A TEENAGER is celebrating after flying a glider solo.

Harvey Algar, 14, from West Chiltington, became the youngest-ever pilot at his club to fly solo.

Harvey, who is a member of Southdown Gliding Club, near Storrington, was taken to 2,000 feet behind a tow plane where he was released. He flew over the Parham Estate and Amberley Wildbrooks, near Pulborough.

He then completed a faultless landing watched by family and club members.

Harvey said: “I was really nervous before the flight but once airborne I relaxed and really enjoyed the experience.

“I want to thank all at the club for their help and support to get me to this stage.”

Harvey got into flying after attending a day’s gliding with his scout group. After his first flight, Harvey was hooked. He joined the club cadet scheme which offers subsidised flying for selected young pilots.

Since May, the Steyning Grammar School pupil has completed 48 flights with an instructor and has accumulated 15 flying hours, self-funding his training using money earned from his paper round.

One of the benefits of the new European Air Safety Agency (EASA) regulations is that pilots can now fly solo at 14 rather than 16

Harvey, who is also a cadet with the Storrington Air Training Corp, hopes to achieve his instructor rating by the age of 16 so he can train other budding pilots.

He stated: “The feeling of being up there is so nice and calm.”

His mother Nicola Algar said: “He did really well and he has done it in quite a short period of time. I’m very proud of him.

“He’s had fantastic guidance and teaching at Southdown Gliding Club. I was nervous but I knew he would be fine.”

Southdown Gliding Club is run by volunteers who are responsible for instructing, glider maintenance and organisation.

The club welcomes all ages and all backgrounds with only proviso they are interested in flying or learning to fly.

Gliding is a sport which is similar in many ways to sailing but works in three rather than two dimensions.

There are upward currents of air as well as horizontal winds.

The upward movements are caused by hot air rising as the sun heats the ground or the wind hits the steep slope of the Sussex Downs.

Harvey now dreams of being a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force.

For more information southdowngliding.co.uk