Well known local character ‘Helen’ took to the skies in a glider last Saturday – three weeks before her 91st birthday! Daredevil Helen only went along to observe the gliders in action at the Raglan Airfield, but was persuaded to enter the cockpit. 30 minutes later Helen’s beaming face came into view as the glider connected smoothly with the ground. Her first words were “I loved every second of it”.
Glider pilot Tim Bromhead from Piako Gliding Club Matamata, (who made an unscheduled landing on Raglan Beach earlier in the week) said that he was given a running commentary on local landmarks, place names and stories to connect them by Helen, who recognised everything from the air.
The team from Piako Gliding Club were delighted to give an extra long flight to a special local lady.
The flimsy looking gliders have no engine, weigh 400kg, can undertake acrobatic feats, ascend heights of 20,000 feet, and surprisingly can fly upside down, as local Cheryl Reynolds found when she took her flight shortly before Helen.
The gliders were in Raglan for a week and gave 15-28 flights each day costing between $60-$250.
For more information see: www.glidingmatamata.co.nz
R Goddard. Picture ck reynolds.
