A Meeting in the Sky
One calm winter day in early January I had arranged to take Guille, the son of some friends of mine, for a flight to celebrate his 6th birthday. It would be his first time in an aeroplane.
As we pushed the glider out the hangar, it was a clear, sunny high pressure day - the kind that sometimes surprise you with their pleasant temperatures, making the Madrid winters bearable.
As we pushed the glider out the hangar, it was a clear, sunny high pressure day - the kind that sometimes surprise you with their pleasant temperatures, making the Madrid winters bearable.
We took off and headed North towards the Sierra - my normal sightseeing route away from the Class A airspace to the south. Guille was being quietly appreciative. Although he didn't show much emotion at the time, I could see he was enjoying himself. As we cruised around the perfectly still air, I pointed out the Bücker Jungmann biplane that is based at the same airfield and sometimes practices an aerobatic routine in the area. It's owner Carlos is an airline pilot who is away for much of the time, and I had only seen him fly it a couple of times before. It is an immaculately and lovingly restored example, perfect to the last detail, truly deserving of the description "better than new".
Guille and I watched the graceful biplane cross our field of vision some distance away, swooping into a long dive and out of sight. Someone was having fun in that open cockpit machine ...
Suddenly, a voice comes on the radio: "Motorglider, this is the Bücker. I'm going to form up on your right, ok?" What? A formation flight? This is something new - my habit is to try and stay well away from all other inhabitants of the big beautiful sky. Then again, it is a glorious winter afternoon, the air is perfectly stable, and I know the pilot of the Bücker is very experienced. These opportunities only come rarely, so tentatively I agree, and get instructed to keep flying straight and level, while the biplane creeps ever closer to us on the right side. I manage to snap off a quick picture on my cellphone before concentrating fully on the task at hand.
Guille and I watched the graceful biplane cross our field of vision some distance away, swooping into a long dive and out of sight. Someone was having fun in that open cockpit machine ...
Suddenly, a voice comes on the radio: "Motorglider, this is the Bücker. I'm going to form up on your right, ok?" What? A formation flight? This is something new - my habit is to try and stay well away from all other inhabitants of the big beautiful sky. Then again, it is a glorious winter afternoon, the air is perfectly stable, and I know the pilot of the Bücker is very experienced. These opportunities only come rarely, so tentatively I agree, and get instructed to keep flying straight and level, while the biplane creeps ever closer to us on the right side. I manage to snap off a quick picture on my cellphone before concentrating fully on the task at hand.
Closer and closer he inches, until only a few metres separate the two machines. I am completely thrilled and concentrating far too much on the flying to consider taking more pictures as we hold a perfectly steady formation for a minute or two.
Guille, on the other hand, seems underwhelmed. It's his first time in the air. I guess he thinks this is an everyday event.
We wave at each other and eventually Carlos informs me he is breaking away. I watch him bank smoothly over to the right and drop from view. A minute later Guille and I also turn back to the airfield, gliding down gently into the late afternoon sun. We touch down and find his parents waiting near the hangar as we roll up to the door.
Guille, on the other hand, seems underwhelmed. It's his first time in the air. I guess he thinks this is an everyday event.
We wave at each other and eventually Carlos informs me he is breaking away. I watch him bank smoothly over to the right and drop from view. A minute later Guille and I also turn back to the airfield, gliding down gently into the late afternoon sun. We touch down and find his parents waiting near the hangar as we roll up to the door.
An thrilling experience all round! Only question is: who had the most fun?
