Up, up and Waa-hey !

This summer looks like being a period when you do not want your travel plans to be dependent on aero-fuels. So me and MymateMatt ( MmM ) have got ahead of the game by experimenting with an alternative (fossil-free) form of aviation.

Paragliding

We actually booked a  one-day taster session a year ago. Then  experienced 5 cancelled dates  / rebookings  ( wind too fast / too gusty / too light, any drop of rain, .. there’s a whole meteorological encyclopedia of options that can prevent a beginner getting started). It’s not a pastime for the busy or impatient punter.  BUT we finally got a ” maybe” message early on Saturday morning and drove up to Settle , FROTHING with excitement.   (Well, ok  – actually we didn’t really think it would happen this time either.)

But – after a briefing at the cafe with 3 other novices and our two instructors, winds were predicted to drop a bit, so it was up to Ribblehead for stage 1.

STAGE 1 –  Ground Handling

This was an exercise with ‘mini-gliders’, to get the feel of the wing lifting the harness up, correcting for direction / angle of attack, using the control handles, and working out how to bring it down to the ground after landing.  And mostly, where all the straps, buckles, lines and stuff go. All by the scenic backdrop of Ribblehead Viaduct and some bemused 3 Peaks walkers. 

Biggest challenge was to work out where the sail actually was in time to react appropriately – you can’t really see above and behind yourself.  Plus lots of hillocks to trip the unwary, and the fact that my lines were set to Auto-Tangle. But we did start to get the idea after about 6 attempts .

Emergency parachute landing exercises seemed a tad premature, but we gamely had a go (  cricked my neck , of course .. should have invented a bone-spur excuse… )

STAGE 2  –  Blunderbirds are GO 

Quite a drive to a steeper site by Ingleton, and a field which a vindictive farmer had just covered in manure. Plus gliders that had twice the lift of our training kit….hmm.

The instructors proceeded to show off (under the pretext of “showing how it’s done” ,  chucking in advanced techniques like weight-shifting,  which served further to confuse us). 

When the wind dropped a little more – it was finally our go. MmM was an early pace-setter –

By the time it was my turn, wind had dropped, lift-off was unimpressive,  and for my first go I did no more than skid across the grass on my rump .   Second time was a bit more like it – ungainly, but I did undeniably FLY !

Summary

We each got 2 or 3 flights in , without major incident.  Given the close proximity of limestone rock and innocent bystanders, and the short period of flyable weather, that counts as a RESULT.

There was a definite sense of achievement, despite the somewhat critical commentary from the professionals.   But it’s hard to focus on the 10 seconds or so of actual stable flight when it is sandwiched between the frantic flurry of takeoff and the growing uneasiness of  “ahh, looks like the ground is getting closer, I wonder at what point I try this ‘ flaring out’ thing … Ah well, too late now, maybe sit down ?….”  

It would be amazing to get good at it and be able to stay up for hours ( fnaaaaaaaaar), but it would just require too many days sitting around waiting for ideal conditions.  Neither of us felt that would pass the ETRR test ( effort to reward ratio ). 

Still, one for the album, eh Gromit ? And nice views.