BLACK Mountains Club pilot Geoff King has collected a British Gliding Association Gold Badge after soaring his craft to a height of 13,000 feet just to the west of Brecon earlier this year.

The Gold Badge is one of the highest achievements awarded to glider pilots nationally.

Pilots must also achieve a cross country flight of at least 300km and a duration flight of at least five hours to claim the badge.

King achieved his impressive height claim in a weather phenomenon known to glider pilots as wave'.

These conditions are created when the wind is disturbed by mountains, and then oscillates vertically for large distances downwind.

By positioning their gliders in the upward-moving parts of the airflow, pilots are able to climb to amazing heights.

The gliding club's height record of 31,500 feet was claimed using wave lift on New Year's Day in 1992.

Unsurprisingly, Black Mountains Gliding Club is nationally renowned for these conditions, which are triggered by the Brecon Beacons or the Black Mountains.

The Black Mountains club, based at Talgarth airfield, operates seven days a week during the summer months and at the weekends throughout the remainder of the year.

The club fly members of the public for trial lessons in dual seat gliders, accompanied by one of their BGA-qualified instructors.

Anyone wishing to book a trial lesson can contact the club weekday mornings on 01874 711463, or visit their website at blackmountainsgliding.co.uk - or simply visit the club and ask a member. The club welcomes visitors and is always keen to recruit new members.