St John’s student flies solo

Fifteen-year-old St John’s student, Dakota Bessent, has completed his solo flight after training at Shalbourne Gliding Club, a community sports association based just outside Hungerford. Dakota, who is also a member of Marlborough Air Cadets, is currently the youngest member of the club to fly solo. He had to learn the theory of flight, show proficiency in all conditions as well as prove that he could resolve any potential issues which might arise while flying before he was considered for a solo flight.

Dakota, who is following in the footsteps of his father who is also a glider pilot, told Marlborough.news, ““I started learning to fly over a year ago.  What I like about gliding is that it’s open to everyone and the training you receive is really extensive. At the beginning of the day I went solo, I had no idea they would tell me that I could. My instructor for the day, Pete, kept going over all the training I had done previously along with simulated launch failures. It really was very challenging. I felt really nervous but at the same time ready for my solo flight. Although the flight itself wasn’t very long, once I landed, it felt fantastic, as though I had really achieved something very important. For me gliding gives me a fantastic sense of freedom and I feel very privileged to be allowed to join in a sport like this. You really see the world from a different perspective, some thousands of feet above it.”

The first solo flight is a major milestone and Dakota will continue his training on more advanced topics with the Shalbourne instructor team. His goal is to become a fully qualified glider pilot by the time he turns 16 which would allow him to take extended cross-country flights.

The club specialises in training people of all ages and abilities to become safe and proficient pilots, in fact its members range from age 14 to people in their 80’s. It is a non-profit organisation whose instructors give their time for free and once trained the student can fly solo having a choice of 6 club gliders. Alternatively, you might want to buy your own and take to the skies.

With tasks of 500-600km becoming commonplace you’ll sometimes see gliders slicing across the skies at speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour but you won’t hear them.

The club is holding an Open Day on Sunday the 14th of May where you can turn up and have a flight with one of the qualified instructors. Alternatively, you can try the simulator which has been borrowed from The British Gliding Association for the day.

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