Paragliding!
John & Mari
learn to fly...
You can't
begin to imagine the freedom of strapping on an aircraft and
launching off a hill into the warm summer thermals. Neither can we
because we live in England, and if it isn't raining, its blowing a gale.
Still we managed to get a few good weeks in before the weather went
totally berserk, and we qualified as Elementary Pilots (on the
evolutionary scale of pilots, this ranks somewhere between "hasn't
got a clue"
and "knows he hasn't
got a clue".
We are, at the moment just waiting for the weather to
improve so we can finish off the last few flying tasks of our Club
Pilot rating. This is real pilot status, and means we can clog the
airways with our hesitant turns and random flight paths. No matter
though, we won't be staying in the air long enough to bother anybody
until we get a few more flying hours logged.
 |
"Thumbs
in ears!" was the constant shout of our
instructor, Henry, whenever Mari would take-off, as it was the
easiest way for Mari to remember to keep her hands (and therefore
the control loops) at the right position.
It became a catch-cry and Mari is now known as one of the
founding members of the "Thumbzineers!" |
|
The
whole business of learning to fly is fraught with
frustration. The weather has to be perfect for the fledgling
pilot. A good site where the air moves cleanly over the
hill, compressing as it moves over the top of the hill
producing ridge lift - the stuff that keeps you flying.
But before all that, you've got to learn all
about your glider, it's components, what makes it fly, how
to launch it and of course how to land it.
We started off with a BHPA
(British Hang gliding & Paragliding Association)
approved school in Wiltshire, Southern England.
Have a look at the photos that follow for a
brief glimpse into our world of Paragliding so far... |
A rather serious
Mari sits in front of her brand new glider,
an Ultralite Products Vision classic.
|
|
When Mari is
grinning this much it's either because she doesn't
realise the danger she's in, or she's having altogether too
much fun. |
JD prepares to
launch his new "Tent with string"
|
|
Mari is "Good
to go!" |
The first flight is
only a few hesitant metres above the ground and
is over waaay too fast, but it's such a rush, you can't wait
to
launch and fly again
|
|
Mari's first flight
- and she's solo |
Which one do I pull
to Eject?
|
|
Mari prepares for
her first "high flight" |
With no cows to hit
this time, the landing paddock looks clear
|
|
Mari passes
overhead, and I remember the curry we had for
dinner the night before... |
JD sets up for
landing
|
|
At a recent weekend
fly-in in Wales. We aren't qualified yet, so can only watch. |
A typical launch
site, gliders waiting, pilots waiting, and not a breath of
wind. |
|
click on the wombat to return home...
|
