In my last post I mentioned about attending the Fright Flight at Manchester, but having thought about the logistics of it, with the help of Mum I decided that I was wiser just booking myself some more time at MK, so this is what I did!
As great as it would of been to fly on Halloween I opted for the Saturday night instead, this allowed both Mum and Dad to come and watch and for me to get in the additional time that I wanted.
I hadn't flown on a Saturday evening before and when I arrived I was amazed at how quiet it was, it wasn't until later that I realised why. The receptionist recognised me from my very first flight (8 weeks ago now!) and I filled in my statement of risk and was informed my instructor was Joel. Joel had been my instructor 2 weeks previously and it was great to know I was having an instructor I had had before. I headed down to the waiting area ready for my brief and still there was no sign of anyone, we sat watching the live action for a while where a group of Italians were training.
It wasn't long before Joel turned up, he sat on the bench opposite and asked "Have you been in one of my groups before?" when I replied yes he said I was the first person he's ever recognised from a previous group. I'm not sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, did I make that much of an impression on him? (good or bad!)
My aim for the 6 minutes I had booked was to carry on learning to back fly, Joel ran through all the movements again with me to make sure I was happy. He then explained that we were going to be sharing the tunnel with the Italians who were training and I was the only 'normal' Airkix booking there! They were going to show me up big time!
Joel sorted out my gear for me and said I could go and do what I liked for 30 minutes before meeting him up by the tunnel. We opted to just go up to the tunnel and watch the Italians train. Andy (my very first instructor) was in the tunnel with them and I'm not sure if he recognised me or if he was just being friendly but he put his thumb up and smiled. At one point while we were watching Andy was stood in the door way and one of the Italians put their feet out the door and managed to catch Andy right in the crown jewels. I guess it's a risk that comes with the job, but I don't think he deserved it. He's such a character though and managed to laugh it off!
After 45 minutes it was our time to enter the staging area, the Italians had swapped round too and I had a new bunch in with me. We let some of them go in the tunnel first as they had the most time to use.
When it was my turn I entered the tunnel on my back and moved to the middle of the tunnel. I tried out my turns which for some reason were proving more difficult then when I was doing them on Tuesday, it turns out I wasn't keeping my back straight and was twisting at my hips, unfortunately I didn't managed to rectify this problem for all 3 flight, DOH! It was only when I watched back all of my flights I could see what I was doing. Joel was trying his best to get me to stay straight but I just couldn't! I think I was maybe trying too hard and you can see in the videos the concentration on my face. Turns and forwards and backwards (in between me randomly dotting around the tunnel on my back) were all we did in the first 2 minutes before Joel turned me back on my belly and I flew out of the tunnel.
Back Flying 30-10-10 attempt 1 Video
While the Italians were flying again Joel was explaining to me where I was going wrong and how I could improve, his main point was that I needed to relax (told you I was trying too hard!) We were going to try up and down in the next two minutes...
As soon as I entered the tunnel and was on the net I was already rocking and looking unstable, my left foot was constantly trying to balance me off the wall. Joel took a hold on my feet and I put my arms up and out and I was in the air. Do you think I could get myself into the air though or even to stay in one spot? NO! I did manage to turn my self over into a belly fly and exit the tunnel though! (That's something I guess!)
Back Flying 30-10-10 Attempt 2 Video
Into the tunnel for the 3rd time and as soon as I tried to get any lift I was spinning again, my body still wasn't straight which was causing me issues. No matter how hard I tried I just could not stay put! At times I just about got lift, but was soon back on the net by not being able to keep still or straight. Frustrating! To top it all off when trying to exit the tunnel on my belly I somehow manged to roll and ended up being caught by Joel! Not my best session to date that's for sure!
Back Flying 30-10-10 Attempt 3 Video
To say the least I left yesterday feeling slightly frustrated and disappointed with myself, I had been totally fine in the middle of the net on Tuesday night but yesterday I just could not hold still. At the end of the day though I was still smiling and it now gives me something to work at and to improve. I was bound to meet a point in the tunnel that would become my nemisis and I think this is it (for the time being anyway!)
The feeling of frustration still hadn't subsided by this morning and it was suggested to me to book some additional flight time while I'm at Airkix on Tuesday for Flight Night. Me being me didn't need a second telling and went straight on and booked 6 minutes at 6pm for Tuesday before Flight Night with Paul.
I WILL NOT let back flying beat me!
