So, this week, I did a thing. A scary thing.
Picture soaring through the clouds, wind whipping through your hair, as you stand atop a biplane's wings. This heart-pounding experience isn't just the stuff of fiction; it was the reality for your intrepid author. Drawing inspiration from the courage and adrenaline of dragonriders, I embarked on a research journey unlike any other.
I got strapped to a plane as it took off and flew around, did some twists and turns, and a few dips.
Here's a highlight, and you can watch the full video start to finish at the end (about 16 mins).
But.... why???
Facing Fears
Confronting fear head-on is a theme that echoes throughout my work, and what better way to capture that essence than by stepping out of my comfort zone and into the skies?
Transformative Impact
The impact of this daring escapade extended beyond mere research; it became a transformative journey of self-discovery. The exhilaration of defying gravity and pushing personal boundaries left an indelible mark me, shaping not only stories going forward, but, dare I say it, my perspective on life itself.
Research
Because what better way to figure out what riding a dragon feels like!
And my takeaways?
You don't feel the cold at the time, but your skin glows with heat afterwards because of the contrast between 500 feet up at 100 mph and ground level with no wind.
Lots of lip wobbling. Lots. Like, dog hanging halfway out of a car wobble.
The above results in a bit of drool. Ew.
If you have trouble breathing, you have to drop your chin to your chest (so 100 mph wind isn't shoving itself up your nose).
It didn't really feel that high until you fly over people and you can't make out their faces. Just little walking jelly sticks. Ooookay you're up high.
That the twists and turns didn't feel all that extreme, until you see someone else's and think "I WAS 90 DEGREES TO THE GROUND????"
Some of that is not exactly sexy dragon rider material (unless it really is to drool over) but the rest was totally worth it. What a rush!
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