AN engineer from Edlesborough soared almost 20,000ft above the Pyrenees, taking in spectacular views, to achieve a top solo gliding award.
Martin Hayden completed the third and final phase of his gold badge while on a London Gliding Club expedition to the Cerdanya region in northern Spain.
The high-flyer, who is in his 60s, had already completed the five hour flight and 300km flight sections of the award back in the UK.
Martin told the Gazette: “The flying there is stunning. It’s a very nice place to fly – it was gorgeous.
“On one side you can see the Bay of Biscay and on the other is the Mediterranean. It is spectacular.”
He needed to reach 3,000metres of gain after being released by a towing plane, but after setting off from 3,600ft and being released at about 5,000ft, Martin skilfully used rising ‘waves’ of air to reach 19,200ft – an estimated 1,000metres more gain than required.
Airspace restrictions meant that Martin could not go higher than 19,500ft. He said: “I easily cleared the height and would have been able to go higher.”
Martin may now go on to achieve his diamond badge, which requires a gain of 5,000metres.
He first flew solo when he was just 16 after training with the Royal Air Force air cadets.
He said: “I had to retrain when I was in my 50s. It’s a lot different to when I was 16 when you could fly on your own after just a week.”