BY COLM BRADLEY
With a name like Cosmos where else would he be but circling the stars.
Enniskillen man Cosmos Cassidy has found a new passion, gliding. And he has taken to it like a duck to water, or should that be like a bird to the sky!
Next week, through the Ulster Gliding Club (UGC) Cosmos will take his seat in the K-21 adapted glider at St Angelo Airport and after a tug plane has flown him and his instructor to the desired height, the Enniskillen man will experience the spectacular views of his home town from the air for the first time;
"I have been up gliding four times now but each time it has been around Ballymena. The last time the glider came to Enniskillen the weather went against us so we could not get up", he explained.
Cosmos was born with a physical disability but has never let that hold him back and, through the adaptation of a glider, he is well on his way to taking to the skies for some solo gliding.
"Hopefully I can get to the stage where I get up there on my own. It really is quite spectacular when you are up in the skies gliding at 2,500 ft."
So far the longest that Cosmos has glided for is 40 minutes but, over time he is hoping that that can be increased to around the two-hour mark.
"Guys who have been doing it for years can glide for four or five hours", he explained, " especially if they start off from a height of 4,500 ft. I'm just hoping that some day I can get up there an glide by myself."
The Ulster Gliding Club (UGC) will have their new K-21 adapted Glider on-site at St Angelo next Wednesday. Its members are excited to be able to offer people with physical disabilities an opportunity to experience the thrills of gliding.
Participants must be over 10 years of age and over 5ft in height. But, readers are advised that the K-21 'adapted glider' sessions listed are specifically aimed at those with a mobility/physical disability.
The cost to participate will be £40 per person (£40 payable to 'Ulster Gliding Club). This includes a flight supervised by an official British Gliding Association approved instructor together with all ground-based instruction.
Application forms are available from Roisin Henry at the Lakeland Forum - 02866 326936 or by e-mail via roisinhenry@yahoo.com. If prevailing weather conditions cause your flight to be cancelled, UGC will reimburse your flight fee and re-schedule you for another day. It represents a fantastic opportunity to become involved in the exciting sport of gliding.
