Up in the clouds

The other day my features editor asked: "How are you in planes without engines?" Before I even had the chance to answer she said "because I've arranged a flight for you."

So, I arrived at Wycombe Air Park in Booker for my trial glider flying lesson with the Booker Gliding Centre. I was a little bit scared and apprehensive at first because everyone knows how gliders go up in the air but the question was how do they come down? Well I was about to find out.

Once I filled out all the necessary forms I was left in the capable hands of Andy Henderson, 50, who is one of the deputy flying instructors at the centre. Thankfully it was a gorgeous hot day but there was a slight wind which Andy told me was not the best weather for flying which is just what I needed to hear.

Andy has been flying gliders for about 18 years and has been an instructor for 15 of them but has only been at the centre for a year after he was asked to join on a full-time basis.

"It's quite easy to fly a glider and anyone can do it from the age of 14 upwards, although you can only get your solo certificate at the age of 16. It's very good value for money.

"We also do courses for people who have had a trial lesson and want to take it up."

As we made our way to the airfield my nerves vanished and I was really looking forward to my flight. Andy said I could fly the plane myself, if I wanted to, and we could do some aerobatics, if I was brave enough.

Andy put my parachute on and told me what to do if there was an emergency and we had to bail out, although he assured me he has never had to do it to date, and then I was ready to be strapped in to the cockpit.

Although the cockpit is quite cramped, the wings are the length of a cricket pitch. And because the plane is made of fibreglass, you can feel the ground through the seat. Not very comforting. Andy showed me the basic controls and how to read the various meters and we were ready for take off.

A tug plane lifted us into the air, and we were off the ground in seconds. It was slightly bumpy because of the wind and I slipped off my seat once or twice, but Andy assured me we were safe.

Once we were 3,000ft off the ground, Andy released the tug and we began to soar. It was the most serene and breath-taking experience I have ever had, and I was really enjoying it. I could feel the hot sun coming through the canopy of the cockpit as we circled the skies above the Chilterns.

We flew over Wycombe, Henley, Marlow and the views were absolutely phenomenal. We could even see as far as Heathrow Airport. Fifteen minutes after being in the air, Andy asked me if I would like to fly the plane on my own with his guidance.

Using the controls Andy had in front of his seat he demonstrated what he wanted me to do. On his instructions I tipped the nose of the plane downwards which speeded it up and then when I pulled the controls gently up again it slowed down. I did a couple of turns by myself and the feeling of being in total control was amazing.

As we were nearing the end of my flight, Andy asked me if I was up for any aerobatics and I said I was, so we turned the plane upside down twice and did a fly-past.

Which nicely brought me on to my most important question: How do we get down?' Andy says: "The glider has brakes which open the air brakes on the wings when it's pulled. We can then glide the plane down onto the ground and the plane will roll to a complete stop.' I felt a little queasy towards the end of the flight, but I was told this was normal because of the windy weather and it being my first flight.

Andy added: "It takes a bit of time to get used to the pressure and altitudes. Normal planes are pressurised so you don't feel it so much."

Although gliding looks expensive it's not as costly as flying normal powered planes. It costs around £500 a year to join Booker Glider Centre and that price includes all your necessary training and membership. The only thing you have to pay for are your launches and the hire of a tug plane for your launch which costs around £50 in total.

The costs was one of the reason Hannah Hay, 25, joined the centre and she is now addicted to the sport. She had a her first trial lesson at the age of 15 but could not take it up until she was at university.

She says: "I have been gliding for about three-and-a-half years now and I absolutely love it. I'm totally addicted to it. I decided to take it up because I wanted to take my mind off uni, and now I do it as often as I can. I wanted to learn to fly a power plan but it was just too expensive. Gliding is much cheaper to learn and do."

Hannah is also a deputy flying instructor at the centre and runs the cadet schemes for 14 - 16 year olds.

Teenagers can join the cadets and can exchange a day's work at the centre for air time. Once they accumulated enough hours of experience most of them are ready to take their solo test on their 16th birthday.

Hannah added: "I wish I had joined a cadet scheme when I was younger. I got into gliding a bit late which means I have only got one year left to be eligible for the Junior National Championships which are for people aged between 16 and 26.

"The other thing I like about gliding is I can be on the same level as men. We are not treated differently. I travel more than two hours to come to this centre because the people and the club atmosphere are great, and I have made lots of friends."

Members of the centre regularly enter competitions and Booker holds its own regional competition which is currently taking place this week.

Andy Perkins, 26, first went up in a glider at the age of three while on his mum's knee and got his solo flight on his 16th birthday. He was the Junior National champion last year and has done a 750km flight with the centre.

He says: "I got in to gliding because of my parents. They were both gliders. Once I got my solo flight I did it professionally, both as an instructor and as a competitor.

"Its really good fun and the people here are fantastic. You can start at any age but you need to be over 12 really and tall enough to wear a parachute. I would definitely recommend it."

For more information about joining the Booker Gliding Centre call 01494 442501 or visit www.bookergliding.co.uk