What started out as an innocent trip to the NABD stall at the BMF show this year to renew my membership, ended in me flying free over the Shropshire countryside on what looked like three scaffold poles, a tarpaulin, and a lawn mower engine.

Seriously though, this was one of the most exhilarating experiences that any one could experience, and as it was for a really worthwhile cause, it added to the sheer enjoyment of the flight.

I had tried to undertake my flight at the start of September, but the experienced eye of my pilot Tim was to postpone the date to a bit later in the month, due to inclement weather. On our second attempt it was to be better news, we were on standby on the Saturday morning, and a call to Tim's son was to bring the news that the flight was a go. With my carer Andrew we made the London to Shropshire run in about four and a quarter hours. The weather on arrival was beautiful, and the reception from the Fly-Boys at the airstrip was very encouraging. After a short wait Tim prepared the Microlight for our trip and we were off, after some welcome assistance from the ground crew to actually get into the cockpit.

The flight was magnificent and the views matched all of my expectations, throughout the flight Tim's level of professionalism put me at ease and made the whole experience one I will never forget.

Thanks go to all of the guys at the Shropshire Flying School and Gren for turning up to chronicle the event on his trusty camera, and by the way if any of you are wondering how you can raise funds for NABD... TAKE A MICROLIGHT FLIGHT! 

Spike.