World Champion Glider Pilot named after Fatal Crash Near Basingstoke
A woman who died in a Power Gliding accident has been named by Police today as Kay Draper. She represented the British hang gliding team that won the first Women’s European and Women’s World Championships after taking up the sport in 1979. She first learned to fly gliders in 1996, flying in her first competition in 1999. [photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000J_Pr6V45PsQ” g_name=”GILDER-FEMALW” width=”800″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ] She shared two gliders with her husband, David, who has also been a member of the British team. Mrs Draper also worked as an independent occupational therapist. Mrs Draper died following a powered glider crashing and breaking into pieces near to the village of Preston Canover this lunchtime. The female glider pilot is believed to have taken off from Lasham airfield just after 11.30 this morning and got into difficulty. Emergency services rushed to the scene but were unable to save the woman. https:///www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4TDaCDwUUE Fire Crews from Hampshire fire and rescue were called to the scene just after 12. The glider, powered by a small back-up engine, had come down in a cornfield near to Southwood Farm field breaking into pieces. One resident who witnessed the crash said there was a noise coming from the glider. Then it just dropped from the sky. Police say anyone with information on the crash should call 101, quoting Operation Pollen.
