Students glide their way to a new view of the countryside

Pupils from the school are receiving a four-week intensive course in glider flying at the club, based at Parham Airfield in West Sussex.

The young pilots, who are all members of the School’s Combined Cadet Force (CCF), received training in airfield operations, glider control, safety and pre-flight checks before taking to the air. Released from the two aircraft at 2,500 feet, the students have had the chance to take the controls under the supervision of the club instructors.

While they are not flying, the students are helping run the airfield: helping to recover gliders, setup connecting cables and learning radio communications.

David Mulae, who helped organise the course commented: “It is fantastic that the students have the opportunity to experience piloting a glider. They have approached the course with the enthusiasm typical of Christ’s Hospital students and are proving highly able at operating the gliders. All the students are now full members of the Southdown Gliding Club, so hopefully they will continue the sport in the future”.

Gliding is just one of the many activities offered to members of the School’s cadet force. One hundred and sixty-five students are members of the CCF, which includes Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force sections.