A TEENAGER who cheated death after a 4,000ft mid-air collision between two gliders is to become the youngest person to fly a glider solo in Scotland.
Gordonstoun School pupil Ruari Tait and his father Robert, 46, bailed out and landed safely at the time of the dramatic incident two years ago - as did the other pilot.
Now as well as being his 14th birthday he will make the record-breaking ascent when he takes his first flight on his own at Highland Gliding Club near Elgin today, weather permitting.
Ruari said: "I am ready for this challenge and looking forward to it.”
When he does take flight, Ruari, will complete a family record of gliding achievement spanning three generations.
His mother, Teresa, and siblings are also keen flyers and his grandfather Jim, from Birnie, Elgin started a lifelong involvement in the sport doing “groundhops” on rugby pitches while at school in Edinburgh in a very basic glider known as a primary trainer.
His grandfather and father have both been chief flying officers at the club.
Jim taught his son, Robert, to follow in his footsteps and he went solo on his 16th birthday - the earliest, at the time, that was legally possible.
Robert met his wife, and Ruari’s mother, Teresa through gliding when she, too, was an instructor at the club.
If all goes to plan, Ruari will become the third and last of Robert and Teresa’s children to go solo in a glider.
The law changed in 2012 to allow 14 year-olds to fly solo and eldest son Ian became the first pilot in Scotland to take advantage of the new rules when he soloed in November of that year, aged 15.
The second son, Douglas, 17, followed in April of this year following an intensive week-long course at the club.
Ruari will become the first glider pilot to solo on his 14th birthday in Scotland.
His father said at the time of the collision: “Ruari carried out the parachute training to the letter and both of us made it out safe and sound from the crash.
"I'm extremely proud of him - there wasn't a single moment of panic.”
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