Soaring through the atmosphere and gazing down at earth
Story by Charles Atkeison
(June 14, 2011) -- To fly alone without an aircraft around you is a feeling of excitement and amazement as you soar through the earth's atmosphere with the wind in your face and your eyes fixed on the beauty of the planet.
Aviation of any form has given this author a feeling of wonder having piloted single and twin engine planes across America since my youth. In 1992, I piloted for ten minutes the Goodyear blimp powered by two Ferrari engines on either side over downtown Atlanta.
I also love flying solo without any fuselage around me in a aviation sport known as parasailing.
Recently, I want parasailing at the same location where I've parasailed many times before since 1993 -- over the Gulf of Mexico a few miles off the coast of Saint Petersburg, Florida.
Parasailing over the beautiful coral and blue waters of the Gulf with the scenic views of the Florida coastline makes the flight as enjoyable as being locked inside the Hershey chocolate factory.
A yellow tether tied to the stern of a speed boat with me attached to a very cool parachute allows for the air to provide the necessary lift to get aloft as high as 1,400-feet.
The last few time up, I've brought a digital camera up with me to record images and video of my views from my high perch over the Gulf waters.
Once I arrived at an altitude of 1,200 feet, it took me only seconds to get adjusted to the thin straps holding me below the parachute as I moved at about 30 to 50 m.p.h.
Parasailing is my stepping stone toward making my first skydiving jump someday soon... I can feel it.
Enjoy my images above and maybe one day you will have the same adventure.
Comment below on your aviation experience or if you have para sailed before.
