Mote park and its little known airport runwayMy wife is telling me that this web site is getting more like a This is your life, if that is the case I apologise. It is nevertheless the memories of Maidstone, Mote park airport, the people, the places etc that will stay with me. Some years ago a friend purchased a micro-light (in those days if the micro-light was under a certain weight there were no restrictions). Knowing that he was a true adventurer and had taken many lessons with a hang-glider, I showed my interest by remarking that I would love to have a go, he replied "Well one Sunday we can take it out and then you can". As with most things in life if they are far enough in the future we say great I’m up for it.
One early fine Sunday summer morning this mate turned up in his van with the wing strapped on the roof, not quite what I had in mind but what the heck. I imagined that we were going to Headcorn airport to fly the micro, but instead he headed to Mote park past the swimming pool sign that says keep off the grass.
After taking down the chain fence, not a big problem as it was still only five in the morning, we drove over the football field. We untangled the wing from the roof and extracted the micro body from the inside of his van which he duly started to assemble. Standing proudly by his now assembled micro I wished that I had taken my camera. Time for the launch but first he scrambles in the back of his van and emerges with what I though a little over the top, a helmet with wings on. Fine everything normal up to now. He starts the engine but now the park is getting a little busier with dog walkers bemused smiles on their faces, this would change in the fulfilment of time. My intrepid mate revs the engine and building up speed tries to take off. Unfortunately the newly mown wet grass is clearly slowing him down. As he turned the micro around to take a second run I noticed that his entire front profile including his goggles are covered in grass cuttings. On the third attempt and with dog walkers no longer smiling but running for cover, he launches over the lake in what looked to me quite dangerous. Then the sound of a desperate engine trying to stay in the air he disappears out of my line of vision behind or in the trees. Shaken but not stirredAs the impact of what I had seen hit me, I ran across the football field expecting to find him injured or even worse dead. I ran towards the trees as he appeared waving his arms and shouting at the top of his voice bring the van, BRING THE VAN(Oh my God, what has happened). I returned to the van and without consideration for the signs saying please keep of the putting green, drove as fast as I could towards the trees.He emerged uninjured but badly shaken saying his instructor had told him that this micro was too small. I questioned him as to his previous flight and he said “Well I’ve never actually flown it before”.
The Star Ship Enterprise
Quite recently I contacted this mate, he told me he is looking for a pilot for his rocket (home-made), and he tells me he is trying for the Guinness Book of Records highest flight by an amateur rocketeer. If anyone is interested I can forward their names.
He assures me that he now favours Penenden Heath, at least there is no danger of drowning there. Yes this is a true story.
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