I was amazed and speechless, nervous and excited. It's something that has always appealed in an abstract way, never for one moment believing that it would be something I would ever experience. I’m not a big fan of heights and the last time I flew I vowed never to step foot in a plane again (it wasn’t a traumatic flight but I felt distinctly uneasy taking my toddler son in a tin can thousands of feet above the ground and I never really shook that feeling off). I was aware, however, that whenever I saw someone in control of a flying machine I was just a little jealous. I threw caution to the wind and booked a lesson!
The day I chose turned out to be perfect flying weather: clear blue skies and a gentle breeze. The school shares its location with a sky diving school which was packed to the rafters. I appeared to be the only one there for a flying lesson. Nervous girls were struggling into their jumpsuits and being shown the ropes (quite literally). The looks on their faces confirmed to me that flying was an infinitely better experience than throwing yourself out of an aeroplane. I wasn't wrong.
After a brief lesson on physics (how a lump of metal flies) and which controls to focus on, we walked out onto the field.
It was a 2 seater light aircraft. Nothing more than a tin can if you ask me. My son jumped into the cockpit for a moment before leaving me to climb in with my training pilot. We taxied to the runway, waiting for another plane to land, load up with terrified sky divers and zoom off again. Then it was our turn.
The plane picked up speed, the pilot pulled back on the controls and we were airborne. Within moments we were 3000 feet high and the control was handed over to me. Gulp. Keeping an eye on the horizon and fiercly clutching the control I experienced a brief moment of pure terror before realising that my (co-) pilot was completely relaxed and at ease. I vowed to enjoy the experience. I looked down at the tiny roads, cars, houses which looked like my daughters playset and was filled with wonder. I was flying!
"Head for those cooling towers and keep in a straight line as we're flying over another airfield" my pilot told me. Easier said than done. The 'light' winds sent the little plane veering off course, first in one direction and then in the other. And then up. And then down.
Eventually I learned to relax and adjust the controls with subtle turns. It helped when the pilot told me that I looked like a little old lady, clutching the control and peering with supreme concentration at the horizon. He told me to take my hands off the control and see what happened. I did. And it continued to tootle on without a care in the world. I relaxed.
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