I was lucky last weekend. I’d offered to take a friend’s sixteen year old son gliding, and as it happened, the first weekend I was available post-Christmas was a sunny and calm one! Perfect for taking someone on their first flight.
The lad in question was very excited – although he was in the ATC, he’d never flown a glider. I don’t think he’d flown much of anything to be honest. It all seemed very new to him. So the pressure was on to give him a good first flight.
This is something I really love about being an instructor. It’s the chance to show someone why I love the sport, and try to infect them with the passion too! It doesn’t work in all cases – some people are just there for the ride – but in rare cases you get someone hooked. It’s happened to me a few times, and I’m always over the moon when it does. I think this young lad could well be one of those I’ve hooked, but then again, it’s hard to tell with a sixteen year old sometimes!
Fingers crossed that I’m right, and that he has indeed got the bug. Watch this space!
