I’ve been flying since I was 19, so 15 years. Technically, I’ve been a fluids engineer for about 10 years. I suppose that helps to visualise fluid and how it moves but I’ve taken a break and I’m sort of a parabum. I’m a test pilot for Flow and it’s nice to fly a wing, but it’s way nicer to have some input on it.
I started relatively young, originally interested in paramotoring. But, to paramotor in Australia you’ve got to get your paraglider licence. I got my licence and took up paramotor about three years later, but free flight really took over. There’s more freedom using nature to stay up. It’s much more rewarding than pulling your throttle.
I still remember my first flight. I learned at Rainbow Beach – the Dune du Pilat of Australia – a 7km ridge where you can get about 200m over the water. I did a lot of coastal soaring, then paramotoring, then cross country, and I’m doing a little bit of speed flying now. There’s always something to learn.
My brother and I used to fly together a lot in my earlier days, so we...
