Adrenaline Rush
This page is devoted to those activities that most people consider mad/insane/foolish/reckless etc. But nevertheless you just have to do because somebody invented them! This page will expand as I try out each activity.
When I first saw this contraption I couldn't work out what it was supposed to be. I soon found out though! You are strapped face down into a harness with a cable attached to your back. You are then winched up 152 feet and 149 feet behind the central pivot. When released, you freefall 60 feet before swooping at 60 mph to 6 feet above the ground. The maximum G-force is 2.2.
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This was an opportunity not to miss. It became available to members of the UK adrenaline sports club SPICE. It didn't take me long to decide to try it. There are very few military jet aircraft in civilian ownership and flying hours are limited. Unless you have friends in the RAF then it is unlikely that you will come across a chance like this (unless you join SPICE). The aircraft is a Hunting Jet Provost originally from RAF Brawdy. It has 2500 pounds of thrust from a Rolls-Royce Viper engine, 400 knots maximum speed and 30000 feet maximum altitude. My 15 minute flight used over 80 gallons of fuel and I can assure you this was quite long enough! Even though this aircraft was originally an RAF trainer, it certainly can give you a small taste of what RAF pilots experience in fighter jets. The world looks very different when you are flying upside down - held in only by your seat straps.
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From flying in a Jet Provost to flying with no engine at all. An opportunity to take a couple of trial lessons at the Derbyshire and Lancashire Gliding Club. A powerful winch drags you airborne until releasing the aircraft at 2000 feet. Suddenly everything is quiet, except for the faint rush of the air over the wings. The instructor brings you back to reality by giving you control - "attitude, awareness, airspeed, only a light touch on the stick, turn left, turn right". Ten minutes passes very quickly as the airfield runway looms ahead. Touchdown is a bit bumpy - at least I didn't need to use the parachute. When can I go again?
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