flying over the hills

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Last Christmas, Dawn got me a voucher for a flight with Highland Flying School and I’ve only just got round to using it. Luckily, they were very kind and extended it to the end of January, so I booked for yesterday, which turned out to be a small window between gale force winds! In a little two seater, with an instructor, we taxied onto Inverness airport runway:

“OK, our takeoff speed is 60kt” bumpity bump along the tarmac, “that’s us at 60kt, if you pull out on the bars…”, “eh? me?”, “yes,, just pull out and take off”.

So I took off from Inverness airport! The instructor then took over and climbed to 3000ft but told me to keep hold of the dual controls. Whatever he did, my controls did the same, so I could get a feel for what to do in the conditions, which were a 50kt wind from the SW and large banks of scudding cloud, not to mention some turbulence around 1000ft. Turbulence in a two seater is out of this world, especially when you’re flying the plane! I had a wee bit of turbulence once I took over again but after a minute or so of blind panic, you settle into it and well, you seem to become part of the elements.

re cycle free bike hire in inverness

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The latest issue of Cycle from the CTC has the details of the new free bike hire scheme in Inverness. It’s situated in Rose Street car park and you have to register first. You can find out about the scheme from Inverness and Nairn Transport Forum and you can download the registration form here. Once you’ve registered you can book your bike ahead via MP33, the folk who maintain the bikes, on 01463 717639. The bike pool consists of 20 unclaimed machines donated by Northern Constabulary and the scheme is funded by Hitrans (bike racks), Highland Council (staff time) and MP33 (bike maintenance).

Inverness on eBothy Blog

flying over the hills

re cycle free bike hire in inverness