The ability to fly is something I am sure many people would love to have. I know that I would love to just leap off the ground and soar like a bird…but I am not a bird, I am human and my dream of flying without assistance is not going to come true. We humans have to rely on flying experiences in planes or helicopters in order to feel the thrill of flying.

And thank goodness that we have these options available to us. Flying experiences not only give us the amazing gift of flight but they also give us the opportunity to see the world from a different angle. Personally, I like to feel safe when I am in an aircraft – I don’t want the distraction of fear to get in the way of this wonderful experience. There are, however, many different flying experiences available – from death defying and thrilling to relaxing and awe inspiring.

Celestial Gift Experiences offers the following flying experiences. Microlight flight, helicopter flights, aerobatic flight, biplane flights, accelerated freefall, paraglide flights, hot air balloon flights, gyrocopter flights, skydiving and light aircraft flights. Who knew there were so many different ways of flying? If I was a bird I would be getting a little jealous (and threatened) right about now.

The flying experiences I would be willing to try would be ones that don’t involve falling out of an airplane or flying in an airplane that does topsy-turvy things in the air. I think the one that intrigues me the most, and that I definitely want to experience with my daughter, is a hot air balloon flight. Wow! What an awesome experience that must be and I know that it is something that she will remember forever.

I wonder when the first flight attempt was made by man (or woman) – who was the first person to say “I want to fly and I am going to make it happen”? Wikipedia states that “according to Aulus Gellius, Archytas, the Ancient Greek philosopher, mathematician, astronomer, statesman, and strategist, was reputed to have designed and built, around 400 BC, the first artificial, self-propelled flying device, a bird-shaped model propelled by a jet of what was probably steam, said to have actually flown some 200 metres. This machine, which its inventor called The Pigeon, may have been suspended on a wire or pivot for its flight”.

I never would have guessed that the first attempt to fly was made in 400 BC – it is inspiring to read about people who, even with none of the technology that we have today, still managed to fly a distance of 200 metres. It makes you realise how far we’ve come.

We should consider ourselves very lucky to be able to enjoy the various flying experiences that are on offer to us. It is a privilege that we get to do the seemingly impossible and not only fly a distance of 200 metres but actually fly to different cities, countries and to different continents.

Written and prepared for by Klara Loots