Flying
My flying career arose out of the whole buzz that surrounded the Maiden project. I was introduced to an ultra-light (some call them micro-lights) pilot who gave me a first flight down in Wiltshire. His name was David Young and he's the best pilot I know. As soon as we took off, on a hot summer's day, I knew this was for me.
It took a year to get my ultra-light licence - and acquire my own aeroplane. I shall never, ever, forget my first short solo, on a summer's evening off a grass strip. When those wheels left the ground I knew it was all down to me - and only me - to get back on the deck. In 1994 Laura and I flew an ultra-light (the same one on the front page of this section) across the Channel and down through France and Spain to Portugal. Less than a year later I crashed it - and walked. My fault; crashes are too often pilot error. On the back of that incident, though, I learned to fly 'tin-can' Cessnas and the rest; I've flown my favourite 'big aeroplane - a Super Cub, both off land and off water (in Scotland) . And I've made the jump, parachuting - again with Laura - following.
I have flown paragliders and gliders and even a helicopter. But ultra-lights - and paragliders - remain my true loves: you are close to the birds and you are in the open air. To be high - or low - above the earth is a privilege I hope I'll never have to give up. I'd fly every day of my life if I could.