The Sky's the Limit
Head of Technology Robert Furness reports:
The annual trip to the Scottish Gliding Centre with pupils from the Advanced Higher Technological Studies class takes place in March. In the context of the Structures and Materials unit of the course, and after having heard about the forces on an aircraft in flight, the pupils are given the opportunity to fly with an instructor in a modern two-seater glider.
"It was a great experience to be able to fly the glider. The views from that height were incredible, it makes you want to go up there again and again." David Haughney [S6]
Weather Conditions
As in previous years, we had set aside a number of dates as we require suitable conditions for staying aloft - a wind of around 15 knots from between south west and north west, and no rain. The night before the first reserved day there was much consulting of meteorological websites, and a telephone conversation with Ricky Jackson, the father of former pupils Miranda and Gavin, and our instructor for the day. The verdict was inconclusive, and so we consulted again at 7:15 the next morning. The wind strength and direction looked good for sustained flight, but there was a strong likelihood of rain. However, it looked like there might be a break in the weather, and so we set off from school at 8:30 am.
Arriving at the Scottish Gliding Centre on the shores of Loch Leven, near Kinross, our spirits were dampened: it was raining continuously, as it had been since we left Glasgow. The steep Bishop Hill, along which we were to fly lifted up by the winds rising over it, was shrouded in orographic cloud, and the prospects of flights for the six pupils and for Mrs Fyfe, Head of Mathematics, did not look good.
However, after spending some time in the clubhouse the rain began to clear, and we proceeded to move the equipment onto the airfield: the launch caravan, the retrieve truck, and the sleek, fibreglass glider.
First Pupil Aloft
Following a safety briefing, the first pupil was strapped into the front seat with the instructor in the seat behind. After a delay as the last rain cleared, and raindrops were wiped from the wings and canopy, the winch cable was attached, the necessary signals sent to the winch driver about half a mile away, and the glider was whisked along the ground. It accelerated swiftly, took to the air after a short ground run, and climbed steeply to around 1,000 feet, at which point the cable was released. The glider was flown to the Bishop Hill to gain more height, and the pupil had some time at the controls. After about 20 minutes in the air, pupil and instructor returned safely to terra firma in a smooth landing. The glider was towed back to the launch point, and the next pupil was sent aloft.
Head of Maths takes the Controls
Thus we proceeded throughout the day, the last flight being that of Mrs Fyfe. "As Mrs Fyfe was being strapped into the front seat of the glider", said Ricky Jackson, "she was heard to say, ‘Oh, don't worry about my not being able to reach the rudder pedals - I won't be taking the controls anyway! You'll be doing all the flying!' As it turned out, Mrs Fyfe was on the controls for most of the flight and was every bit as good a pilot as the S6 year pupils!"
A fantastic experience - exhilarating to leave the ground with a 'whoosh' and gain quiet contemplation of the vagaries of life below." Mrs Fyfe (a self-confessed silver-haired granny!)
Shortly after Mrs Fyfe landed the rain started again. It had turned out to be a very successful day - everyone had a flight of 20 minutes, and a turn at the controls. There were many tired but very satisfied passengers in the minibus on the way back to Glasgow.
We are very grateful to Ricky Jackson for his patient, reassuring and competent instruction during the day; to our winch driver, Neil, who worked through his lunch break to ensure that everyone had a flight; and to the Scottish Gliding Centre for the use of the aircraft and facilities, and for allowing us to fly at reduced rates.
"Climbing to 1200 ft in a matter of seconds was exhilarating in itself! Yet getting the chance to learn to fly a plane under instruction made the outing even more special!" Andrew Fraser [S6]