Thanks to Joel for his patience and help last night!
Until the next update in the story of my flying antics...
x
As great as it would of been to fly on Halloween I opted for the Saturday night instead, this allowed both Mum and Dad to come and watch and for me to get in the additional time that I wanted.
I hadn't flown on a Saturday evening before and when I arrived I was amazed at how quiet it was, it wasn't until later that I realised why. The receptionist recognised me from my very first flight (8 weeks ago now!) and I filled in my statement of risk and was informed my instructor was Joel. Joel had been my instructor 2 weeks previously and it was great to know I was having an instructor I had had before. I headed down to the waiting area ready for my brief and still there was no sign of anyone, we sat watching the live action for a while where a group of Italians were training.
It wasn't long before Joel turned up, he sat on the bench opposite and asked "Have you been in one of my groups before?" when I replied yes he said I was the first person he's ever recognised from a previous group. I'm not sure whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, did I make that much of an impression on him? (good or bad!)
My aim for the 6 minutes I had booked was to carry on learning to back fly, Joel ran through all the movements again with me to make sure I was happy. He then explained that we were going to be sharing the tunnel with the Italians who were training and I was the only 'normal' Airkix booking there! They were going to show me up big time!
Joel sorted out my gear for me and said I could go and do what I liked for 30 minutes before meeting him up by the tunnel. We opted to just go up to the tunnel and watch the Italians train. Andy (my very first instructor) was in the tunnel with them and I'm not sure if he recognised me or if he was just being friendly but he put his thumb up and smiled. At one point while we were watching Andy was stood in the door way and one of the Italians put their feet out the door and managed to catch Andy right in the crown jewels. I guess it's a risk that comes with the job, but I don't think he deserved it. He's such a character though and managed to laugh it off!
After 45 minutes it was our time to enter the staging area, the Italians had swapped round too and I had a new bunch in with me. We let some of them go in the tunnel first as they had the most time to use.
When it was my turn I entered the tunnel on my back and moved to the middle of the tunnel. I tried out my turns which for some reason were proving more difficult then when I was doing them on Tuesday, it turns out I wasn't keeping my back straight and was twisting at my hips, unfortunately I didn't managed to rectify this problem for all 3 flight, DOH! It was only when I watched back all of my flights I could see what I was doing. Joel was trying his best to get me to stay straight but I just couldn't! I think I was maybe trying too hard and you can see in the videos the concentration on my face. Turns and forwards and backwards (in between me randomly dotting around the tunnel on my back) were all we did in the first 2 minutes before Joel turned me back on my belly and I flew out of the tunnel.
Back Flying 30-10-10 attempt 1 Video
While the Italians were flying again Joel was explaining to me where I was going wrong and how I could improve, his main point was that I needed to relax (told you I was trying too hard!) We were going to try up and down in the next two minutes...
As soon as I entered the tunnel and was on the net I was already rocking and looking unstable, my left foot was constantly trying to balance me off the wall. Joel took a hold on my feet and I put my arms up and out and I was in the air. Do you think I could get myself into the air though or even to stay in one spot? NO! I did manage to turn my self over into a belly fly and exit the tunnel though! (That's something I guess!)
Back Flying 30-10-10 Attempt 2 Video
Into the tunnel for the 3rd time and as soon as I tried to get any lift I was spinning again, my body still wasn't straight which was causing me issues. No matter how hard I tried I just could not stay put! At times I just about got lift, but was soon back on the net by not being able to keep still or straight. Frustrating! To top it all off when trying to exit the tunnel on my belly I somehow manged to roll and ended up being caught by Joel! Not my best session to date that's for sure!
Back Flying 30-10-10 Attempt 3 Video
To say the least I left yesterday feeling slightly frustrated and disappointed with myself, I had been totally fine in the middle of the net on Tuesday night but yesterday I just could not hold still. At the end of the day though I was still smiling and it now gives me something to work at and to improve. I was bound to meet a point in the tunnel that would become my nemisis and I think this is it (for the time being anyway!)
The feeling of frustration still hadn't subsided by this morning and it was suggested to me to book some additional flight time while I'm at Airkix on Tuesday for Flight Night. Me being me didn't need a second telling and went straight on and booked 6 minutes at 6pm for Tuesday before Flight Night with Paul.
I WILL NOT let back flying beat me!
Thanks to Joel for his patience and help last night!
Until the next update in the story of my flying antics...
x
Total Flight time = 39 minutes
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