Classroom in the Sky

By Lachlan Ellis
Students have had the chance to learn about the physics of flight, and then put them into action, thanks to a gliding introduction session at the Bacchus Marsh Airfield.
Physics students from nearby Melton Christian College visited the Australian Gliding Museum on Saturday 28 May, checking out the historical exhibits, learning about the principles of flight from Rolf Buelter from the Geelong Gliding Club, and using a gliding simulator, before getting the chance to take to the skies with an instructor.
David Goldsmith is Vice President of the Australian Gliding Museum based at the Bacchus Marsh aerodrome, and said it was pleasing to see young people excited about gliding.
“We split the kids into two groups, one went to fly gliders with the Geelong Gliding Club, and the other stayed and did a museum tour before flying with the gliding simulator. They certainly enjoyed themselves and had a great time, they were very enthusiastic,” Mr Goldsmith told the Moorabool News.
“I only did one flight because I was mainly doing the museum tours, but I took one young lady up for a flight. She was a little bit tentative at first, but once we got in the air she came out of her shell and absolutely loved it. She flew the glider herself under instruction and did very well for her first real flight, she had used the simulator,” he said.
“The enthusiasm that these young people had after their flight was fantastic. Before they get to be drivers, if you can teach kids when they’re young, they learn very quickly. Once they’ve done some flying, they’re natural pilots, and it stays with them for the rest of their life. We invite any young people who are interested in flying or gliding to come to Bacchus Marsh Airfield on a Saturday or Sunday.”
The Museum is volunteer-run and showcases the history of gliding, as far back as 1896 – the year in which the Lilienthal Glider, which the Museum has a replica of, was first built.
The Australian Gliding Museum is open by appointment at 20 Jensz Road Parwan, and contains over 50 historic gliders, archive material, and more. For more information, visit victoriancollections.net.au/organisations/Australian-gliding-museum.

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in the 7 June 2022 edition
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