I’ll bet them Wright brothers never once thought that their invention could spawn so many variations. Take the micro light glider for instance. It’s a cross between a hang-glider, plane and lawnmower. Light and easy to set up and fly, the glider is owned by Noel Lim, a flying enthusiast who takes pleasure in scaring the bejessus out of unwilling passengers. And one fine day, Gameplan provided them with two correspondents, John Aguilar and Michi Valeriano. John and Michi would each take turns going up. Seated behind the pilot, the close proximity of the plane’s propeller was even more evident when it was started up. Deafening noise followed, muffling any pleas from either of them to back out, and up and away they went. Michi described the sensation of flying in the seemingly flimsy aircraft in a series of "Oh my Gods" and variations thereof!
"The micro glider was the scariest. I literally sank my nails into the pilot’s back and kept them there until we landed. The pilot, guessing that I might have been afraid, was actually considerate enough to keep the glider almost stationary in the air – something he didn’t do for John, who was swooping around screaming like a girl on the glider before my turn (which didn’t help my nerves any)," narrates Michi. And yes, the wind was roaring in my ears and the glider was shaking. Ultimately, though, micro light gliding is one flying experience you’ve got to try out. Soaring across Batangas in a hybrid aeroplane doesn’t take much fitness, but steely nerves and a non-fear of heights are recommended. Oh, and a grip of steel, the better to clutch Pilot’s back with!
(According to Michi, the peeing sensation is prevalent the entire flight, which leads me to deduce that flying is beneficial to the body’s urinary system.)
Contact Noel Lim through the Philippine Glider Sports Inc. : 0918-9049916, 0919-3396225, 0917-8326314 or e-mail paraglider@pacific.net.ph
Now, before you go all out and get your city slicker butts throughout the countryside, here are a few rules that would be nice of you to stick to:
RESPECT. Show some to mother nature. This means pocketing your cigarette butts, sticking to established trails, ditching that old-school tradition of taking home a bottle of Boracay sand, not scratching your barkada’s name on cave walls, even if it seems like Boyet and Jhun Jhun and Edgar have already done so. And no one really cares about rocks, flowers and leaves that you take home as souvenirs. Leave them where they are and be happy with photos instead.
SAFETY. Concussions, dismembered limbs, and impaled chests have this annoying way of spoiling a trip. Wear a helmet and pads.
HYDRATE. An active body sheds water in every physical activity, and that includes swimming. Load up on water every so often if you want to pull off that whole athlete-in-training vibe.Long live posers like us! And of course, enjoy yourself. Laugh it up the whole time and always take each sporting event as a new notch up your growing list of life experiences. Make that your game plan!