Crash Landing

The Blue Mountains Hang Gliding Club has strong connections with this district. They fly from sites in the Blue Mountains and hold their water landing nights at Ripples.

With a scuba diver on hand to rescue pilots who don't get out of their harness quickly enough they haven't lost anybody yet but they're all of one mind – if you must have a crash landing, don't do it in the ocean.

Far be it from me to tell true stories in this column but this one really happened.

A few years ago when my wife and I were learning to fly hang gliders she had a nasty accident.

Landing in a paddock south of Goulburn, Lynne lost her footing. The kite kept flying and dragged her along the ground.

No problem. She's a strong girl and that's the sort of thing that happens if you get careless – but it dragged her right through a pile of fresh cow manure.

Yech! I didn't want to let her back in the car.

Lynne damaged her arm in that landing and it didn't get better until I had her clothes sparkling clean and smelling like flowers.

Women are smarter than men!