programme we're going to be talking about gliding. This is when you fly in a
light unpowered aircraft known as a glider. Today I'm joined by Rebecca
Byrne, who by sheer co-incidence, has just been gliding for the first time! Hi
Rebecca – so how was it?
Rebecca: Hi Kate – it was fantastic. I really enjoyed it.
Kate: You weren't flying by yourself were you….?
Rebecca: answers
Kate: I can't wait to hear more about it - but first of all, let's find out a bit more about
the sport. Gliding is also sometimes known as 'soaring'. To soar means to fly
high in the air using the wind to carry you. The glider is designed to be
graceful and extremely light and actually doesn't even have an engine. So, tell
me, if it doesn't have an engine how do you get into the sky in the first place?
And how do you stay up?
Rebecca: Well, in order to get into the air you do need a little assistance. There are
several ways of doing this but when I went, my glider was pulled up into the
sky by another light aircraft (which had an engine) sometimes called a 'tug' or
'tow' plane and the two planes were connected together with a strong rope.
When the glider got to the required height, the pilot released the cable and we
were free to glide gracefully back down to the ground again.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009
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Kate: Were you scared at all?
Rebecca: I was a little bit scared at first but once the cable was released it was much
smoother. It felt a bit like being a bird. The typical modern glider uses the
same air currents or moving air that birds use to fly.
Kate: It sounds like an amazing experience.
Rebecca: Yes, it was and it really gave me a bird's eye view of the countryside - this
means to see things as a bird would.
Kate: Before we go any further, here's my question for this week. What year do
you think the first flight in a glider took place?
a) 1891
b) 1905
c) 1913
Rebecca: answers
Kate: Now we're going to hear from the president of the North Yorkshire gliding
club which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Moyra Johnson is
ninety three years old and was one of the first people to fly in the area back
in 1935 when she was still a teenager. In the following extract, we're going
to hear how she got interested in flying. She mentions her father was in the
RNAS – what does this mean?
Rebecca: This stands for the 'Royal Naval Air Service' but this was later turned into
the RAF, the Royal Air Force. She also mentions 'measles' which is an
infectious disease which produces small spots all over the body and is
common in childhood.
Kate: Let's listen – how did Moyra first become interested in flying?
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Clip 1
Having been born during the First World War, my father was in the RNAS. When I had
measles he rigged up an aeroplane which went from one end of the bedroom to the other
which I could pull on a string. I would have probably been only about 10 then and I think
from then on, flying or things like that which were new in those days, I was interested in.
Rebecca : She said that when she was about 10 years old she was ill with measles and her
father who had been a pilot, put a toy aeroplane in her bedroom. Ever since then,
flying has interested her.
Kate: So, we heard from you earlier in the programme how your glider got into the air
by being tied to another small aeroplane and being pulled up - but how did they do
it in the old days?
Clip 2
Well you were bungee launched by these two great thick ropes that several strong men on
each side would pull – like a catapult. And someone else hanging on to your tail until
someone else said 'let go'! And then phroom – you would just go into the air.
Rebecca: She said that she was 'bungee launched' and we think that means that maybe the
ropes were elasticated and the force from the men pulling and then suddenly
letting go, would propel the plane into the air. She said it was like a catapult. A
catapult is a device which can throw objects at a high speed using a spring or
elastic to give it extra force.
Kate: Incredibly, Moyra still flies occasionally. Let's listen to the final extract. Can you
tell me what it is she likes about flying?
Clip 3
You don’t hear anything but the wind, you just hear the wind blowing. It was wonderful here.
You get that feeling of being a bird, which is what I've felt I'd always like to be.
6 Minute English © bbclearningenglish.com 2009
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Rebecca: She said that you don't hear anything but the wind and that you get the feeling of
being a bird. That is exactly what I would have said about the flying experience
actually, it does actually really feel like that. It was a fantastic experience and I'd
definitely recommend that you try it if you have the chance.
Kate: I'll do my best. Let's go over some of the flight related vocabulary we've come
across today…..
First we had gliding which is the flying of very light unpowered aircrafts known
as gliders
soar - to fly high in the air using wind currents to move forward rather than an
engine or the power of wings
air currents refers to moving air
birds eye view – this means to see things from above as a bird would
RNAS –'Royal Naval Air Service'
RAF - the Royal Air Force
measles – an infectious disease which produces small spots all over the body and
is which is common in childhood.
a catapult is a device which can throw objects at a high speed using elastic or a
spring to gain power
Kate: Lastly let's find out the answer to the question I asked you earlier. I asked you
when was the first flight in a glider?
Rebecca: answers
Kate: It was actually in 1891.
Kate: Well thanks very much Rebecca for coming in and telling us about your flight.
That's all we have time for, until next time. Goodbye!
