Friday 15 June 2012

MICROLIGHTING...

Here's something else I had a go at, courtesy of the husband of someone I was teaching with at the time. The microlight was owned by a pair of brothers. One took a couple of photos while the one in the blue overalls was the pilot. He's making sure I'm dressed up OK. The microlight is this arrangement of scaffold poles and material plus a motor mower engine behind the 'car seat' I sat in. I'm kidding, it wasn't home made but did fold up into a large carry bag, if I remember rightly. Well, it was 1986; at least I remembered to date it on the back of the photo.

This is taking off from the family-owned field in Haddenham, the Chiltern Hills are that pale blue line in the background. This is the only time I saw the Asylum ( as I always think of it as, having done the local history) or St. John's, as it was known to everyone else. It began as the Lunatic Asylum in 1853, when it opened, changed to Mental Hospital in 1919 after WW1, then St. John's when the NHS began. Demolished beginning of the 1990s, so I just managed to see it from the air.
This was a one-off trip. I haven't 'done' a helicopter - yet.
Can't find the ballooning photos, I've put them 'somewhere safe', you know the feeling...

5 comments:

Marigold Jam said...

You certainly were a have a go girl weren't you?! Well done you! I'd never have had the courage to try anything like that not even when I was younger.

crafty cat corner said...

Rather you than me. It all looks a bit flimsy to me.
I don't even like flying in aeroplanes. lol
Briony
x

Sylve said...

Hallo ladies, I'd try everything in those days but I'm more cautious now! Have no ambition to drive a racing car....

Kath said...

looks wonderful! good for you :-) What next I wonder?

My brother took me over Waddesdon in his little plane, that was a great experience.

Bernard said...

Not my 'cup of tea' at all.
My younger brother, Colin (alas no longer with us) was very keen on all this sort of thing. He had his own microlight and loved flying. He took our Dad up, but I gave it a miss. His son, my nephew) has followed on in his Father's footsteps and now represents GB in microlight international competitions. He too has invited me 'up', but again, I decided to give it a miss.
After Colin passed on, the family decided to scatter his ashes on the airfield (with permission) where he enjoyed many, many hours of - taking off & landing.