"Walt" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Mar 31, 11:02 am, Mxsmanic wrote:
Judah writes:
Actually, there are avenues available that allow even people who have
failed
a medical to pilot an aircraft. Ultralights, for example.

An ultralight is not an aircraft in my book. A simulator is closer to
the
real thing.

Oh, man.

I once flew in an ultralight one August evening near Decorah, Iowa (my
daughter was going to Luther College at the time). Flying at near
treetop level in perfectly still air, taking in the sights and smells
of the woods and fields (and having the occasional bug smash into the
face mask of my helmet) it was, in my book, as close to pure flight as
I've gotten. And, while I don't have nearly the experience of many
people on this list, I've flown stuff from KC-135's to gliders.

Nothing compares to real life, my friend.


Can I ever relate to that. I can remember many cross country flights where
we often had to grab a little altitude from time to time, to cross power
lines and sometimes even fences. The lower and slower, the more real it
seems to become.

I have also had the opportunity on a few occasions to fly with the hawks. At
one of our hang gliding locations, it was not at all uncommon to either
follow or be followed, up and down the ridge line, by hawks often coming
within 50' of your wing tips.

But it doesn't take the fun out of GA either.

Thanks for refreshing the memories.