ROYAL Navy submariners from West Devon and East Cornwall more used to working deep under water have just qualified to fly high as glider pilots.
Lieutenant Commander Martin Cropper, 46, of Buckland Monachorum, and Commander Gavin Short, 42, of Harrowbarrow, have just gained their British Gliding Association Silver Certificates as members of the Royal Navy Gliding and Soaring Association.
Both men work at HM Naval Base Devonport and fly their own glider at Brentor.
To obtain their silver awards, the officers had to soar to a height of 1,000 metres, fly 50 kilometres and spend five hours in the air. Martin obtained his certificate on separate flights while on holiday in Spain, while Gavin gained his flying from Brentor to Cullompton.
Martin, who is married with two children, said: ?The views from 1,000 metres up are fantastic. You can see Plymouth 20 miles away and the landscape on Dartmoor is beautiful.
?I have always been fascinated by flying and that is why I joined the Navy. Unfortunately, my eyesight was not good enough to fly, but I started gliding when I was 14 and only now have I trained fully for my own interests.?
He said gliding was like sailing in the air, in that the pilot relied on his own skill and the wind to fly, without the power of an engine.
Gavin said: ?Gliding is very thrilling and presents a mental challenge, like playing 3-D chess.?