A 14-YEAR-OLD has made history at a North Yorkshire gliding club on his birthday.

Matthew Stirk became the third generation of his family to fly gliders at Burn Gliding Club, when he went solo on the same day that he turned 14.

Matthew’s grandfather, John Stirk, flew solo in March 1954 with the Air Training Cadets.

He went on to become one of the founding members of Doncaster and District Gliding Club in 1959 and, subsequently, became the club’s chief flying instructor in 1964.

Much later, after the club had relocated in 1983 and became Burn Gliding Club, John became the club chairman in 1985 and held that post for 12 years.

Matthew’s dad, Richard, flew solo in February 1982 at Doncaster on his 16th birthday.

He pursued a career in civil aviation and is now a senior airline pilot for Jet2.

He remains one of the most experienced glider pilots at Burn, as well as a tug pilot.

Matthew is a pupil at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield and plays rugby most Sundays, which leaves his Saturdays free for flying.

Matthew joined the club last year around his 13th birthday and has gone on to learn to fly a glider to a solo standard in one year.

His grandfather, John, said: “As it was windy on Saturday during his solo flight and the conditions meant that after he had his winch launched down one runway, he had to adjust his landing planning to land on a different runway from the one he took off from due to a change in wind direction during the flight.

"This shows how good the training was for Matthew to realise this issue during his exciting first flight on his own.”

The governing body of Gliding, the British Gliding Association or BGA stipulate that the glider pilot has to be 14 years old or more to go solo.

All student pilots go through a great deal of training before they are allowed to go solo.

They are constantly assessed by the club’s team of instructors in two seater trainer gliders and all students have to complete a number of exercises to a good standard before they can go solo.

Burn gliding club chief flying instructor Dave Bell will then sign off the student to do his solo once he has discussed the student’s skills and confidence with the club’s instructors.

If you or someone you know is interested in flying please have a look at our website www.burnglidingclub.co.uk for further information or book an air experience flight with us.