Chocks away chaps.

11 go flying, actually we went gliding one fine evening last week and by we I mean Poynton & District Round Table. (www.poyntonroundtable.co.uk).

Having met at the pub for our fortnightly get-together, one mission briefing later we loaded up the cars and traveled convoy fashion into the rugged scenery of the Derbyshire peaks. 30 minutes away our destination awaited.

This saw us all standing on a windy airfield staring at various aircraft, missing that one essential thing (two if you count a stewardess), yep an engine.

Once all our pilots had arrived (actually they landed right in front of us) we drew lots and the short straws went first, the rest of us seeking shelter from the 30mph + wind it was up up up and away, the screams clearly audible even from 300 feet and rising.

Being launched by cable and bungee is one awesome experience, a huge winch coupled to a monster V8 engine made sure we hit 60mph in 2.5 seconds, climbing at over 100 feet per second until cable release at 1000 feet. Then all sensations just stop and the world becomes serene.

As you can imagine the scenery was breathtaking, just as well as most of us left this back on terra firma prior to launch. The braver souls amongst us actually taking the stick for 5 minutes of turns, banks and heading straight into the wind to gain some more lift before reluctantly handing control back to our pilots.

Having completed several circuits, turns and dives we all too soon returned to earth. The landing every bit as spectacular as the take off - sitting in the front cockpit you get one great view of the world coming up to meet you as we gracefully touched down and came to a halt.

The number on the grin-ometer was definitely off the chart as we helped the pilot return the glider for the next eager passenger.

Only darkness halted any more trips skywards so, once we had put all the gliders to bed we retired to the bar for a well earned beer or two and a home cooked meal, courtesy of Chigwell Gliding Club.

As we had such a laugh we have already made arrangements for this to be an annual event, where else can you leave work mid week, meet up with a fun loving bunch of guys and head off to do this kind of stuff.

Poynton Round Table, that’s where. If you fancy a go at this and other activities, and are a male aged between 18 & 45 just pick up the phone and call Nigel on 01625 269 704. We’ll do the rest, just turn up with a sense of humor and an open mind, we’ll even buy the beer and you can’t say fairer than that eh guys.