Aviator...some gliding stuff

[Rick-a-Roo]

Recently we briefly discussed gliding, and I mentioned my qualifying solo at age 16.

Well, I was just going through one of the boxes of stuff from my previous lives and
came across these items:



So I looked around on YouTube and found the two following clips

The first was made at RAF Hawkinge in 1956 a year before I took my
course at RAF Kenley in 1957.

The first half shows the kid and instructor in the Mark V (maker not
known), which at our school, came later in the program. This is the
same craft as the one in which I solo'd. Some of the cadets standing
around would have been part of the retrieval crews, the others waiting
to fly.

The latter half of the clip shows a Slingsby Sedbergh T21 with
instructor in the right seat and student in the left. This was the craft
in which we had our initial flight experiences. I cannot remember the
number of launches in this craft, possibly 7 or 8 - but in those flights
we learned the procedures to correct stalling and spinning (or was it
spiraling?).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvRq2UpaEmc

<iframe width="624" height="380" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vvRq2UpaEmc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The second clip is just that of a demo flight of the Sedbergh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y19dxd82XCg

<iframe width="878" height="494" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y19dxd82XCg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In all these instances launches were by way of winch.

This has to have been the absolute highlight of my teenage years.
Alas I never flew in gliders again except once a decade or so ago as a
passenger on a paid flight when I bought Kim a flight as a b/d present.

This time in a much more modern craft, but still a thrill.

[aviator]

That is sooo cool! Thanks for sharing that memory.

I've never been in a glider...I'm not built for them at 6'4"

[aviator]

I guess just like our pilots licenses, it doesn't have an expiration date, so you're good to go at it again old chap!

[twin50]

I got to go up in a glider when I was in Germany back in the 80's...It was a winch launch that was a rush in itself. Only time though.

[GARANDNUT]

Always wanted to get a glider rating add on to my commercial certificate but never got around to it. Great training for when the engine goes TU.

[twin50]

Originally Posted by Rick-a-Roo

Recently we briefly discussed gliding, and I mentioned my qualifying solo at age 16.

Well, I was just going through one of the boxes of stuff from my previous lives and
came across these items:



So I looked around on YouTube and found the two following clips

The first was made at RAF Hawkinge in 1956 a year before I took my
course at RAF Kenley in 1957.

The first half shows the kid and instructor in the Mark V (maker not
known), which at our school, came later in the program. This is the
same craft as the one in which I solo'd. Some of the cadets standing
around would have been part of the retrieval crews, the others waiting
to fly.

The latter half of the clip shows a Slingsby Sedbergh T21 with
instructor in the right seat and student in the left. This was the craft
in which we had our initial flight experiences. I cannot remember the
number of launches in this craft, possibly 7 or 8 - but in those flights
we learned the procedures to correct stalling and spinning (or was it
spiraling?).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvRq2UpaEmc

<iframe width="624" height="380" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vvRq2UpaEmc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The second clip is just that of a demo flight of the Sedbergh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y19dxd82XCg

<iframe width="878" height="494" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y19dxd82XCg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

In all these instances launches were by way of winch.

This has to have been the absolute highlight of my teenage years.
Alas I never flew in gliders again except once a decade or so ago as a
passenger on a paid flight when I bought Kim a flight as a b/d present.

This time in a much more modern craft, but still a thrill.

That is pretty cool to have been able to hold onto such memory's over the years.