Glider pilot Roy Ferguson-Dalling celebrates 50 years of flying solo with special flight at Buckminster Gliding Club
A glider pilot has marked half a century of flying by taking to the skies in the same model of aircraft he first flew solo 50 years ago to the day.
Roy Ferguson-Dalling was winched into the air in a Kirby Cadet Mark 3 from Buckminster Gliding Club exactly 50 years after completing his first solo flight at the age of 16 at RAF Spitalgate.
Roy, 66, of South Witham, learned to fly a glider as an air cadet when he was 16. He lived in Lancashire at the time and was allowed a week off school to go to the Grantham RAF station, now the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks. He flew solo on December 4, 1969
On Wednesday Roy took to the skies to mark an incredible achievement, but did not just complete one flight at Buckminster, he completed 10 after a number of people asked him to take them up in the two-seater.
During his career, Roy worked in the photographic industry and was a member of several gliding clubs around the UK and he also flies powered aircraft.
After moving to South Witham from Scotland nine years ago he flew aircraft out of Cambridgeshire, but soon got involved with Buckminster Flying Club.
Roy said: “I had had so many gliding jobs over the years that I was bound to get recognised by someone and I did. They said come over and have a flight.”
Roy has been heavily involved with the Buckminster club ever since and is now the general manager, getting involved in all aspects of its activities.
His wife, Lyn, is the chief flying instructor at the club. They met at RAF Cranwell when Roy was an instructor at RAF Syerston near Newark.
As a Flight Lieutenant, Roy worked in the RAF from 1999 to 2006 training instructors in the cadet forces around the country.
Roy said: “I enjoy all aspects of flying the glider. There are those who like to be up there on their own and those who enjoy flying the long distances, but I enjoy most aspects of it. I must say these days I prefer to be up there with someone. It’s nice to be able to talk to somebody.”
On Wednesday last week, Roy was winched into the air just as he was 50 years ago in a glider which is about 60 years old.
Roy is keen to keep flying and says he enjoys running the club and improving
it.
He said: “While I am still fit enough for flying I will keep going. Hopefully it will be for a while yet.”
