My
First X-Country -
by
Rachel Hairs
I
started reading the articles that are on the Paramotorsuk
website when I first bought
my paramotor and I told myself that I should write something too when
I start to fly.....
This is
an account of my first x-country flight which I completed very recently.....
It
was 26 degrees. Not the greatest time to be getting in a flying suit
and strapping myself into, what I consider to be, a very heavy piece
of kit! My husband and I had driven up to our local take off site, a
gently rounded hill which enables us to take off in any direction. The
air was fairly thermic but had been dying off since we arrived and by
the time I was ready to launch the conditions looked perfect. My husband
had already done a quick flight and had come back down to watch me launch.
There was enough of a breeze to try a reverse launch so I laid my wing
out, warmed up the
engine and was ready to go.
The
wing came up beautifully, I turned but found myself struggling to walk
forward. I didn't have my hands high enough so was keeping too much
brake on - I hesitated, chickened out and hit the kill switch. I know
this was my first attempt but I couldn't help but feel disappointed.
All the effort that it takes to get ready to launch and I mess it up.
I briefly wondered why I ever thought I would have the strength or skill
to fly this monster! Fortunately for me I have a very understanding
husband who helped me out the tangle of lines and reassured me that
this was really quite normal.
Rachel warming up her engine before completing her first
x-country flight
After
a 10 minute break I had regained enough energy to try again. This time
it felt right so I eased on the power and found myself off the ground
in just a few steps. I was airborne ! I still find this part so unbelievable
- that I can actually fly with an engine. I slipped back into the seat
and tried to concentrate on being calm as I flew out over the valley.
Being used to staying in one place, its a very strange feeling to leave
your take off site behind you and fly out into the unknown. I was constantly
searching for landing fields just in case my engine gave out on me,
but praying that it wouldn't.
Back on the ground I could see Dave getting ready to join me. I circled
back round and waited for him, he was soon in the air too and gaining
height. He radioed across to me to head out over the valley again and
we were off. I was so busy concentrating on just 'being in the air'
that I mostly forgot to look around at the scenery but when I did look
out it was beautiful, the sun was just starting to drop and I could
countryside for miles in every direction.
It wasn't a very long flight, just a few miles, but it was amazing to
fly together, this is what we had been aiming for when we first took
up paramotoring and on days like this it is all worthwhile.
Rachel
Hairs
MOTOR: Adventure R3
WING: Advance Alpha 2
An Inspiration to other prospective female pilots
out there looking to take up the sport of Paramotoring.
