To fly or not to fly By: Dennis Neal Posted: April 21 2004
I had been learning to fly for some months and my membership was about to expire. I had been so dispirited by lack of progress on my part and was certain I would never go solo. I had not been to the club for about six weeks but decided to attend as a final gesture.
I came to gliding from the sport of cycle racing and was looking for something new and better suited to my age, mid 30's.
I had no ties with aviation, and, indeed, was rather afraid of making a fool of myself as I have a fear of heights and to this day can climb no higher than a few steps on a ladder. I also thought I would be sure to be airsick.
After the first couple of flights, the first in a T21 by motor tow and the second in an Eagle by Aerotow, my fears were not much reduced but I talked to a kindly instructor who convinced me that I would not be sick or it would have happened already and that my fear of heights would not be a problem as I was not connected to the ground.
My tenseness gradually eased and I began to take in the basics of my tuition but as I made progress, I watched others who had joined after me going solo and I made a decision that it was perhaps not for me.
When I received my notice of membership fees due, I decicided to go for the last time and say farewell to my buddies and maybe take a final flight.
I did take the flight when my turn came around and did a good launch, circuit and landing in the T21. I took a second flight and that was not so bad either. Climbing out of the cockpit, my instructor asked "What are you waiting for?" and I asked what he meant. "Your glider is waiting for you at the launch point" was the answer. Indeed there at the launch point was the Club Tutor, used then for early solo flying.
Without any to ponder the problems, I got my 6'3" frame into the ugly brute, aand was on my way up to 1000ft and the inevitable back release before I realised what I was doing.
This was it, the moment every rookie pilot dreams of I was flying an open coffin with strutted wings. !000ft sounds pretty good as a launch height but I needed every foot of that to get back to the launch point but managed to achieve a decent final turn for the approach, then the fun started.
The Tutor was never built for persons of my size and when I came to open the spoilers, the handle was stuck under my knee and to pull the handle back meant lifting my left leg which involuntarily led to more pressure on the right rudder, result a massive side slip. I saw members on the ground leap from deck chairs and run clear. fortunately, the wind was straight down the runway and my only solution was to lift both feet off the pedals and the glider sorted itself out and I got down safely. I was allowed to do further solo flights in the T31' a two seat version of the Tutor and was able to use the controls properly.
A few beers later, I paid my membership dues and avowed to learn to fly properly.
Some thirty odd years later, I had to give up gliding and instructing following a motor accident on my way home from giving a Bronze "C" lecture at the Club.
That timorous beginning led to a wonderful lifestyle and now I am completely blind in one eye and have distorted vision in the other. But what memories of my 14,230 launches and nearly 5,000 flying hours I have to keep me company.
I enjoy reading this site, even though in the new format it is sometimes difficult for me, keep the articles coming and keep me amused.
The Dorset Gliding Club made me an Honorary Life Member and the interest is still there but I am forbidden to fly except courtessy of Microsoft.
