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Ross spreads his wings
JUST the thought of flying can make the bravest soul tremble with fear.
JUST the thought of flying can make the bravest soul tremble with fear.So imagine being 2,000ft up with nothing but fresh air between you and the ground, while only the thin structure of a glider keeps you aloft.
That is exactly how 15-year-old Ross Moriss spends his weekends, flying with Peterborough and Spalding Gliding Club.
And when Ross turns 16 on March 10 he will take off on his first solo flight – the minimum age for lone gliding in the UK.
It means that a year before Ross is even allowed to get behind the wheel of a car he will have the freedom of the skies.
Explaining his gliding passion, Ross said: “It’s fun, peaceful and a challenge. It’s not scary because nothing can go wrong. It’s a safe environment.
“It’s just lucky that my birthday is on a Saturday so I can fly solo at the earliest opportunity.
“I have been ready to fly solo for three or four weeks and I can’t wait.”
Ross’ interest was sparked when dad Graham first took him to Peterborough and Spalding Gliding Club’s headquarters, near Crowland, five years ago.
Gliding runs in the family because Ross’ grandfather Vernon was also a flyer.
Ross, a pupil at Sawtry Community College who lives in Folksworth, near Peterborough, added: “It was inevitable that I would be drawn into gliding given the enthusiasm of my father and grandfather.”
Ross worked unpaid – retrieving gliders, driving Land Rovers, fuelling powered aircraft and logging flights – in exchange for lessons at the club.
Ross’s father Graham, a self-employed vending machine engineer said: “The club’s cadet scheme allows youngsters to work at weekends in exchange for free lessons.
“Up to two youngsters can be accommodated at a time, with each one working one day each weekend.
“Since the minimum legal age for solo flying is 16, the cadet scheme is ideal for youngsters aged from 15 to 17.”
Ross already spends up to two hours in the air flying over Peterborough and Spalding and the Fenland countryside in between.
As his gliding skills improve Ross will be able to extend his journeys to a radius of around 30 miles and fly to heights of 4,500ft.
Ross added: “I would like to do powered flights but that probably won’t be for a few years.”
Gliding first began at Crowland Airfield in March 1968 and there are now around 90 members of Peterborough and Spalding Gliding Club.
n For more information about the club, call 01733 210463.
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
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Temperature: -5 C to -1 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
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