12/05/2002
Landmark flights made at club
Sunday saw two landmark flights made at the Whyalla Gliding
Club. Each was very special in its own way. The clubs chief flying instructor
Peter Robinson made his 2000th flight. This makes Peter one of South
Australia’s most experienced pilots. During the flight Peter treated club
members to a display of his aerobatic skills. He performed loops, stall turns
and chandelles before landing. After the flight Peter said, “That was a really
special flight. It is hard to believe that I have made so many over a relatively
short number of years. Gliding really is the most fantastic way to fly, I’m
looking forward to my next 2000!”
Also making his mark at the club was Robert Ziegler who
made his first solo flight after a two-year absence from the club. Before going
solo Robert was put through his paces by his father Gunter who is a senior
instructor at the club. Robert demonstrated that he could cope with all
emergency procedures. Gunter then jumped out of the club’s two seater training
glider and sent Robert off on his own. Afterwards Robert said “it was great to
get back to the controls after such a long time away from the club”.
The Whyalla Gliding Club operates from it’s own airfield about 25km north of the town on the Port Augusta Road. It operates two aircraft a IS28 (pictured) two seater training glider and the Astir single seater.