Mike Armstrong, 66, had a confession to make, an extraordinary one for a man who soars to 12,000 feet in hang gliders, recently finishing a career best sixth at world championship level despite what he calls his “advancing years”.
“When a recent storm struck Edinburgh (Floris) my other half, Fiona, noticed a couple of ridge tiles on our roof had been damaged.
“There was little else for it but to get out a ladder and inspect the damage but I really didn’t feel comfortable up there!”
The irony of what might be termed Mike’s ‘domestic vertigo’ is truly mind-blowing for this is a man who thought nothing of soaring above the Christ the Redeemer statue before landing on Rio’s equally famous Copacabana beach in what he termed a “jolly”.
Or taking off into a gaggle of Griffon vultures in Spain where his latest of many accolades, including British championships, was gained.
“It’s different, hang gliding, ” claims the Blackhall-based ambulance driver “and I have been taking part in my sport for 41 years luckily with nothing more to show for it than a sprained ankle largely because I arrived on the scene just as really serious efforts were being made to make our sport safer.”
Others are not so lucky … as Mike volunteers, quietly, sincerely and with due reverence.
“At the recent competition one British team member had to be brought home with brain damage. He later died.
“The inquiry is taking place but it is a bit of a mystery what happened. He was a very good pilot and these sort of incidents are extremely rare.”
Having paid tribute to the colleague Mike explains what goes on up in the air.
“It’s a big sky but with so many pilots sometimes awaiting competition take off – some have the idea you launch by running off a cliff but the reality is 99 per cent of launches are from a grassy slope – you have to keep your wits about you.
“Competition demands you can be in the air for 5-6 hours and that is a mental as well as a physical challenge as you try to reach the various points all the while being recorded on a tracker to determine placings. Concentration is paramount.
“The type of hang glider I use responds to body movement and the distance covered during the event in Ager, Catalunya, where I got my career best result was 163 kilometres in achieving the six tasks required of us.
“Fortunately we do have instruments to help us track thermal (air currents) and so on but a lot of concentration is required.
“In getting a top 10 finish I thought to myself afterwards that I should maybe retire.
“But hang gliding has been part of my life since I went to a course in Glenshee as a 25-year-old and I’d not only miss the sport but also the people.
“Another thing: I just love trying to encourage people to give it a go.
“Maybe I’ll carry on until I’m 70 and if I am still in one piece call it quits then?”
Best not walk under any ladders then, Mike, far less climb them?
