Local Student soars to the Skies on his 16th Birthday.

James Grantham, on his 16th birthday, soared into the air for his first solo flight in a glider at the Southdown Gliding Club, Storrington on Wednesday 8th September. James, who is a student at Steyning Grammar School, has been training as a glider pilot since 2008 and was itching to fly on his own, but UK aviation laws prevented him from flying a glider solo until he was 16.

James and his family, together with members of Southdown Gliding Club, prayed for good weather so he could complete his dream on his 16th birthday.

All came good on the day itself when Angus Buchanan, Flying Instructor, passed him with flying colours and declared him skilled and responsible enough to fly on his own. James then strapped himself into a K21 glider and was towed aloft by one of the club’s Piper Pawnee tow-planes piloted by Tom Beck.

After his 15 minute solo flight, James said “It was a bit peculiar at first to be on my own but was it was absolutely fantastic.”  He enjoyed it so much he decided to go and have another flight on his own a short while later.

James is one of the club’s keenest members and has been helping out at the club since he first visited at the age of 14.  He’s a well-liked, popular young man and helps with ground operations and maintenance, and has even helped out at national gliding competitions. James is one of a band of young members in the club’s cadet scheme.

The scheme, which heavily subsidizes flying costs for youngsters who show talent and enthusiasm, has proved popular and very successful with other young members who have started promising careers in aviation from such beginnings. James says he now hopes to fulfill his own ambition for a career in aviation. Going solo in a glider will be the first step!

Southdown Gliding Club is one of the largest and best equipped voluntary-run gliding clubs in Britain. It has 250 members and over 50 gliders based at its airfield at Storrington.

The club has the latest in gliding technology where budding pilots of all ages can now learn to fly state-of-the-art gliders capable of soaring for many hours and over long distances. Flights of over 300kms are not uncommon from Southdown and its top competition pilots have even achieved flights of over 750kms – flying at speeds in excess of 100 mph and staying aloft for many hours in rising air currents.

For more information about the club, membership and trial flights, visit its website at www.sgc1.co.uk or call the club’s office on 01903 742137

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