A Hereford Sixth Form College student is flying high after setting new records in the field of gliding.

Corporal Richard Carson overcame acute tonsillitis and flew a Viking Glider solo after just three and a half days training and 38 dual launches.

The Malvern Air Cadet broke the record during his Gliding scholarship at Hullavington in Wiltshire, but explained it was not all plane sailing.

"Although I was confident on the ground, at the top of the launch I had a complete mental blank and forgot everything I had been taught."

The then 16-year-old soon relaxed but had another problem as he came into land.

"When I was about 30ft from the ground, I sneezed violently and the glider dived towards the floor. Luckily I had enough time to recover and make a safe landing."

As a result of his achievement, Richard was invited to join the 625 Squadron Viking Glider School as a Flight Staff Cadet, where he started training to become a glider pilot instructor.

The ambitious youngster has many new projects in the pipe line as he aims to carve out a career in the military.

Now that he has learnt to fly aircraft, he hopes that he will be able to jump from them.

But before starting a daredevil parachute course, he will be dedicating his efforts to something far less dangerous.

The Herefordshire Youth Concert Band member has been selected for the second year running to play the saxophone at the Air Training Corps Annual Music Camp at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire.