Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines ....

It was a beautiful sunny weekend in early September, and Richard and I were debating what to do with our Sunday........ We had both spotted some old planes being displayed by a small airfield on our way to Sonoma some time back, and thought they might take people up in these planes (especially if we asked very nicely!)

Onto the internet I went, and lo and behold I found the Vintage Aircraft Company .... and sure enough, they did flights and 'experiences' in old aeroplanes. No booking was necessary, so Richard and I headed off on Sunday for our 'experience' in an open cockpit, bi-plane!!!!

Now I was very excited, but as we neared the airfield, I noticed that Richard and gone very quiet, and was looking slightly green!!

We parked the car, and were immediately confronted with a beautiful red bi-plane ..... I began to imagine the Red Baron doing dastardly things to his enemies and defying the laws of gravity with his shinny red plane ..... Then I looked at Richard .... definitely greener!!!!

The people at the airfield were really friendly, and we duly handed over the cash on donned our skull caps ready for the off. They did say that for an extra $50 the pilot would perform barrel rolls, loop the loops, inverted dives and the like, but we thought that this would be over doing it somewhat on our first adventure into the air. Our little red plane was a 1942 Boeing Stearman with a wingspan of 32'2". It was powered by 450 horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-985, with a cruise speed of 125 mph (are you impressed with my aeronautical knowledge????)

Richard and I climbed into the front seat of the plane, and the pilot sat in the back. We were taught three hand signals:-1) thumbs up (go faster), 2) hands horizontal (fly level) and 3) thumbs down (for GET ME BACK ON THE GROUND ..... NOW!!!!!)

As the engine started (which is positioned right in front of our noses) the little plane shook into life, and I was very glad of the ear plugs kindly supplied by the lady who helped us into our very fetching head attire. We headed down the runway, and I must admit that I didn't even notice we had taken off until we started to bank around, and climb into the cloudless, blue sky.

I glanced over to Richard, and was glad to see that he had a big grin on his face, which was no longer that greenie colour. We climbed to about 3000 feet (yes, we had all the instruments in front of us!!!) and proceeded to take a tour of the wine country. It was breath-taking. We did the full circuit (lasting 45 minutes), finishing off with coming over the mountains, and then down past Kenwood to head back the the airfield. The feeling of being out in the open, that high up was truly memorable.

Again, I hardly felt the landing, it was more like a soft bump onto a thickly piled carpet (well done to the pilot!!).

Richard and I had a great time, and are now seriously contemplating going back up and paying the extra $50 for the aerobatics ....... well, maybe we'll just think about it a bit more .....

...I want to be a..............tree

OK -so she's right - I was green, but only because I wanted to be a tree - let me explain..

You see the 1942 Boeing Stearman was built only 39 years after two bicycle salesman had first soared in the air -technology in 1942 was pretty "basic" - transistors had just been invented and Alan Touring was just inventing a computer the size of a small house. Mankind was pushing the boundaries.

Which is why the Boeing had pedals not unlike child's pedal car - and I could reach them - this seemed to piss the pilot right off...

But trees - that's what I was thinking about - you see trees have roots - and if you believe Darwin - I had them once some 500 million years ago - I could do with them now - preferably big strong ones growing out of my arse. This would allow me, like a giant pink redwood, to anchor myself securely to the ground - I really needed a large diameter tap root right now.

As for paying the pilot $50 to turn upside down and get puke in your hair - he obviously belongs in an asylum.

Now, Sal enjoyed it - so she obviously comes from a different branch of the tree of life if you see what I mean - that or she has roots - will have a look when she nods off later..... will let you know.