So what does one do for an eighteen year old’s birthday in this day and age?
This was a question that had bothered me for some months before my eldest, Christopher, was due to reach that magical age. Eventually, with time running out I finally figured out the obvious solution – ask him.
I’d wanted it to be something that would have a lasting impression and that might actually add something in terms of broadening his experience. Something that he could look back on and think “I’m glad I did that”.
We talked about many options from white water rafting to hot air balloon safaris, Himalayan trecking and other exotic suggestions, but the one that really grabbed his attention was learning to fly. I had thought at first that this would involve a trip to some far away land such as the USA so was delighted when, within a few minutes of starting my internet search, I discovered the web site for Nearly Heaven.
Our having a house in the Lot, just two hours south of Limoges, to where the rest of the family were in any event due to decamp for the summer, meant that this offered significant geographical advantages and after some discussion it was agreed that we would rent the larger of Sue’s gites, where Christopher and I could stay for the flying holiday so that my wife, Kathleen and the other two boys could visit and enjoy a change of scenery and the riding facilities also on offer.
Christopher has never flown before and it had been over 30 years since I had last been at the controls of a light aircraft, so it was with a slight sense of trepidation that we arrived at Limoges airport the first day of our lessons. I well remember the chat Sue had with us that first morning when she explained to us that her philosophy was simple – flying should be fun, not a chore or test of endurance.
As I’m sure anyone with teenagers will appreciate, getting them out of bed in the mornings can be difficult, to say the least, so it was initially planned that I would fly in the mornings and Christopher would take the afternoon slot. Remarkably however, his enthusiasm was such that he wanted to be up and at it each morning and airborne as often as he could, whether in the front seat as student, or in the back seat as observer.
We could not help but be impressed with Sue’s totally relaxed and easy-going attitude, boundless energy and patience. She seemed to have a complete understanding of the fact that to begin with it’s all a bit daunting having to think about so many things at once and amazed at how quickly, under her astute guidance, what seems to be a jumble of thoughts and actions, settles down to fluidity and sense.
The Robin is a joy to fly and evidently very forgiving and by the second week we had embarked upon a number of sorties to some very interesting and delightful locations such as La Rochelle and the Il D’Yeu, combined with some excellent lunches. We even had the opportunity to fly south to the Lot where we unashamedly flew in circles exclaiming “hey look – you can see our house from here!”
Has the interest been kept up? Certainly it has and despite the fact that both Christopher and I have lead busy lives since (he with schooling and exams and I with business and travel) we both plan to be back this year with a view to completing enough hours to qualify for a PPL. With this in mind we are both studying for, sitting (and hopefully passing) our ground exams in Bournemouth during the half term break in February.
It will be great if Christopher does thereafter maintain an interest and goes on to have many happy years behind the controls. If not however, I shall at least know that the initial objective of a constructive and memorable eighteenth birthday experience was successfully achieved, while at the same time having exactly what Sue had promised at the outset – lots of fun!
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