Gerrard G Dale (United Kingdom)

FCC Gliding 2010 Club class WINNER

How and when did you discover gliding and started flying? Is it true you sold your motorcycle and bought the first glider for that money?

At about 12 years old I read Phillip Will's books on gliding and that set me off - I can't remember not wanting to fly gliders after that! I tried to start at 15 but it was just impossible. Flew model gliders from about 13 year old instead. Started eventually when I was 20. I didn't sell the bike because I needed the money (although I did need the money!) just because I needed a towcar not a bike! My parents helped me buy my first (and subsequent) gliders. Slingbsy swallow, K6, Libelle...

How many flight hours do you have so far and what were the best soaring places in the world you have visited?

About 7,000 or so. French Alps, Minden and Parawan, Mifflin (for the Pennsylvanian ridges) and of course Omarama, NZ, which I reckon is excellent mountain flying.

Was this your first time visiting and flying in Slovakia?

Yes.

How would you describe this year's FCC Gliding 2010 in a few words, your personal impressions?

Both the Pribina cup and FCC were very well run competitions. I like the area - challenging without being unnecessarily dangerous for a comp, which is a good thing! And the use of airspace is good. I've never been in one of the former eastern block countries before and I was pleasantly surprised at just how much "get up and go" the people seem to have. Things seem to get done quickly and at reasonable prices. The rest of Europe seems horribly expensive after being in SK for a month. The towplanes seem good at both comps. It's also really unusual to win prize money - it makes it even more worthwhile to come out. And of course it is at a time of year when you just would not do a comp in the UK because the weather is usually rubbish. And the girls are pretty hot!

There's a rumour there you've been a pornstar before you started with gliding, is this true? :)

I really can't comment on that one! Suffice to say that I did a few things when I was a youngster that might have been a bit ill - advised.

We wish you good luck at all the upcoming competitions and we hope to see you next year at FCC 2011!

I very much hope that I will be able to come out in 2011, it's a great venue for practising competition flying as there is a big club class to fly against. And prize money!