A BRUSH WITH THE ALMIGHTY? - by John Elkins

Well with a week off work there must be at least one good flying day!
Tuesday morning started sunny and bright with little wind apparent,
My flying partner Dave Howell was on an early shift and wasn’t able to get to the field until at least 4pm, so I would have to go solo today.
After a mess about morning I arrived on site at Hornchurch Essex at noon. Setting up the windsock gave a light south-westerly, perfect for an out and return I had been planning for sometime.

I had done my paragliding training with Greendragons with Andy Shaw & Mark Watts some time ago before Andy had moved his operation to Woldingham in Kent. I had called Andy and he had welcomed a visit when the conditions were right.

A forward launch got me airborne and I climbed out and headed towards the river Thames and the Dartford crossing having logged the waypoints. I’ve not got a GPS, so I used the next best thing, head, map & compass!
Crossing the river, navigation was easy, as long as I keep to the M25 I can squeeze in between Gatwick and Biggin Hill airspace.
An imaginary two fingers up at the tollbooths, £1 saved! I continued along the motorway at a good forward speed. The air was very lively with some of those heart-stopping moments, one moment 10 up the next 10 down. At times I had to use full power and I was still going down!
I was packing a camera for some of those memorable moments but it were one of those days when you don’t like to take your hands off the brakes. Lively air was an understatement.

I carry 8 litres of fuel which gives me 2 hours flying, so I had planned to take no more than 1hr 15min out which would leave 45mins downwind dash back home.

Well at 1hr 20mins I could either continue to Greendragons, and hope for a re-fuel or turn and run for home. Never having landed out for a re-fuel I decided on the latter. At this point my plans started going downhill!
The wind had dropped and I was not advancing as I had hoped. I was about 15mins from home but my airtime had now hit the 2hr magical mark. Time to look to landing, as I would never make it across the river. Now spotting a petrol station from the air is not easy but I located one in a small village of Hextable and looked for a possible landing site. Picking the best field possible as near as I could to the filling station I set up, made my approach and made a nice landing.

Leaving my kit at the side of the field I clambered over a gate and headed towards the farm buildings and the road. I met a young lady and apologised for landing in her field. “Have you crashed” she asked Her husband appeared and we got chatting about the possibility of re-fueling. I was offered a petrol can and directed towards much needed fuel. I promised to return ASAP. I called Dave to warn him that I may require a retrieve if I had problems getting back in the air. Once he had stopped laughing he agreed to be available if required.

After re-fueling the motor and myself I met the landowner to return the can with thanks. He informed me that my landing in his field was not a coincidence. A prospective pilot I thought until he asked me if I new Jesus?
Well I must admit I had shouted his name a few times on the trip down during those wicked Up’s & Down’s but I’ve never met him.
“I’m a Born again Christian” he informed me.
Now when whey come to the door it’s easy but what do you say when you’ve been at the receiving end of such friendly help?
Well we had a chat, he gave me a booklet and I went on my way.

A good forward launch and an uneventful flight back to base saw another two fingers at the tollbooths at the Thames crossing, £2 saved!

Landing out for a re-fuel! 'Another mental & physical hurdle overcome'.

 

John Elkins

Flight Time : 2hrs 20 mins.
Distance : 60 Miles
MOTOR: Vortex with Cors Air Motor
WING: Swing PowerPlay Sting 160