 As promised, my work colleague took my wife and I on a helicopter trip over the Brecon Beacons.
We circled Penyfan, Corndu and Cribyn and I tell you what, there were less people in the Albert Hall last night!!!
Can't blame them though, not a cloud in the sky!
What an experience though, doing the wholoe of the outer horse shoe walk in 10 minutes!!!!!
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 That sounds ace! I've always fancied doing it.
The closest I got was a flight in a Glider over Northumberland once.
Speaking of crowded hills, My wife and I headed out to a remote part of Northumberland yesterday and it was a fantastic day. However the road up the valley was really busy with cars and motorbikes! I guess the good weather had brought them out. (This area is usually almost empty)
Once we got off the road and up into the hills it was nice and quiet and we got some of the best views I've ever seen in the Cheviots! The view from the summit of Windy Gyle was stunning!! {:O)
It would have been an ace day for a helicopter ride!
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 Tony
I bet lots of the walkers were saying 'who the hell is that in that chopper disturbing our lovely day in the country side'. Glad you enjoyed it.
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 --The closest I got was a flight in a Glider over Northumberland once.--
Better than a flight in Northumberland over a Glyder...
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I have to say Lewis that helicopters are a bit of a passion of mine and I have flown with the RAF rescue in Sea kings and on one occation a Chinook. I have also flown with the Welsh Air Ambulance.
The unfortunate thing for me is that Steve, my mate with the private "chopper" licence is a paramedic in Brecon, so he is often "buzzing" the beacons and obviously, I know the aircraft that he usually flies. On a number of occations, he has spotted me as from the air I am obviously pretty distinctive with the three dogs. He flies over waving with whatever party he has and of course I am furiously waving back.
I then look around at the bemused "walkers" who are then looking at me and probably saying under their breath, "sad git."
Just remember, if you are ever in the beacons and you see this "sad git" with three sheepdogs waving at a passing "chopper," it IS NOT the aircraft equivilent of an anorak!!!!!
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 Last year I was invited to participate in a Mountain Rescue Helicopter excercise in South Africa, courtesy of the South African Airforce, and I have to say it was one of the most fantastic experiences of my life.
(sorry, if I've told you all this story before.)
Before I went I wasn't sure if I'd even like being in a helicopter, but before I knew it I was being winched into a ravine to collect three canyoners who had supposedly got stranded on some rocks in the middle of the stream. It may have only been an excercise, but everything about it was absolutely real, including how close the heli blades were to the sides of the ravine. Afterwards I said to the pilot "I was a bit worried, but I know that's stupid because you do this all the time".
"I was a bit worried too" he said, "this is a training excercise for me too you know!"
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 Helicopters? Schmellicopters.
Tornado F3...it is THE way to fly.
Punching holes throught thunder clouds, barrel roles over the North Sea. Spurn Head to Cromer in 7 minutes.
A right kick in the ass when the burners hit re-heat, and the fun you can have at Mach 2.2 at just about sea level is indescribable.
Oh happy days...
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Unfortunately Hodge, I don't know too many F3 pilots and besides which, certainly not that many that cold "borrow" one for the day.
I would imagine that I would have to get a second mortgage to enable me to contribute towards the fuel on that one!!!!!
Still, any F3 pilots out there reading this, I am game for it!!!!!
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 Tony, what day were you up there ?? I was on the top of Corn Du with my fiancee brewing up at about 3pm on Saturday, weather was fantastic but to many people as you say.
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 What time did you set off Matt?? 8 in the morning LOL.
Sorry mate, only jealous! I spent my weekend fixing the landie!!
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M8 i got up there in 40 minutes and that was with the missus.
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Oh Matt, Please tell me you didn't use what we locals call te M4, (the tourist route from Storey Arms!!!!!)
I flew over on Sunday.
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Not quite Tony !! down the road a bit lol, it was my Girlfriends first time in the hills and i wanted to give her a good experience so i can drag her up again :-)
Looking forward to getting on the Beacons to practise some winter skills l8tr in the year.
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Alex, if I speak to you very, very nicely can you fix it for me to have a go in a tornado?
Sounds like the ultimate adrenalin rush!!! :-)
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Apologies to hodge and Alex, I don't know what was in my mind when I confused you two over the Tornado reply!!!!!
Also in my reply I to Guy I asked if it was his dog PISTURED!!!!!
I must have been PICCED!!!!!!
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NP Tony, dude!
Alison, I have lost all my contacts, it was a few years ago now, just as I left the squadron...I'd love to have a go back in the seat.
Did I say that the one I went in was a duel control aircraft and I had a fly. Barrel rolls over the North Sea...
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