I know, I know, I said it would be 9 days before I flew again... the only problem was I couldn't wait 9 days! I learnt so much last weekend, I couldn't wait to try it all out again. I know flight night is only on Tuesday but I wanted to go back to flight night and be able to say that I had made progress since last time... I think it's now safe to say that I can say this.
I must of been mad to book the flight I did today, I decided at work yesterday that I couldn't wait until Tuesday to fly again, so as soon as I was home I was on the computer and booking up a flight. The only problem was that the only times available were first thing in the morning (the latest being 9am) or in the evening (the earliest being 19.30) I didn't fancy another late evening driving home from MK so opted for the early morning flight. Mum once again decided she wanted to come and watch (she's so great keeping me company on the journeys and videoing me for my records!) we left home at 6am! I thought I might find it difficult getting up early but I must of been looking forward to it (you don't say!) as I was up and about with no issues at all!
I must say it was pretty cold outside this morning and scraping ice from the windscreen in October is slightly mad!
Once we reached Airkix I filled in my statement of risk again and signed my life away again. We headed to the benches to wait for the instructor. While we were waiting we were chuckling to ourselves about one of the instructors. He really looked like he had that Sunday morning feeling! Shoulders down, head low, it was quite funny to watch and I said to mum if he's my instructor he needs to cheer up FAST! Guess what... he was my instructor... Joel.
I managed to avoid going in for the safety video - again. I think I've been enough times in the last few weeks not to warrant me watching it, so I got geared up straight away and we discussed where I was at with my flying and what we aimed to achieve in the flight. I think Joel was beginning to wake up by this point and he was joking about how cold it was going to be in the wind tunnel.
Off to the wind tunnel we go...
Today I was in with a new flyer and a skydiver who was being taught by (a very heavily pregnant) Claire 'Sparky' Scott. I was doing 4 x 1.5 minutes flights today to allow for Sparky and the skydiver to have gaps between their flights. This didn't matter to me as it meant I could practice my entrances and exits a little more.
My first flight I was finishing off what I'd started last Sunday with knee and arm turns and the side slides, the knee turns were coming a lot more naturally but I was still struggling to relax into doing the side slides.
On my second flight I was still getting to grips with the side slides and finally they were beginning to take shape, with a little helping hand from Joel.
I got very enthusiastic entering the tunnel for the third time and ended up hitting the wall on the opposite side of the tunnel. I was soon back where I should be though and back to the side slides. Once I had them sussed at a low level I was asked to go up, across, down, across to make a square. Next Joel was to create a 'burble' underneath me (this is taking away some of my flying air to see if I can keep my position etc) He started by getting me to fly high in the tower (Joel is pretty tall!) and to side slide over him while he walked under me. Thankfully I kept my body position and only dropped in the air slightly.
My fourth entry was a little more controlled - thankfully! We were straight into Joel creating a burble, again I managed to keep my body position but was still dropping in the air slightly. Next Joel decided to created a bigger burble by flying underneath me. This I found slightly more difficult and the first time he did it I dropped as far as the net. This happened on the second time as well. I began to get the hang of it, but it does need a little more practice!
Joel did a great job in teaching me today and I'm now looking forward to Tuesday's Flight Night with Paul. Hopefully I will get to grips with the airflow being taken away from me.
A video of today's flight can be found here
Every time I fly at Airkix it makes me more determined to keep aiming for the goal I have. For those of you who may not know me in person or who I may not of told, I would like to become an Airkix Tunnel Instructor. Helping all those people to 'fly' must be amazing feeling and all though it must be hard work I'm sure it's worth it for the satisfaction.
I'm sure there will be another update after Flight Night on Tuesday, but until then have fun!
x
I must of been mad to book the flight I did today, I decided at work yesterday that I couldn't wait until Tuesday to fly again, so as soon as I was home I was on the computer and booking up a flight. The only problem was that the only times available were first thing in the morning (the latest being 9am) or in the evening (the earliest being 19.30) I didn't fancy another late evening driving home from MK so opted for the early morning flight. Mum once again decided she wanted to come and watch (she's so great keeping me company on the journeys and videoing me for my records!) we left home at 6am! I thought I might find it difficult getting up early but I must of been looking forward to it (you don't say!) as I was up and about with no issues at all!
I must say it was pretty cold outside this morning and scraping ice from the windscreen in October is slightly mad!
Once we reached Airkix I filled in my statement of risk again and signed my life away again. We headed to the benches to wait for the instructor. While we were waiting we were chuckling to ourselves about one of the instructors. He really looked like he had that Sunday morning feeling! Shoulders down, head low, it was quite funny to watch and I said to mum if he's my instructor he needs to cheer up FAST! Guess what... he was my instructor... Joel.
I managed to avoid going in for the safety video - again. I think I've been enough times in the last few weeks not to warrant me watching it, so I got geared up straight away and we discussed where I was at with my flying and what we aimed to achieve in the flight. I think Joel was beginning to wake up by this point and he was joking about how cold it was going to be in the wind tunnel.
Off to the wind tunnel we go...
Today I was in with a new flyer and a skydiver who was being taught by (a very heavily pregnant) Claire 'Sparky' Scott. I was doing 4 x 1.5 minutes flights today to allow for Sparky and the skydiver to have gaps between their flights. This didn't matter to me as it meant I could practice my entrances and exits a little more.
My first flight I was finishing off what I'd started last Sunday with knee and arm turns and the side slides, the knee turns were coming a lot more naturally but I was still struggling to relax into doing the side slides.
On my second flight I was still getting to grips with the side slides and finally they were beginning to take shape, with a little helping hand from Joel.
I got very enthusiastic entering the tunnel for the third time and ended up hitting the wall on the opposite side of the tunnel. I was soon back where I should be though and back to the side slides. Once I had them sussed at a low level I was asked to go up, across, down, across to make a square. Next Joel was to create a 'burble' underneath me (this is taking away some of my flying air to see if I can keep my position etc) He started by getting me to fly high in the tower (Joel is pretty tall!) and to side slide over him while he walked under me. Thankfully I kept my body position and only dropped in the air slightly.
My fourth entry was a little more controlled - thankfully! We were straight into Joel creating a burble, again I managed to keep my body position but was still dropping in the air slightly. Next Joel decided to created a bigger burble by flying underneath me. This I found slightly more difficult and the first time he did it I dropped as far as the net. This happened on the second time as well. I began to get the hang of it, but it does need a little more practice!
Joel did a great job in teaching me today and I'm now looking forward to Tuesday's Flight Night with Paul. Hopefully I will get to grips with the airflow being taken away from me.
A video of today's flight can be found here
Every time I fly at Airkix it makes me more determined to keep aiming for the goal I have. For those of you who may not know me in person or who I may not of told, I would like to become an Airkix Tunnel Instructor. Helping all those people to 'fly' must be amazing feeling and all though it must be hard work I'm sure it's worth it for the satisfaction.
I'm sure there will be another update after Flight Night on Tuesday, but until then have fun!
x
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