As I read with glee, Pete’s entries in his blog about learning to fly, it takes me back to 20 years this month, August 1986 when I completed my first solo in England. As child growing up in England, I was bitten by the aviation bug at a very early age, and I remember my first flight. It was with British Airways flying from London to Edinburgh with my father. I recall being fascinated at the way this piece of metal could get airborne and stay in the air. I was five and wanted to become a pilot.
At aged 13 I joined the Air Training Corps (ATC), which is similar to the Civil Air Patrol, here in the US. The ATC has 27 gliding squadrons located around the country and I was 18, I was chosen to do a Basic Gliding Course (BGT) as they were known then. I turned up at 613 Volunteer Gliding School (613VGS) based on RAF Halton and flew my first sortie with my instructor. I went the following two Saturday’s and after 5½ hours total flying my instructor got out and sent me solo. It was at 6.30pm in the evening in ZA667. I remember flying downwind in the pattern and it suddenly hit me – I am alone up here – by myself. I started singing, talking and grinning. I made a reasonable landing and was met by my instructor – Ian Mullan. It was then that my heart rate suddenly shot up! All of a sudden I became nervous. Ian told me that was a normal response. My first solo was in an motorglider called a Venture TMk2. I was so smitten by the flying bug, I asked to stay on the school and become a member of staff, learning how to become an instructor. I realized that this year is my 20th year on the school. I have made some wonderful friends on the school and am now a Commissioned Officer in the RAF Volunteer Reserve and in 1991 we switched from the Venture to the Grob 109b. In that time, I have gained my Private Pilots License, and my instrument rating. I have owned a share in a YAK52 – a 360hp Russian 2-seat aerobatic behemoth, have flown numerous times across the English Channel to France for lunch, joined the CAP as a search and rescue pilot, sent youngsters on their first solo’s, been PIC in about 20 different types of airplane, flown at 480kts at 80feet, yes 80feet above the ground in a Harrier Jump Jet and done aerobatics at 32,000 feet in a Hawk jet trainer.
The flying bug that I have been bitten with has no known cure, other than getting into an airplane and temporarily relieving the symptoms. I thank the good Lord that he has given me the ability to fly and I treasure this privilege more than anyone can imagine. I have a three year old daughter and my sincere hope is that one day, she too will be bitten by the same bug as me.
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