Well ain't that the truth. This is my story of why I
wanted to purchase, learn to fly and then pursue an instructor
rating in an Aerochute.
Along with many other people passionate about the aviation
industry and my desire to expose others to the shear joy
and excitement of flying, I started to look at what options
were out there for a GA pilot in their late forties (especially
being blonde and a female). Completing my commercial licence
and pursuing a professional career in aviation did not
seem to be an option available to me at 48 years of age.
This required some research and some serious thought as
I admit as a GA pilot I thought recreational aviation
seemed not as regulated hence not as safe, with a bunch
of enthusiast doing their own maintenance and a flying
training regime that appeared not as in depth as GA training
so potentially not as safe.
My research proved otherwise and what unfolded for me
when I took my blinkers off was the opportunity to introduce
a lot of inexpensive fun flying into my life and also
the opportunity to start a commercial recreational flying
operation.
My initial up close and personal exposure to ultralights
was via a friend who owns an Airborne Trike. Alf my trike
mate has taken me flying in his machine at West Sale Aerodrome
and I discovered it was a huge amount of fun, but did
I want a trike was the next question?
Some time ago I had the good fortune to be taken flying
in an Aerochute (powered parachute) by a nice fellow locally
that owned one. I was impressed with this machine however
did not think too much more about it until I was taken
flying at West Sale by John Conte one of the designers
and owners of Aerochute Pty Ltd. I'm thinking by this
stage this is a good machine and a huge amount of fun.
Some time passed and while I love my highly modified Victa
Airtourer there seemed to be more to aviation than strutting
around with the professionals pouring heaps of avgas into
the tank and heart aching over the timing and the cost
of the next 100 hourly.
My commercial circumstances were changing with my business
growing and other opportunities presenting themselves.
I decided to build an aviation theme bar and cafŽ
at West Sale Aerodrome and this is due to open sometime
around mid this year. Given that my husband Bob and I
live on the airport with our hangar, office and a 4 star
2 bedroom unit, a picture was forming in my mind of what
I could offer all those people out there that cannot afford,
or think they cannot afford to fly.
Enter the Aerochute! A bit more research and some fruitful
discussions with all the wonderful people at Aerochute
had me placing my firm order. How exciting this was all
becoming. I have taken delivery of the 'chute' and went
off to Werribee for my training. This was all fun in itself,
an overnight stay for us in the motel at Werribee (an
opportune time to escape the business), the early morning
start, and then the flying.
The best part of the day, the sun is slowly rising,
the Aerochutes are being taken from their trailers and
there is a gentle breeze, this is good because the Aerochute
should not be operated in greater than 15 knots.
Steve Conte very carefully takes me through all the
pre-flight checks required for the safe operation of the
machine, once complete and the 503cc Rotax run and warmed
up we move the machine to our chosen take-off area. Now
we are in a paddock so positioning ourselves for an into
wind takeoff is not hard when you are in what we used
to call back in my gliding days an 'all over' field. We
carefully unpack the parachute and I then learn how to
manage and lay out on the ground my brightly coloured
'wing'. Now I am telling you, this is a good thing because
you can pack your wing in a bag, shove it on the seat
of your machine and you can then fit heaps of them in
your hangar, how good is that?
visibility of
any flying machine and a freedom that can only be felt
in any open cockpit aircraft. Well after some lessons,
that seemed to go very well I left the field and I must
say I was 'pumped' all day and could not wait for the
next morning when, if all going well I was to have my
first solo flight. And yes I did the next day after some
consolidation and Steve checking to ensure that I had
my head around the concept of this aircraft off I went.
Once again the excitement I felt was just fantastic.
Now the Aerochute is nice and slow but a very manoeuvrable
aircraft and as safe as houses. We practiced all sorts
of emergencies, including forced landings, steering line
failures etc. Now the good part about this machine is
if on the very rare occasion you were to have some problem,
I could guarantee you are going to have to do something
terribly wrong to not get to the ground with you and your
machine in one piece. They land on a dime and are extremely
forgiving. I can attest to this after some of my early
less than perfect landings. They are inexpensive, easy
to learn to fly and heaps of fun. What more can one ask
for?
So here I am today a proud Aerochute owner, I will complete
my instructor rating and run Trial Instructional Flights
at West Sale Aerodrome in Gippsland, Victoria. I can then
introduce people to this aircraft and the joy of flying.
Hopefully you will experience what I have and get yourself
in the air and having fun in one of these extraordinary
machines.
Now if you want to travel cross country then this is
possibly not the aircraft for you, but if you want to
fly in your local area, take your aircraft on holidays
with you in a trailer so you can sight see from the air
and just experience the joy of flying, you cannot beat
the Aerochute......so...
'Let your adventure begin', I have!
