s easy to see why . Gliders have no engines so , just like birds , they soar in the air by using air currents . But , unlike birds , they need a little outside assistance to get them airborne . At the Midland Gliding Club near Church Stretton , that happens via a winch system . They attach a steel cable to the glider , then wind it in with a powerful engine – launching the glider to over 1,000 feet in seconds .
I had the chance to experience this firsthand during the taster session arranged for the Big Weekend . The gliding club , founded in 1934 , is one of the oldest in the UK and boasts a place in aviation history ; Amy Johnson , the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia , joined as an active member in 1937 .
On the morning of our flight the weather was far from ideal , with rain
photos Ronald Turnbull and low cloud . But the Met Office promised clearer skies later in the day , so we set off for the airfield with cautious optimism . Thankfully , the clubhouse was warm and welcoming and had an endless supply of tea . We also passed the time on a life sized simulator , putting our skills at piloting a glider to the test .
The clouds cleared , and we got the go ahead to fly . I was up first and , before long , was strapped into a parachute – just in case – and securely anchored to the cockpit . If the worst happened and we had to abandon mid-flight , I ’ d need to stand up and jump out . Even if the pilot did shout “ Bail ” I wasn ’ t sure I could bring myself to leave that little haven of security !
I held onto the straps of my harness , grounding myself , and watched as the winch cable slowly tightened . Our runway was a grassy field perched on top of the Long Mynd . If we didn ’ t take flight , we ’ d run out of land and end up 650ft above the valley anyway !
And then we were airborne , catapulted into the air , climbing so steeply that all I could see were the clouds above . Then , just as quickly , the pilot levelled the glider and we began soaring along the ridge , looking down on the patchwork of fields below , dotted with tiny white sheep .
Without an engine , all I could hear was the wind whistling past the cockpit . The skies had cleared , giving us breathtaking views of the Shropshire Hills and Wales beyond . I turned down the offer of taking control and , instead , sat back , relaxed , and learned about the landmarks .
The air currents along the ridge kept our height at a steady 1,250 feet , gently gliding back and forth . But all too soon , it was time to descend , and that ’ s when I began to feel unsure . Didn ’ t commercial airliners use their engines to land safely ? How on earth would we manage without ?
We lined up with the airfield and I glanced at the altimeter . We were still high , looking like we ’ d overshoot the landing site . But the pilot expertly guided us back down using the air brakes ( small flaps on the wings ), and we landed gracefully on the grass . It was the smoothest aircraft landing I ’ ve ever experienced .
Back on solid ground , I caught up with the rest of our group . “ What did you think ?” I asked . “ Bloody marvellous !” they replied with a big grin .
I couldn ’ t have agreed more .
If you are interested in trying gliding for yourself , the Midland Gliding Club welcomes visitors for trial flights or week-long courses and can be contacted via the form on their website ( www . midlandgliding . club ) or by email to office @ midlandgliding . club
Winter 2024 – 25 OUTDOOR FOCUS 13