IN the dark December days it’s not easy feeling on top of the world but Premier Newspaper’s videographer certainly gave it a go just before Christmas in more ways than one.
Extremely brave Natalee Hazelwood volunteered for a trip with the London/Dunstable Gliding Club drifting on the therms above Leighton and Dunstable and she could not wait to show everyone her birds-eye shots from thousands of feet up.
Natalee explained how her experience panned out. She said: “Someone once said that gliding ‘is falling with style’. This didn’t help the nervous anticipation leading to outright fear as I wangled on the parachute and settled into the cockpit at the foot of the Dunstable Downs.
“Quizzing experienced pilot and instructor Roger Banks on his perfect record, he has been flying pretty much man and boy, I felt confident that he was in complete control. For any first timers out there I want to assure you that you will experience one of the most peaceful moments of your life as you silently glide at around 3,000ft in the warm sunshine above the clouds with the most amazing view of the beautiful Chiltern Ridgeway below.”
Natalee explained how first they flew towards Dunstable but then because of Luton Airport’s tight airspace controls had to head towards Leighton. She said: “A hobby of mine is bike riding and I often ride along the new pathway on the Dunstable Downs wondering if I waved could the gliders see me! Roger said they certainly could as we sailed over some dog walkers and headed towards Dunstable High Street at about 2000 feet and I have a breath-taking panoramic view.
“Easy landmarks are Ivinghoe Point and the White Lion carved into the Chiltern hillside.”
The pilot then headed for Leighton and Natalee was surprised at the view that greeted her. She said: “The pilot informed me ‘and the urban sprawl to your right is the market town of Leighton Buzzard’ - sprawling is a good word for it as it became obvious there is so much more to the town than the High Street. From Just under 3000ft in the clouds, I had a unique view of the residential and industrial development and am particularly surprised to the extent of new-build housing which adds a sizable chunk to the town’s footprint. It’s a visible line from traditional blend to bright red brick as I frame the view to take back to our image library.”
Excited Natalee was totally overwhelmed by her experience and could not wait to tell the LBO staff what she had seen from the skies.
She summed up her day: “It was an amazing experience and after the first run I was left wanting more. Roger is as passionate as all the members that keep the gliding club running and as soon as we landed there was barely enough time to kiss the earth as we jumped back in again and headed once more for the sky.”
Click on this link, or paste it into your browser to see Natalee’s flight: http://webadmin.jpress.co.uk/brightcovepreview/previewbrightcovevideo.aspx?RefID=1325592194462
Or see this week’s LBO for Natalee’s photographs.