poontang Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Ok, so it was my 50th birthday on Wednesday and one of my brothers bought me one of those 'adventure days' as a present. Now, I'd quite fancy a day roaring round a track in all manner of exotic supercars, a day out on a 4x4 course or even a spot of powerboating........BUT the day he bought was for a microlight flight :o It looks to me like a kite with a basket strapped to it, and only a lawnmower engine to keep it in the air. Has anyone ever been up in one of these death traps aircraft? I don't want to hurt my brothers feelings but I'm not sure it was such a wise choice for someone with a fear of heights!! I don't mind admitting I'm bricking it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaiyn Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Go for it! It is statistically safer than base jumping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 (edited) personally I'd refuse to go up in the air in anything that weighs significantly less than me !! Microlight ?? No I'm blooming not !! Edited July 17, 2011 by TaxiDriver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chard Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Ask the company if you can swap it for something more civilized, I bet they get asked that all the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Elvis Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 **** that!! :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted July 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Ask the company if you can swap it for something more civilized, I bet they get asked that all the time That did cross my mind Anything at ground level will do me. The strange thing is I've flown quite a lot in the past, done parachuting and flown a glider, but as I get older I think I'm losing my nerve a little bit. They do 'pamper' weekends too..... That's more my style nowadays Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksdad Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Evil E says it all in two little words! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beretta28g Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Well i would, most definatly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypig Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 Go for it........ itsa blast.... get one with training bars and as a backseater you may get to fly it........ very wierd sensation as you are aware of hanging under the wing. You will not regret it... HP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 If you get vertigo (and by your post I think you probably do) there is every chance you may 'freeze' up there and will not be able to think of anything except being on the ground again. It's a horrible feeling and anyone can get it, also a very common phenomenon in micros, biplanes and such. It's partly the irrational fear that you might 'fall off/out' (which nobody ever does of course) but it nonetheless feels real when you're up there. How about swapping it for a fixed-wing flight in a Cessna or something, far more civilised and less chance of needing to change your shreddies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjsc Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 just be aware that when you take off, you go up at quite a steep angle, before you know it though your up there, its brilliant!! Dont forget your camera. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 man up , most or at least some people survive flights in these things , you might even be one of the lucky ones that doesnt plummet to earth screaming all the way . i wouldnt go up for a million quid to be honest . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 the estate owner was dicking around chaseing geese in his 3 year back when he went in to a dive went to pull up and didnt make it in time just hit the forestry lol he walked away from it thou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ME Posted July 17, 2011 Report Share Posted July 17, 2011 No way Jose. You would be safer walking the streets of Suffolk wearing leather chaps with the bum cheeks cut out and a Bronski Beat tee shirt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I'd love it, goes to show we are all different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I did a few trips in a microlite years ago, while in Bulgaria. It was a fixed wing type, that looked as if the wings were attached to a bicycle frame, with a big fan on the back. A brilliant experience though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Perfectly safe , enjoy. The piles of scrap that you'd see in the corner of the hangar when the accident investigation lads from Boscombe had finished were more often than not there because someone had gone cheap and not bought/made to spec' and it had "folded up" in mid air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seamus Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 I used to fly Microlights (before kids/marriage) from Sywell in Northamptonshire. They are an incredibly safe way to fly and really give you the feeling of properly being in the elements. There are two types of Microlights, fixed wing (which look on the whole like "normal" aeroplanes) and 3 axis/flex wing (I suppose a bath tub below a hang glider wing is the best description). Both different experiences but both great fun. I thoroughly recommend it, it is definitely something to be experienced. If you do go up in a flex wing type, then the main thing to remember is not to worry too much about the single 10mm bolt holding the buggy to the wing, it's perfectly safe, honest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Today has only reinforced my option that this forum is filled with a bunch of Essex Jessies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilam Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Microlights! The Devil's Angels........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 do it!!! I would love to do something like that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poacher Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 i'm not a fan of heights but flying in light aircraft, gliders etc is a different sensation and doesnt seem to bother me do it you'll regret it otherwise If you do go up in a flex wing type, then the main thing to remember is not to worry too much about the single 10mm bolt holding the buggy to the wing, it's perfectly safe, honest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevelee24 Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 my uncle has one and his mate has a few they fly about in them all the time never had a issue they even travelled from Northumberland to Paris in them with a big group but over the channel one blokes engine failed and sadly he froze to death when he landed in the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supersonic Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Do you need a licence or anything to fly them?? Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevelee24 Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Do you need a licence or anything to fly them?? Nige yeah think so its just a small aircraft really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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