Fright or flight
Some of us are driven to pushing the envelop either out of curiosity or out of the need to live on the edge, or both. I suspect that I would fall into the subgroup of ADHD’s characterized by the need for increased environmental stimulation. Now this usually has one of two consequences (or in fact, both on occasions). Either the pursuit results in innovation and gratification or alternatively, you kill yourself.
In my early twenties I resolved to conquer land, sea and air before I was forty. And indeed I wind-surfed, surf-skied (paddle-skied), dived and became a pilot. And sure enough I pushed the envelop in each. In the paddle-skiing days I had to be rescued twice from stormy seas. There was one rescue from a dam when I was caught on my wind-surfer near the dam-wall in a mighty thunderstorm. Diving was also not without its drama. I was determined to do a shark dive even though I had flu and couldn’t equalize. So after taking multiple nose sprays I began the agonizing descent to the sharks, three miles out from shore. I battled to equalize and experienced horrendous pain in my ears and sinuses. Not to mention the cacophony of noises in my ears. At last I found myself swimming with the sharks. At the time I wondered why the sharks were swimming so close to me, seemingly very curious. It was only after I completed my agonizing ascent that I found my mask full of blood. I had bled into the sinuses and both ear-drums. I could have had my damn head bitten off! But it was a great experience and well worth the pain.
In a similar vein I have always been driven to innovate in my profession. And so in 2001 I teamed up with an orthopedic colleague and a talented mechanical engineer and together we developed a prosthetic spinal disc replacement. It seemed to be a far more viable alternative to spinal fusion, which deprived the spine of movement. In time we developed and implanted the discs both in the lumbar and cervical spines. The patent was sold to a US company and eventually it received FDA approval. For the more engineering oriented readers you can view the disc at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSm4kNjL5JM
One day in May I decided to go for a flip in my plane. The airfield was pretty far and I had to leave home at 4.00am – sparrow’s fart time! It was still dark when I arrived. I was the only nut at the airfield at that hour. I pushed open the heavy hangar doors (we each had our own hangar) and moved the plane out. Even though I push the envelop and take risks, there was one thing that I was always conscientious about – my pre-flight checks. I checked every aspect of the plane. Finally checked the fuel levels and then we were good to go.
The intrepid aviator - when I was still a ravishing brunette!
Dawn was now dawning and there was enough light to start up and taxi to the runway. There was radio silence - I was a lone aviator. It was an exhilarating feeling. A crisp temperature with a light breeze, man and machine gliding slowly to the runway holding point. The only sound – the engine purring healthily. My craft had no doors and only half a floor – peering down between your legs at altitude, you gazed upon a drop to earth of a couple of thousand feet. This was real flying – ala Orville Wright. But the plane was well engineered with dual-surface wings, 3 axis control with flaps and fully instrumented. It also took two people sitting side by side. I had long range fuel tanks fitted and souped up the Rotax engine to racing standards.
I did my final checks, radioed (radio silence) and moved on to the runway. One last check then pushed up the throttle to the max and began moving with increasing speed. What a high! At rotating speed I pulled back on the stick and lo and behold I was flying. This must be one of the greatest sensations – orgasmic. I released the flaps and headed to the general flying area (GFA) near the airfield.
To this day I have no idea why I made that near fatal decision. Perhaps it was the exhilaration of the moment that emboldened me. I decided to try and spin the aircraft. The manufacturers had indicated that it couldn’t spin and if you’d got into a spin it was unlikely that you’d recover. But this aviator had to prove them wrong. The sun was now peeping above the horizon. I spiraled up to 1600 feet which was shy of the regulation 2000 feet (the second mistake. The first was doing this in the first place!).
I began the maneuver. Pull stick back to initiate the stall and as the nose plunged I gave sharp left rudder …. and then all hell broke loose! I inverted. I was upside down and plummeting to earth. The only reason that I didn’t fall out of the plane was that I had racing harnesses attached to the chassis. Fuel was pouring out of the carbs and spraying the windshield and my face. The standard recovery from a spin was now hopeless (throttle down and give opposite rudder). I was in fact no longer flying but hurtling to the ground inverted and at terminal velocity.
I recall having only three thoughts at the time. One, you’re an asshole. Two, this aircraft which was so familiar to me (we had flown many hours together) was now a total stranger. It was a complete foreign object. And three, what are the guys going to say on Monday morning about me and my terminal adventure? I expected they’d be doing my post-mortem about then.
Somehow, flying instinct kicked in. I reflexly gave full throttle and pulled back on the stick. Somewhere near the ground the wings ‘bit’ and I rounded out. The G-forces were horrendous and I nearly blacked out. But I had survived to live another day. I settled into straight and level flight and headed back to the airfield, my face covered in a sweat-fuel mixture.
On landing back at the airfield, I received a round of spontaneous applause from the pilots gathered near the runway. It was said that I had executed the finest aerobatics in a microlight. I was still too shocked to respond. In fact the lethal combination of adrenaline, cortisol and endorphins bubbling through my blood vessels kept me in a parallel universe for several days thereafter. It took a while to come back to the realization that I hadn’t in fact died.
Is there a take-home message here, a moral to the story? Not really. It is what it is. Explorers succeed, fail or die. I survived and continue to push the envelop …. perhaps a little more responsibly!
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Comments
Sara Jacobovici
6 years ago #22
Jerry Fletcher
6 years ago #21
Ken Boddie
6 years ago #20
That makes two of us, Ian.
Ken Boddie
6 years ago #19
That maes two of us, Ian.
Lyon Brave
6 years ago #18
Ian Weinberg
6 years ago #17
I wanted to be many things
🐝 Fatima G. Williams
6 years ago #16
Cyndi wilkins
6 years ago #15
I'm with her!!! Silly boys;-) Although I have to admit...it took me quite some time settle down after having a child...When I 'misbehaved' I always got the "What the hell were you thinking?!?!" speech the morning after....followed by, "You're a mother now...so act like one." Shamed into submission:-(
Ian Weinberg
6 years ago #14
Thanks Gert Scholtz
Gert Scholtz
6 years ago #13
Ian Weinberg
6 years ago #12
Thanks Harvey Lloyd one of the spectators would have written it up. I believe it was spectacular to watch!!
Ian Weinberg
6 years ago #11
Yep, I'm done with that stuff now. I just put my feet up and drink beer !
Ian Weinberg
6 years ago #10
Thanks Ken Boddie It's interesting that as I've 'matured' I've lost the edge. I don't think I'd have the nerve to go up in that thing again!
Ian Weinberg
6 years ago #9
Thanks Donna Wood A little ragged now - Mow I rather just watch others doing these things on TV
Ian Weinberg
6 years ago #8
Thanks Pascal Derrien
Ian Weinberg
6 years ago #7
I was Cyndi wilkins And I never heard the end of it. To this day ...
Cyndi wilkins
6 years ago #6
Ken Boddie
6 years ago #5
Paul Walters
6 years ago #4
Harvey Lloyd
6 years ago #3
Harvey Lloyd
6 years ago #2
Pascal Derrien
6 years ago #1