achievements / adventurer cv / photo gallery / diary

Other diaries: Antarctica / Circumnavigation / Deserts / Mountaineering

Date: 

August 2003

Event: 

World record microlight flight across English Channel

Description: 

Fly over the English Channel accompanied by 160 other microlights, celebrating the first Channel flight 100 years ago.

Aim: 

Be the first blind person to fly the English Channel

Sighted co-pilot: 

Storm Smith

Miles comments: 

A microlight is a great, sensual form of flight for a blind person, with the wind in your face, and the roaring engine just behind you, holding a wing bar to fly it. We are working on speech-output for flight instruments- the key to enabling us to fly to Australia in the microlight later this year.

Lesson learned:

I have been reminded once again that the only limits in our lives are those we accept ourselves.

Date: 

September 2003

Event: 

New British high-altitude record for tandem microlight flight

Description: 

High altitude microlight flight

Aim: 

To beat the previous record of 10,800 feet to 15,500 feet, using supplementary oxygen.

Sighted co-pilot: 

Storm Smith

Miles comments: 

The high wind-chill factor (around -38C) got to my hands again, preventing us from reaching our desired target of around 20,000 feet. We broke the record, but didn't reach our goal. We will plan another attempt to go higher still, with additional heated protection for hands, feet and body.

Lesson learned:

You have to aim high in life to go high, and it is important to not be satisfied with a performance that you know is below your potential.