Did some gliding from Great Hucklow a good few years ago. My first flight was quite short as the instructor had no luck in finding any lift and was little more than a circuit to land. Despite this the experience of a winch launch came as quite a shock, from being sat stationary with your arse a few inches off the floor to being at around 1000ft in a few seconds was enough to warrant the need of a stewards enquiry regarding ones underwear shortly after landing, the almighty bang you hear when the cable gets released also increases the danger of unwanted contact with cloth.
My second flight came a couple of hours later with another instructor who was a former RAF Lightning pilot and instructor. Now being prepared for the launch and the big bang, i was quite relaxed and looking forward to seeing the Peak district from the air on what was now a stunning summer evening. The launch this time was most enjoyable and the cable release only caused a minor heart attack. However within seconds Douglas Bader in the back seat had found some lift and had banked sharply and the ride once again got interesting as he took us up to 4000ft.
Having reached this altitude my instructor announced that as I was up here I may as well learn to fly the aircraft before saying the dreaded words of "you have control". For the next half hour the bloke sat behind me shouting "relax your bloody shoulders" "lighter on the stick" "get the bloody nose down" "relax or you wont feel the aircraft". At a point he had taken back control for some reason i cannot begin to fathom I foolishly asked what a stall and spiral spin involved? (having heard such a thing mentioned by another instructor on the ground and not having liked the sound of it). What followed wasnt funny, I really did come close to shitting myself.
When we finally landed there were quite a few grinning faces who had been roundly entertained watching a real life "spring chicken to shite hawk" lesson from the safety of the ground. I got the bug and went back most weeks for a few months sadly finances wouldnt stretch to continuing but I really would recommend a trip to Great Hucklow for an air experience flight if nothing else. Lovely little bar as well where you can recover with a beer or two.
Really if you are at a loose end this spring or summer get yourself up there and give it a go.....you can thank me later.
