A lawnmower with wings

Preparation for take off Making sure the helmet is securely on Motor on Off we go It actually flies, so it does!
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Our ULM Flights

02 August 2004

For our birthday presents Sandra and Peter had bought us flights in a ULM or microlight. We had been hoping to have had a flight closer to home so that we could have overflown the house, but this was not to be due to holiday arrangements.

Thus our flights took place at St Omer, and I would have to say that we really enjoyed not only the flight but also the company of the instructor that took us up. A really nice guy who takes a beer - but only after the flight.

Johnny went up first as there was a bit of concern about the weather holding out long enough. A ULM is indeed not much more than a large mower engine strapped to a pair of wings.

I was surprised to find that they can climb to any altitude where you can still breath, and on my flight we went up to 1500 metres which was the limit of visibility that evening.

They don't go very fast and for the most part we were sitting at about 70 kph with the off burst of speed of a 130 kph. However the sensation of just being out in the open is amazing, and I wondered if this would have been how early WW1 flyers felt. Wind in your hair atached to a bit of canvas and some guide wires.

We each flew for about 30 minutes going up and over La Coupole the Missile Base used by the Germans to launch their Buzz Bombs against London during the Blitz.

Coming back to earth we retired to the bar for a couple of beers before coming home again. A well spent evening.

 

See also

Simon's 50th birthday