Two brits four wheels

I left the UK in May 2009 with only 4 hours of flying and 39 flights under my belt 18 month after gaining my Club Pilot rating. Now, in Europe, I fly when I can (weather, flying site and other stuff allowing). This has allowed me to accumulate 22 hours flying time and I have clocked over 100 flights now.

Plus I have undertaken a thermaling course and a piloting/SIV course. My flying is now coming on in leaps and bounds. I have been considering changing my wing for something with a bit more performance (better glider ratio and sharper turning for staying in lift) but it is not time yet. Most pilots tell me to only change once I am the master of my wing and have totally outgrown it plus experienced pilots and instructors are impressed with the stability of my wing – a Sky Fides 2 Eco. For that I have to thank my UK instructor Pete Bernon of Airsports Paragliding in Brighton who recommended the wing to me.

Following my courses I undertook my first pleasure flight for weeks at Lake Annecy and clocked up 1 hour and 10 minutes. Woohooo!! How? I rode the dynamic and thermic air, worked the sources of lift, made the 360 degree turns, made sure I turned whilst still in lift, sped through the sink, endured the bumpy air and the sound and of wing collapsing and re-opening, weightshifted instead of using so much brake, went away from the initial slope to find other lift and explore the countryside, then returning each time I thought I was near to bombing out to work back up the cliff again and back above take-off. What a fantastic flight!!

I am really loving it!

(Note: Big Mac people saying ‘I’m loving it’ when talking about burgers is quite lame in any case in my opinion.)