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- The Project -
For some time I have wanted to learn to fly and so a year ago I commenced lessons at a Microlight school based at Weston Zoyland in Somerset. However, the unfavourable British weather and my other sporting commitments meant that I was unable to progress as quickly as I would have liked. The Chief Flying Instructor at Weston Zoyland last year created a microlight school in the Gambia. It was chosen for its favourable weather resulting in almost guaranteed flying every day which means that students can progress quickly through their flying training.
In May 2000 I was introduced to the Gavin Hawkins Memorial Prize. The prize consists of financial assistance for initiatives which develop the individual and benefit Chew Valley School. I proposed that I combine my love of flying with an aerial study of a third world country which would support the geography department by providing pictorial data.
In October 2000 I went to the Gambia for what turned out to be a hectic week - I enrolled in the flying course, undertook practical flying training twice a day, completed five written exams, achieved my first solo flight and progressed through to the General Flight Test, resulting in the issue of a Civil Aviation Authority licence which means I am now a qualified microlight pilot.
During some flights and during rest periods in the middle of the day, (when it is too hot to fly), I took a number of photographs which attempt to show the landscape, infrastructure and culture of the Gambia.
I have also included some photographs showing some aspects of microlighting itself. James Leather January 2001 |
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The Gambia The Gambia is a small (4,000 square miles or 11,295 sq. km) country in West Africa. It is surrounded by Senegal on all sides, except on the Atlantic coast, and for this reason the two countries have a lot of ethnic and cultural ties.
In contrast to Senegal, a former French colony, the Gambia was colonized by Britain and gained it's Independence on February 18, 1965.
The Gambia looks like a sliver in the side of Africa as it follows the natural contours of the River Gambia. |
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The Gambia Microlight Experience |
