I like to travel. Over my career I’ve built myself a company that sees me travelling all over the place. Whilst I mostly deal with local clients, I’m seen often further afield in places like Doncaster, Darlington and occasionally I’ve been lucky enough to be called to do work as far afield as South Africa.
And that’s just travel for work!
One thing I don’t like is what seems to be the perpetual wait in traffic, taking hours to get nowhere. (So for anything more than a certain distance away I’ll get a train rather than sit in the car – at least I can get some bits done if I’ve got a table seat and a buffet carriage!)
And so, today I’ve taken the first steps in getting places in a different way and allowing me to visit places for leisure that would be a pain to get to otherwise – my first flying lesson!
OK, technically today was just a trial lesson, but it counts towards the minimum hours requirements needed for a license. Originally I was booked in for my first hour in a couple of weeks time, but there was a cancellation and I was free so I went for it!
A quick briefing and tour of the aircraft and we were off, quickly heading towards town a few miles up the road to familiarise me with the controls.
After town, we headed out past Rye and followed the coast for a bit before heading back inland and surprising me with just how tight a little plane can turn and the G-force it can pull. I should have taken a few more pictures up in the air really, less opportunity on future flights, but I was too taken with the sensation of being in the air and in control.
Soon we were heading back to the airport and my hour was up so I could say “yes please” to more lessons and to purchase my logbook to track my flight time.
Can’t wait for the next lesson! Lots to learn and study in the meantime!
The Word of Rob 