Some might say it's what Essex man was born for. Head in the clouds, plenty of freedom, loads of birds around.

Yet the county has just two clubs for it - gliding, that is.

Maurice Quire, 69, Essex Gliding Club secretary, took up the sport less than two years ago and, although currently grounded by two hip operations, is well on the way to qualifying as a solo pilot.

He said: "My wife had died and I was at a loss for what to do.

"I was in the Air Training Corps as a boy, so I decided to pop along to North Weald airfield. The gliding club people were very friendly and offered me a go. I was soon hooked.

"Gliding is beautiful. You're flying quietly, without the noisy engine of a plane. You can chat freely with your instructor, you feel in complete charge, and there's a tremendous feeling of freedom and space.

"You can only fly up to 2,000ft high from North Weald, because of Stansted airport, but you can still see sights like chunks of Kent, the Millennium Dome and the Thames Estuary."

Maurice, who will be on crutches for six months, suggests it would take someone in their 30s around 60 to 70 launches to qualify.

Gliders are either towed by a plane along a runway, which can take 15 minutes, or winched up by a cable, a method three times quicker due to its powerful, steeper, more exhilarating spring into the sky.

Maurice says: "When you are learning, you always go up with an instructor in a two-seater glider.

"You can do four or five winch-launches in a day, which is a much quicker and cheaper way of gaining experience, especially as you practice two turns and a circular route each time you go up.

"Learners have to stick within sight of the airfield - a range of about three miles - whereas solo pilots can go away for up to an hour."

A £45 gift voucher - often given as a novelty Christmas or birthday present - can pay for one aero-tow or three winch-launches.

However, flying costs for club members are £18 an aero-tow launch, plus 30p per minute in the air - on top of £40 membership and a £160 annual subscription.

Maurice says: "The glider controls themselves are quite simple. The skill is co-ordinating them and being aware-- taking heed of your speed, wind speed, and wind direction."

Gliders cruise at 41 knots an hour (abut 45mph) and stall at 35k. Steep turns are made at 50k, while Maurice has reached 90k in a controlled, nose-down "dive".

His club uses Ridgewell in north Essex in the summer - where gliders are allowed to soar beyond 5000ft - and North Weald at other times.

Maurice argues: "Belonging to the scouts or ATC can first sow the seed in someone's mind, and, because it's very time-consuming, many people take up gliding after, say, they've paid for their mortgages and their children have left home.

"I also think there's a strong 'air-mindedness' in this country. A lot of men are armchair pilots."

If you fancy joining the club, which meets on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, ring Maurice on 0181 5044122.

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