Yesterday, father-in-law and I went on our helicopter flight from Lothian Helicopters, given as a Christmas present last year but much postponed due to other commitments and inclement weather.
We gathered at the appointed time in a bleak field near the airport …
Till the copter came swinging down …
I got the seat beside the pilot …
… with the dual control pedals which you mustn’t touch!
Takeoff was surprisingly smooth and gentle, as easy as standing up from seated, and
… and soon we were over South Queensferry …
The weather meant we couldn’t go over the bridges, so we went west, over Newton, Bo’ness and Linlithgow …
The pilot told us the chopper was an old one, formerly owned by racing driver Jensen Button. A second hand one would cost about £400,000 and a new one £2m, but the main cost was maintenance: every little part has an alotted lifespan after which it must be replaced.
Back we went over Queensferry again. My house is down there somewhere …
… and in to a smooth landing.
