Flying on a lawnmower with wings!!

The Sun is out (again), the sky is cloudless and a brilliant blue (again), a perfect day really to cash in the Microlite flight I won a few weeks ago via Radio Val d'Isere, 96.1 fm.

We sent Richard up a few years ago for his birthday, then Craig went up last year and they both came back in one piece so I decided to take my chances, even though the boys sat in the office this morning coming out with all kinds of encouraging snippets of information, ie, 'No engine is guaranteed not to fail', and,'If the engine does fail, you'll glide a bit before crashing', Thanks guys!! Lucky for me the engine didn't fail and a great flight was had.

The Microlite lives up on the Bellevarde mountain and is easily spotted with it's big yellow wings. It's owned by a jovial French guy, Philippe.

After plonking a helmet on my head and strapping me to a chair and indicating foot rests ( which my legs were too short to reach), I was given my safety briefing, 'Ok, anything loose which you drop will go in the propellor and it will stop'. Riiiighhhhttt. Que to hold on to the camera extra tight.

I'd dragged Craig up with me to act as photographer and moral support, not much chance was given though to back out of this little adventure, no sooner had I been seated then we were off!

Not even near the scary experience I was anticipating, fortunate for me, there wasnt a wisp of wind and it was a most smooth flight, not even the
odd jerk to set the old heart a fluttering. We flew off out towards Tignes and the dam, then back around and over the top of Val ( I saw my house, couldn't spot our fleet of Finlays vehicles though!). It all really was very stunning. Unluckily, I'd taken Richards camera up with me ( better to risk dropping someone elses camera than your own!!), and lo and behold, midway through merrily snapping away, the camera announced the memory card was full, Bah!!!! Shall have to go up again for another flight and more snapshots!

It really is an activity that anyone can do and it is quite reasonably priced, 80 euros for a flight over Val d'Isere and 120 euros for a flight which takes you out over Tignes too. A fantastic opportunity for any non-skiers who still want to see the grandeur of the mountains, or for anyone who has had the misfortune of doing themselves an upper body injury but doesnt want to just sit around in a chalet all day!!

Philippe flys most days, weather permitting. If he's not out buzzing in the skies above, you'll find him in a deckchair next to his flying machine just itching to take you on up!