h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The freedom of the skies, with nothing but scattered clouds above you, a slowly moving panorama of the world below (the plane I fly goes very slowly) and the wind in your face (yes I much prefer open cockpits or the doors off) is what I dream of often, and practice weekly (weather permitting).

In reality of course the freedom is a myth. There are rules, rules and more (sensible) rules to keep flying safe.

So perhaps its not the freedom I crave, but the thought of where I could go and where I might journey when time permits.

Or perhaps its something else.

What is it for you?

Whats wrong with just dropping things that go bang and woosh onto people?

I don't think anything is wrong with that idea. It can be very fun!!!!!!






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Yo Dude! Just Imagine the looks on their faces, as you Napalm and Bomb them for being the wrong Religion, Colour or Political Persuation. Or even living the wrong side of the estate!
Surprise is the secret ingredient.

Do it now before they do it to you!!!

I'm not sure where this conversation is heading.
What I had in mind with my article was to provide some hitch hiking information - or at least information about a means of transportation. After all this is a Hitch Hikers Guide.
I quite like dropping things that go woosh and bang in a virtual environment, but in real life I think it's a bit dangerous.
From personal experience I can add that being dropped yourself and going woosh is quite a thrill, but bang is to be avoided.

Ditto. Daydreaming about hitchhiking around the world in a small 'plane that has to land every three or four hours is what got me into the discussions

Hmm, the Romantic Poet in me sees what the original author is saying.
The concept is so dreamy, but I am just a trouble maker me.
Surely though, all he has to do is use a longer elastic band and give a few extra turns when winding up.....

For me it's partly the intellectual challenge of being up against the elements, searching out those elusive thermals, wave or ridge lift
(I fly gliders so there are no engines to help if I can't find lift).
There's also the thrill of being so nearly a bird I watch the kestrels for hints of the best soaring conditions. All they ever do is twitch a tail feather and cast a mocking glance into my canopy.
In the words of John McGee "I have slipped the surly bonds of earth and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings".
It's definitely the joy of travelling rather than arriving at my destination - which, if all goes well, will just be wherever I took off from!

Ok, and seriously. A good friend of mine finally gave up with our weather and has moved to Alicante in Spain to pursue his hobby 'Gliding' in his retirement. Shame, I missed a lot of offers to go up for a trial flight. Sometimes life farts in your face.
I even learnt that you took water as ballast up with you, always thought that it was the Zepellin type blimps that did that.
Is poetry a necessary qulification in this fine sport?

Flying is easily the best thing you can possibly do in a sitting position whilst still wearing all your clothes.

I fly every week (Thursday in fact) in a tiny 3 axis microlight. I fly every day in my mind to places far away where I just might go - over the Sahara Desert, across the Nile, the Aral Sea, the Siberian Tigaar, the Bering Straits, the Rocky Mountains, the Amazon - yes microlights have flown across all the places so why not mine? And I fly every night in my dreams waking to work out how they might come true. And dreams can come true - five years ago I dreamed of driving from London to New York via Siberia. To make that a reality took eighteen months of planning, three months to drive, millions of dollars and weeks on end in the coldest part of the world at the coldest time of the year, but we did it as some of you might have seen via ITV in the UK, The Discovery Channel and on PBS. My next journey will, of course, be done for h2g2.

I used to fly, when I was in cadets, but I left about 2 years ago. I got about 5 hours on Bulldogs and 6 hours in Vigilants. And all for free.