Ooops! I think I made a boo-boo and made people think Im something Im not in my last blog about flying. I had no intention of doing this because with me, normally, what you see is what you get, like it or not, take it or leave it, so to correct my mistake, heres an update......

First of all let me say that I'm NOT "a pilot". I don't hold a civilian PPL (Private Pilots Licence). When I said that I love to fly, I meant usually as a passenger these days, but I love to be up there, whether in the 'left hand seat' or just in the tail of economy.

My first ever experience of flying was in a Mark 3, De Havilland Chipmunk aircraft which was used as a basic trainer by the (UK) Royal Air Force. This is a 'tandem' aircraft which means that you sit in a single seat behind the pilot.

The idea was that the RAF Instructor would take the plane up and then pass over control to me in the air. I was reluctant to take control (Yes, I was scared, this was my FIRST time ever in an aircraft remember!), so the pilot suggested doing a few 'aerobatics' above the Forth Road Bridge on the east coast of Scotland. In my ignorance, I said, "Yes" and after doing two barrel rolls, a loop-the-loop, a figure of eight and a couple of weird turns, I said "yes" again when he asked me if I'd had enough! I was proud of myself that I hadnt been sick though, especially given the G forces that were involved. What a buzz though!!!

It certainly removed any possibility of having a fear of flying after that and officially made me hooked on it. Through time, I then progressed from flying in the chipmunk on to having "Air Experience Flights" in the the Bulldog, the Mark 2 Glider and finally, the 152 Cessna. I have also flown in various large military aircraft too. This means that whilst I have experience in flying certain types of aircraft, under VFR (Visual Flight Rules), this is not recognised by civilian air authorities and I would have to get a PPL to be accepted by them.

Having begun my flying experience in a small tandem aircraft though, I would sooner fly in a small areoplane than a large commerical jet anyday. To me, there simply is no comparison. You don't even get the opportunity (thankfully) in a commerical jet to watch the earth move from below you, to the side of you and then 'above' you, as the aircraft does a lazy roll.

To recap though, I apologise if I gave anyone the impression of being someone I'm not because that was never my intention at all. I wanted only to try and share my love of the actual experience of flight a little. It would be a dream to be a pilot and either own or share and have access to a small aircraft one day, but I'll be happy just to get my "Spiritual wings" as DS said and fly that way.

As a footnote, for those who do not know, the motto of the Royal Air Force (RAF in the UK is: "Per Ardua Ad Astra" - Through adversity to the stars. Sounds like most folks experience of life itself, dont you think? :)

Namaste to you all my friends.