Tocumwal Soaring Centre chief flying instructor Ian Downes has been an instructor for more than 20 years.
Photo by
Abby Green
Teaching someone who has never flown before to fly a glider solo in just six days is no easy feat.
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But for Ian Downes it’s simply his job, and one he does well.
The Tocumwal Soaring Centre chief flying instructor has been awarded the most meritorious instructor for 2025, after years of teaching.
Ian said he felt “very humble” when he found out he had won the award.
“The people who have won it in the past have been some illustrious names in gliding, and to be recognised by your peers is a wonderful thing,” he said.
“Instructing is something that I really enjoy doing, particularly taking students who haven’t flown before, and getting them through to a point where they can fly solo.
“It’s a very rewarding experience.”
The most meritorious instructor award is given out annually by the Victorian Soaring Association, which is part of the Gliding Federation of Australia, and it’s an award for which you have to be nominated.
“I'm very fortunate I’m able to do it here at Tocumwal because there are very limited facilities within Australia where it's possible to do a concentrated course over a period of five or six days,” Ian said.
Tocumwal Soaring Centre chief flying instructor Ian Downes, right, with owner Lumpy Paterson.
Photo by
Abby Green
“If you want to make a career in aviation, gliding is an excellent first step to learn the very basics of flying, and then you progress through and go on to fly big jets and so on.”
Ian has been gliding for more than 50 years and has been an instructor for about 20 years. His favourite part about the job is seeing the difference from the first day of training to the last.
“I was teaching a young girl and the first morning she was very hesitant and not very positive about doing it, she even felt a little bit ill,” he said.
“On the Friday morning, she flew the glider solo.
“So she overcame all those difficulties that she initially had, did the process, learned all the steps, and then went solo.
“The euphoric look when you open the canopy after they’ve flown solo for the first time, you can’t beat the smile on their face and sense of achievement.
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