Ultralights

..Or, very light aircraft, or light sport aircraft, are small aircraft used for recreational aviation.

With my feet firmly planted on the rudder pedals, my right hand gently kissing the control stick and my left hand clutching the throttles; I make a thorough final check. Satisfied that I am good to go, my left hand pushes the throttles all the way to the stops. The low rumble of an idling engine quickly evolves into a loud roar as it progresses up to maximum RPM. The airspeed indicator’s needle then starts making its way to 40 miles per hour, and I gently ease back on the control stick. In the blink of an eye, I am airborne!

Freedom, at last! As the ultralight slips the surly bonds of earth, I become one with the plane. Its wings fuse into one of my bodily appendages as I progress into flight. Up here, one enjoys the purity and freedom of flying in its simplest form. I leave behind the complications of the land-borne individual and achieve what man had wanted to do for centuries. The wind in my face, I have attained surreal bliss.

The planes you see in the fiesta are from the Angeles City Flying Club based at Woodland Airpark in Magalang, Pampanga, 15km away from Clark Freeport.