OTish: Microlights

Anybody here done it, or owns one or is an instructor?
While in Mozambique I met a couple of microlight adventurers
who were hanging out at the beach for a few days, didn't
manage to blagg a ride, but got seriously interested in
learning it myself [1]. So assuming that ukrm caters for
interests of all sorts besides motorcycling, I was wondering
if I could find some info or even more here.

[1] Flexwing they were, but I assume fixed wing is easier
to learn for a start, so I've been told.

 

I've been up in a fixed-wing Microlite as a passenger.

It was an *incredible* experience. You're so exposed and the proximity and
noise of the engine & prop' heightens the sensation of power and, frankly,
fear.

I did half a day of a paragliding course (basically rolling around in a
field full of cow-shit practicing landing techniques) with the Sky Dragons
in Wales somewhere - but have no info, sorry.

 

I went up in one of those, I thought it was fucking great.

 

Oh, I enjoyed it immensely - but I was frit.

I suppose fear & excitement are flip sides of the same coin.

 

I took a five day course at Wombleton[1] a few (err.. 10) years ago.
Flexwings are very stable and can't do a tail spin[2] so you only had to
learn how to recover from a stall and something else[3]. Flying was easy,
takeoff was easy, landings... I had trouble with landings.

--
John Murphy

[1] ex WW2 Halifax bomber airfield, North York Moors.
[2] I woz told, no tail
[3] like falling out of the sky sideways

 

Indeed they are. I *know* I'm shit scared of heights, but I loved every
second in the microlight. I also love climbing mountains, I get scared,
but the thrill is in overcoming the fear. Once you've done it the sense
of satisfaction is immense.

 

John Jordan

Ta, the being at the fresh air was part of what appealed to me
when I saw the Microlights in Mozambique.

That's something I heard too, and could be of concern I suppose.

hehe

Thanks for the info, and if you happened to be able to give me a
recommendation for a place closish to Oxford where one could try
and maybe even learn how to fly these, I'd be eternally grateful.