An Old Lady helps a Younger Gentleman to re-call his youth.

The Barge, DAR, invited young Gerald to take her in hand again during the recent Task/Fun Flying week at Upwood. Gerald had last flown a T21b or Sedbergh in 1951, nearly 60 years ago and having helped with one of the recent rebuilds of DAR he has long wished to savour the delights of “Slings’.” classics again. The pre flight brief was typical Gliding Club stuff but with only about half the right ratio of “those who know” to “he shall do”.

In the air it all came back after first recalling the meaning of a draft in ones’ ear. Gerald thermalled at just the right speed and with that constant attitude that gives the very best climb rate he was soon at altitude. When asked how did he do it he simply smiled and said that the T21’s he had flown had a ball on a stick mounted in front of the windscreens and the instruction was to keep the ball on the horizon with only the occasional glance at the ASI.

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