“Up, down, flying around, looping the loop and defying the ground”
I can’t remember the first time I saw Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, but whenever it was it left me with a lasting love of old aeroplanes. Yesterday Polly and I got to fly one, a 75 year old de Havilland Tiger Moth with Blue Eye Aviation (http://www.blueeyeaviation.co.uk) based in Derbyshire (thanks guys). No cameras were allowed in cockpit due to the open controls, but the Moth looked just as beautiful on the ground.
Taxing to the runway (or grass strip)
I have to admit to mild apprehension taking the controls. The stick was super sensitive, the slightest touch sending the nose, tail and wingtips in a different direction. Working in 3D after the 2D of driving a car, trying to keep the wingtips level and parallel to the ground, meant I spent most of my time looking sideways, or down in the cockpit checking airspeed, rather than straight ahead, or at the Derbyshire countryside passing by below.
Take off
Flying High
Coming in to land
Touch down
The touch down on the grass strip at Darley Moor was the softest landing I’ve ever experienced, helped by the stillness of the day and of course the pilots skill.
Polly back down on Terra Ferma
Shooting Notes
All shots were taken with a Sigma DP3 Merrill, handheld, except for the last taken by the professional at Blue Eye. It would have been nice to have a bit more reach!