"Suddenly, from out of the sky, 4 great shadows appeared, each with 10ft wings. One by one, they whooshed down from above, snatched the prey from the nunjas' claws & ascended sharply back into the air." (Extract from ‘Flight from Fernilee’)
Are they planes? Are they prehistoric birds? No, they’re hang-gliders, soaring
into the skies like brightly-coloured and highly adventurous eagles.
Considered by enthusiasts to be the most demanding, yet exhilarating, of all
free flight experiences, hang-gliding provides a wider scope than para-gliding,
as pilots can climb faster and more freely in varying winds and weather
conditions. Which no doubt explains why this thrilling activity is so popular
in the Derbyshire Peak, where Pennines to the east and Welsh hills to the west
create a climate as hard to predict as the next Derby winner.
Take a hike up Mam Tor near Castleton on a bright,
breezy day and you’re likely to see hang-gliders preparing for flight - that’s
if they’re not too out-of-breath from hauling their gear up to the summit!
Quite often, these intrepid birdmen and women seem to spend ages not really
doing very much, but they’re actually waiting for the ideal conditions in which
to take off, no doubt gauging the weather by means of a wind sock. Pilots also
need to assess any hazards in the area and ensure maximum safety for themselves
and others.
Accidents
do happen, although these usually involve unqualified pilots who, having
acquired the equipment, believe all they have to do is take a running jump from
the nearest hilltop. Fortunately, most hang gliders have been thoroughly
trained by a British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (BHPA)
registered school, a course that normally takes about 10 days. Pupils learn how
inspect their kit and assemble it safely, to assess the dangers, to read the
weather, to take off and to land properly –ideally on their feet. However, in
case landings go wrong, trainees also learn how to roll to minimise injuries.
When
learning to fly, some gliders are ‘aero towed’, or hitched by winches to
microlights, which pull them into the air. According to Airways Airsports, this
is the easiest way to get airborne as it cuts out all the hassle of
hill-climbing over and over again just to gain a few seconds of flight. Airways
Airsports’ professional team - including three-times World Champion Judy Leden
MBE and World record holder Chris Dawes - provides tandem hang-gliding aerotow
tuition for beginners, helping them spread their wings with 20-30 minutes in
the air from their very first lesson.
Whether they could swoop down and rescue four
children and one hairy shot-putting Scotsman from the ground is open to debate
but, for those who know what they’re doing, it’s an exhilarating experience
like no other.
‘Flight from Fernilee’ by Jacy Brean is
available from Amazon UK and US in both printed and digital formats