A POPULAR YouTube filmmaker and experienced glider died after crashing while flying over Dartmoor.

Matt Wright has been named locally as the casualty of the crash which happened on Sunday afternoon.

7 Matt Wright was hailed as a flying enthusiast who was very experienced in his field Credit: YouTube: Balleka

7 Matt had created a video to encourage others to try gliding and included this quote - he made it two months before he died Credit: YouTube/Bellaka

7 He posted videos of flights and wrote blog posts of gliding which got him many fans Credit: APEX

The flying-enthusiast and father posted footage of his flights under the name Balleka and had thousands of subscribers.

In one of his later videos made to encourage others to try gliding he included a poignant Abraham Lincoln quote of: "It's not the years of your life that count, it's the life in your years".

The accident is thought to have happened shortly after 1pm and was seen by people who called the emergency services.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances but the Air Accident Investigation Branch has launched an investigation.

Today investigators were at the scene examining the wreckage.

Another glider crash happened on Sunday in the Leicestershire area where a person died.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police the glider came down at about 1pm.

He said: "A man in his 40s from the Tiverton area was the pilot and died in the crash.

"There was nobody else in the glider."

7 He had thousands of followers as people watched the memorising footage of his flights Credit: YouTube: Balleka

Air Accidents Investigation Branch spokesperson said: "AAIB inspectors arrived late yesterday and their examination on site began early this morning.

"We expect them to be on site gathering evidence for the rest of today and into tomorrow. The wreckage will then be brought back to our facility in Farnborough for detailed examination as our investigation progresses."

Lisa Humphries, chairwoman of the Devon & Somerset Gliding Club, led the tributes to Mr Wright, describing him as an "experienced pilot".

She said: "Matt Wright was a highly experienced pilot and friend to all of us at the Devon and Somerset Gliding Club.

"He was always full of energy and loved every aspect of aviation.

"Not only was he an expert glider pilot, but also an accomplished commercial Airline Captain, film maker and cartoonist.

"Our sincere condolences go to his family at this sad time."

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Matt was well-known in the gliding community for his film-making.

He uploaded numerous videos showing flights across Devon and beyond.

Describing his channel, Mr Wright wrote: "I started making flying videos of my work life flying for MK airlines mostly to show friends the things I got to see while flying around the world. YouTube became the easiest way to achieve this, so my channel was born.

"Since then I have taken up the sport of gliding and this really became my passion and so my focus is mainly on making gliding videos now.

7 Police said there were no suspicious circumstances but the Air Accident Investigation Branch has launched an investigation Credit: YouTube: Balleka

7 The accident is thought to have happened shortly after 1pm and was witnessed by members of the public who called the emergency services Credit: APEX

7 Describing his channel, Mr Wright wrote: "I started making flying videos of my work life flying for MK airlines mostly to show friends the things I got to see while flying around the world" Credit: APEX

"They are really a way for me to relive my soaring adventures. I hope too that they are testament to the joy and wonder I feel when going soaring."

Mr Wright's videos have been viewed millions of times.

Tributes have also been pouring in for Mr Wright on his official Facebook page.

One friend wrote: "Matt, thank you for everything you did for soaring. I am sure that more people now know about how beautiful soaring is, not only people from aviation community. We will never forget! Rest in peace, Matt."

While another said: "Matt, thank you for everything that you've made. You are and always will be a big inspiration for me.

"Not just as a pilot but as a great producer as well.

"You showed the world the beauties of gliding, you showed the world gliding from a whole new perspective. I will never forget that smile. Enjoy your new paradise and show them how its done. Rest in peace."

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