A KEEN glider pilot who died in a road accident was planning a milestone flight just days later.

Michael Purnell, 40, of Micheldever, had been flying at Lasham airfield on the day of his death and had just arranged with a friend to undertake his first 50km solo flight.

Shaun Lapworth, of Oakley, who became friends with Mr Lapworth through gliding, said he had seen him minutes before his death, on Wednesday, September 3.

He told The Gazette: "The saddest thing of all was that I met him on Wednesday night and we had arranged to fly together," said Mr Lapworth.

"We were roughly the same standard and, as he was leaving, we arranged a flight for Saturday. Although it is very much a solo sport, the friendship comes into it because you need help getting the gliders ready.

"We would have gone up at the same time and kept in contact over the radio."

Paying tribute to his friend, Mr Lapworth said he had been in high spirits. "He had been gliding that afternoon and he'd had a good day. He was smiling and talking about it, saying how good it had been.

"He was someone who was careful, considerate and who loved his flying. He was a popular guy at the club. He was not a huge, larger-than-life character, but he also didn't melt into the background."

Mr Purnell died following the accident at around 8pm on Bagmore Lane, near Ellisfield.

His Honda motorbike and an Audi were involved in a collision and police are still appealing for any witnesses to the incident to contact them on 0845 045 45 45.