| It's easier than you might think to make your dad gasp | | | | up in a plane but there's one distinct difference. It's |
| with awe this Father's Day. Most fathers are still big | | | | quieter. You see, with a glider there is literally no engine |
| kids at heart, they remember the toy airplanes they | | | | powering it. The glider gets up into the air by being |
| had as little boys and have always wanted to speed | | | | tugged on a winch much like when you run along the |
| through the sky in a small plane, hover over their home | | | | ground to set a kite off flying. |
| town in a helicopter or even float magically up in a hot | | | | Then, once it is in the air the glider can adjust aspects |
| air balloon. | | | | of its design to take advantage of upward air flows |
| These are the sorts of dreams which last a lifetime. | | | | (again, it stays in the sky just like a kite!) and when you |
| So, why not surprise your dad this Fathers Day by | | | | want to land a glider, you adjust the wings and circle |
| making it possible for him to get in to the sky? That | | | | down for a gentle landing. Usually gliders do not go for |
| might sound eccentric or impossible but in this article | | | | long distance trips; instead they stay within landing |
| we will tell you just how easy it is to get your dad in to | | | | distance of the air strip on which they're kept. |
| the blue and it's not that expensive either! | | | | Helicopters |
| Airplanes | | | | Most of us have seen helicopters before but not many |
| You could get a flying lesson experience day as your | | | | people really understand how they work. The |
| dad's Father's Day gift. They start at just 106.68 and | | | | rotorblades at the top of the helicopter turn so fast |
| last for about 1 hour and thirty minutes. Your dad | | | | that they create enough force to displace the air and |
| would be shown around the airplane and told how | | | | lift the craft off the ground. Helicopters have certain |
| everything worked before getting in and being taken in | | | | advantages over fixed wing aircraft such as airplanes |
| to the sky by a qualified instructor, then he could have | | | | because they can land vertically and are able to hover |
| a go at keeping the plane up there himself. Your dad | | | | in mid-air. |
| could really try his hand at flying this Father's Day! | | | | Interestingly, helicopters are not a particularly new idea. |
| Airplanes must be one of the most traditional and | | | | In ancient China children would play with 'flying toys' |
| exciting boy toys out there and films like Top Gun | | | | which were made from bamboo and used the same |
| have made a little room for a fast airplane in every | | | | principles to fly as a helicopter! Some ancient texts |
| dad's heart. The smaller models used for fun and | | | | also suggest the Chinese made working bamboo and |
| flown at air shows usually seat two people and they | | | | leather helicopters which could carry people. |
| have loud, powerful engines which propel them in to | | | | As a staple of action films a helicopter flight makes a |
| the sky. | | | | great Fathers Day gift and a 15 minute flight |
| Flying an airplane takes a lot of personal knowledge on | | | | experience only costs 96.89. |
| things such as navigation and an understanding of | | | | Hot Air Balloons |
| weather conditions. It also takes bravery and skill to | | | | Hot air balloons are probably the most relaxing of all |
| manoeuvre the plane appropriately and, rather | | | | the flying machines out there. They are majestic and |
| importantly, land it! Don't worry about your dad though | | | | enormous. A champagne balloon flight on Father's Day |
| he won't have to learn all that. He'll get taught the | | | | for your dad and some friends or family would cost |
| basics and the instructor will take care of the rest. | | | | you just 181.06 and it would be a really memorable |
| Gliders | | | | experience for everyone. |
| Another good gift to get your dad up in the clouds for | | | | Working on the principle that warm air rises, the balloon |
| Fathers Day might be a gliding experience. They start | | | | is filled with warm air and it carries the comparatively |
| at 57.74 so they're more inexpensive than flying and | | | | small under carriage (basket) beneath it up in to the air. |
| can be just as much fun. They're also a great Father's | | | | Wind currents then carry the craft in any given |
| Day gift for a dad who has already tried his hand at | | | | direction. By adding hot air to the balloon the craft |
| piloting an airplane and might like trying something | | | | climbs to higher altitudes but by letting it cool the hot air |
| different. | | | | balloon drifts slowly down towards the earth. |
| The experience of being up in a glider isn't unlike being | | | | |