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Two first solos in one week
6th June 2004
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Two members of Andreas Gliding Club gained their wings this week when Derek Callister from Peel and Graeme Howie from Andreas took to the skies on their own for the first time.
Derek made his first solo flight at the Cotswold Gliding Club on Tuesday (2nd June) whilst on holiday in the UK and Graeme on Sunday 6th June at Andreas airfield.
Graeme, who lives locally in Andreas said "when Bob told me he would like to get out of the back seat now and asked if I would like to take this up by myself now I couldn't believe it. I really wasn't expecting to go solo today". Graeme added "I was a little nervous but was confident I could do it - what a fantastic feeling!".
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Graeme gets well earned congratulations from the CFI
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Derek Callister took to the skies solo at the Cotswolds GC airfield at Aston Down airfield in Gloustershire. Derek told us that he went to Aston Down with the aim of consolidating his training from Andreas Gliding Club. He said "I really didn't expect to come home a solo pilot, like most people faced with taking an aircraft around on your own I felt quite apprehensive, yet I knew I could do it. Once the glider is in the air all your fears disappear, the training clicks in and you do everything you were taught to do. The feeling when you land is indescribable - what an adrenaline rush! It was so good I did another 11 solo flights before coming home."
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Bob Fennell, Chief Flying Instructor, said "...this is an event that both Graeme and Derek will remember for the rest of their lives. It is no easy achievement and I have to say that they have both worked hard to get this far. This is just the first step towards learning the skills needed to soar the thermals and hill lift we have in the Isle of Man".
Bob also added "The sport of gliding is open to anyone in the Isle of Man, we particularly want to encourage air minded youngsters to take up the sport. It's an inexpensive and safe adventure activity that will introduce them directly to flying with the real chance of flying solo. In fact we have three young students who where lucky enough to win scholarships from the Royal Aeronautical Society currently learning the very same skills as Graeme and Derek, we hope it won't be too long before they too go solo".
For more details about Gliding in the Isle of Man call Tom Wiseman (Chairman) on 861863 or Bob Fennell (CFI) on 817659
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