Chocks away for a bird's

There were moments just before we took off that a shot of whiskey wouldn’t have gone amiss to calm the nerves of a first-time (light aircraft) flyer.

This was no jumbo jet and if things got rough there wasn’t really anywhere to hide in the two-seater micro-light Ikarus C42, one of three aircraft owned by the O’Carroll family who run Kernan Aviation just outside Gilford.

After being warned that taking off and landing is usually a rather bumpy ride, I donned my headset and waited for Raphael, the owner of the flying school, to finish the routine paperwork he must do ahead of each flight before we took to the air.

The father-of-three and husband to Betty opened the aviation school in 1998 and has been teaching people to fly ever since, with some students coming from as a far as Malin Head on the North Coast and Cork in the south of Ireland.

Raphael, who has flown to various parts of the UK including Scotland, England and the Isle of Man, made the switch from farming and a stint as a bus driver to the world of aviation back in 1985.

And since Betty, who retired from a job in the Health Service a few years ago, joined in the running of the school the family business has gone from strength to strength.

Whether it be a one-off gift voucher or a series of lessons, Raphael told me most passengers love their sky-high experience - and I can see why.

Flying over Banbridge and the surrounding areas the scene is one of patchwork green and yellow fields where tiny toy-like cows graze, red rooftops on the district’s homes, and familiar landmarks including the Outlet at Bridgewater Park, Corbet Lough, the council civic building and even the Leader office on Bridge Street.

It’s true that this type of flight is probably not one for the faint-hearted but it is also an experience like no other, where the sky is your oyster and, on a clear day, you can see for miles.

And while the weather is a big factor for each flight, Raphael said people would be surprised how winter is often a better time to take to the air than summer.

“This is the first June we’ve had in about three years where people booked flights and you didn’t have to worry about them being able to go ahead because of rain or strong winds,” he told me.

“In fact on a clear winter day you can see some of the most beautiful sights from up there.”

Just as the one-hour flight was coming to an end my nerves returned as the aircraft descended and all those little trees and tractors dramatically increased in size.

Holding on to the seat for dear life I placed all my trust in my cool, calm and collected pilot who safely landed the plane.

A few minutes later I stood with both feet firmly back on the ground and vowed to return for another flight - no whiskey necessary.

For more information or to book a flight contact www.kernanaviation.co.uk or phone 07711841492.