crossing the channel

[Jan Olieslagers]

Isn't that what he said?
Or are you playing on the subtlety of FL65 vs FL065?

[BossEyed]

Oops.

Anyway, high enough for a microlight really not to be concerned about the "short" crossing...

[abgd]

I think you are mistaken, the paraplegic pilot made it safely to Sydney in a flexwing microlight. The pilot who died in the Channel on his way to Sydney was able-bodied.

I'm thinking of a pilot who died whilst crossing the channel in a flight with Judy Leden - who wrote about it in her autobiography. I don't have a copy with me right now so can't check the details.

Hang gliders are meant to be very difficult to get out of underwater - my instructor used to compete in the birdman competitions and told me it's not to be underestimated. It may be easier (or harder) in a trike.

[patowalker]

I'm thinking of a pilot who died whilst crossing the channel in a flight with Judy Leden - who wrote about it in her autobiography. I don't have a copy with me right now so can't check the details.

I lent my copy of Flying with Condors and never got it back, but IIRC, Judy's group was on a charity flight in support of paraplegic pilot in a Shadow. The pilot who died was in a trike.

Information on aircraft converted for Disabled Flying Training

[patowalker]

Hang gliders are meant to be very difficult to get out of underwater - my instructor used to compete in the birdman competitions and told me it's not to be underestimated. It may be easier (or harder) in a trike.

I will admit to ditching a hang-glider. The worst of it was the embarrassment. Witnesses thought I was done for, but I was treading water under the sail with my head out of the water, trying to undo the carabiner on the hang-strap. I never did manage to undo it, but eventually got a foothold and carried the wing through the surf intact. I then set it down on the beach too early and a wave rode up the sail smashing some battens.

In the water it is always going to be easier to undo a seat belt on your lap than a carabiner at your back. So yes, it would be easier to get out of a trike.

[Sam Rutherford]

I work on the two out of three plan for long water crossings:

1. lifejacket
2. immersion suit
3. raft

Unless crossing the N.Atlantic when it's all three.

For the channel, a lifejacket (worn!) is fine.

It is exceptionally unlikely that you'll end up in the water during the few minutes the crossing takes, and even if this does happen you'll almost certainly be able to ditch near a small boat/yacht who can come and pick you up.

Be realistic about the odds of disaster.

Don't worry about it, go!

Fly (safe!), Sam.

[lenhamlad]

I work at Headcorn and met Dave Sykes the paraplegic who was setting off from Headcorn last year to cross the Channel on the next stage (he had flown down from Yorkshire) of his epic journey to Australia. His first attempt to get to Le Touquet was thwarted when he had to return following a white-out in the Channel. Unlike all those TV celebreties who have support teams, Dave was on his own. He set off the next day and I expected him to get to the south of France at best, before bureaucracy got the better of him but was surprised to read that he had reached Oman and Omanair had kindly offered to sponsor him down to Oz. Oman Air sponsors paraplegic microlight pilot flying the Kangaroo Route - Flight International

We have regular flyouts to the Northern French coast and Belgium. In fact, the last was two weeks ago to Calais. Eight aircraft and roughly twenty flyers descended on Calais to find the Germans had beaten us to it. Six aircraft out of Stuttgart en route to Scotland had landed before us. Normally only PLBs and lifejackets are taken but those with their own aircraft often have their own liferaft.

Thanks Champchump for the kind words about Headcorn. During the Olympic period (14 July-15 August) we have a corrider out of the restricted zone, so flying in the south east will still be easy for those that don't want to file a flightplan and come under Atlas control.