My Uplifting Gliding Experience William Churchill St John’s School Leatherhead

                The day started at 8:30 at the base where we had an introductory briefing of airfield safety and how to use the Grob Viking, the glider we were going to be using. It explained how to get into the aircraft, operate the controls and how in the event of an aircraft systems failure bail out of the aircraft and deploy your parachute. We then proceeded to another room where they had an agricultural mock-up of the Grob Viking’s cockpit, with 5-point safety harness and simulated canopy. There was also a demonstration parachute for us to put on and acclimatise to wearing it. We each in turn got into the demonstration article and we went through how to get out of the aircraft in a hurry in the event of us having to bail out, I think I did alright in this. We then proceeded back to the briefing room we were in 15 minutes before and went through who was in charge for the day and the weather checks, with multiple different charts displayed on the screen, I never knew quite how much it played into aircraft flying, I will get back to this later. The four of us then proceeded to the next room along, where we were weighed, so the plane could be correctly balanced and we were tested to make sure we were able to pull our parachute’s D-ring in the case of having to bail out of the aircraft, it was difficult.

                We then proceeded onto the airfield and to where the glider and control tower was located. We then spoke about how to launch and recover the glider, as we would be helping in this endeavour as well. We first looked out how to control and handle the cable, as we were going to be winch launched into the air, and the cable should always be treated as being live, so no one would be injured. We were instructed to hold it in a loop through our hands, so if it suddenly moved only a small amount went through our hand. We were then taught how to attach it to the belly of the glider in a small section between the two tandemly located seats. We were then all given a go at doing this and testing to make sure it was attached correctly. We were then all taught how to hold the wings level, as the glider only had wheels along the centreline, like a U-2 spy-plane, so would tip over if it was not being held up. We were also taught how to hold it, so we did not get pulled up with the plane or get or hands injured and all the different hand signals we had to do. The first launch was now imminent.

The first of the four of us got ready and put their parachute on and got into the aircraft and the instructor completed their pre-flight checks in the backseat, with the passenger at the front. The instructor then completed all the roles, so we could see what was going on, and they launched the glider, which was exciting, they went near vertical as they launched. After only a couple of minutes they came in for a landing at an incredibly high approach speed, with airbrakes deployed and everything and made a perfect landing. We then all ran out to the aircraft to prepare it for the next flight.

I was put in charge of raising the wing and I personally think I did a good job. For the next flight I was put in charge of attaching the cable to the aircraft. I then had a rest for the next one, then did the cable again. We then had to stop due to the weather.

The third person went up and flew, which went well, then the pilot said they could not fly as the cloud base was too low and they can’t fly in cloud, and it was raining.

We then waited for a good couple of hours to see if I would be able to fly and experience the insane acceleration of being pulled up into the sky by a winch. After waiting in the school bus for 45 minutes we were given the go ahead to fly, I could go up. The plane was prepared, and I put my parachute on, and prepared to get on. A rush of rain came over me.

It was cancelled.

I did not end up flying and the glider was wheeled back into the hangar and that was it. We got a photo with all the aircraft in the hangers and by the side of the aircraft and we then headed back to school.

It was a great experience to be around such skilled individuals who knew so much about their subject and were so professional. I am looking forward to hopefully flying soon with the CCF and I think I will enjoy it even more than before.