Flippin' 'eck...

It's been great being back in the MK tunnel. There is just something a little Retro about it, it's what I've come to know and love. I guess it's not just the tunnel though it's everyone at the tunnel too. I'm always made to feel so welcome there, I'm not sure if that's just because I take them cake though!

Each week that I fly I feel a little more progression, it may not always be a lot, but every little bit helps. I'm still working on my sit flying, getting stronger each time, which is great. I'm still struggling with using my legs though. I seem to lock them in a position where I'm flying and that is where they stay! 

As it's half term this week we opted for a couple of nice early flight on Tuesday morning, 10am and 11am, OK that doesn't sound too early but when you live 100 miles away that makes for a bright start. Early mornings are nothing new to me so when the alarm went off at 6.30am I was up and out the door! I thought leaving at this time I would hopefully miss alot of the rush hour traffic... WRONG! I caught a little bit getting out of the Forest and into Gloucester but nothing major, it was when I got to Oxford I got stuck! Flippin'eck! I used to think Gloucester was bad for traffic until I saw this. Needless to say I didn't get to Airkix when I was supposed to, I did make it in time for my first flight though... just! Thankfully Paul had the kettle on for a quick cuppa, I was parched!

In the 20 minutes I had in the tunnel, everything seemed to finally becoming together (well making progress anyway!) My back fly is alot more controlled than it has been, even when the wind got turned up. The sit fly is making small progressions each week, carving is coming along, I just need to avoid the doors! Even when I bail onto my back I can now get back into a sit without too much trouble and finally I can do the back to belly, belly to back transitions. These have been causing me jip for far too long now! All in all a good session this week. 

Paul mentioned he was on holiday next week and suggested I just book up some flight night sessions to practice what we've been learning and we'd sort out coaching again the following week. 

I'm booked in for 10 minutes of flight night on Tuesday...

Yesterday I got a phone call, it was Paul, he was ringing with news that I really wasn't expecting, he has himself a new job, closer to his daughter. I had never really thought about what would happen if Paul left and I was shocked by the news. When he rang he had already looked at different coaches and prices for me and let me know all my options. I wish him every bit of luck with his new job and hope he enjoys the additional time he can spend with his daughter. I can't thank him enough for all his help.

Total flight time 5hrs 14minutes

Time flies when you're having fun!

I know it's been a while since my last update, did you think I'd given up the blog, or maybe given up flying all together?!?

Well the truth be known I've been a little too busy flying and working to update the blog. Today though I've found my self with an evening to spare though so thought I would get typing!

My sit flying is still coming along great, now that I have the general position and balance it's just finding the right amount of leg and back to stay in the air. I still find myself drifting back down to the net, so this needs a little work.

We've also been working on my belly to back transitions, I tend to throw my self into doing them rather than letting the wind turn me over. Paul suggested breaking them down into three stages, for belly to back - belly, sit, back and for back to belly - back, sit, belly. With the wind low and close to the net I've been practicing this and it makes far more sense to me now. Hopefully when the wind gets turned up a little more again I can carry on doing the transition in 3 stages.

A few months ago while on the Airkix Facebook page I got chatting to a young lady called Tanya. It turned out Tanya was a regular flyer at the Manchester tunnel and was at a very similar stage in her flying as I was. We were tunnel twins! After lots of talking we decided to meet up and try flying together! This weekend saw this trip happen, I headed to Manchester to try out their tunnel. Tanya put me up for the weekend which was just brilliant, I can't thank her enough!

I headed up on Saturday afternoon and we spent the afternoon adding bling to Tanya's suit, we already knew we had matching suits, mine black with purple stars and Tanya's black with pink stars and of course the bling!

We headed to the tunnel in the evening where we were met by Mikie. Tanya had arranged for him to help us with our flying. Out came the white board and we decided what we were going to do in each rotation.

I shall let the photos and the videos do the talking for a little bit...

Showing off our suits!

My first ever flight in the Manchester tunnel -

Mine and Tanya's first flight together -

Our second flight together -

Me sit flying at Manchester -

Our third flight together -

Our last flight together -

My last flight at Manchester, more sit fly -

Think the smiles on our faces say it all in this photo - 

Thanks again Tanya (and family) and Mikie for a great weekend!

I've disappointed the staff at MK this week as I'm not flying so they're missing out on cake! But I'll be back in my home tunnel next week to improve on everything and I have next weeks cakes already planned! I can't wait!

Total flight time - 4 hours 29 minutes