September 3, 2007
John McAfee, the man behind McAfee anti-virus software, has found a passion for flying. The idea of Aerotrekking is to follow the terrain, often just a few feet above the ground, to visit places that could never be reached on foot or by car.
The low-altitude flight in aerotrekking is made possible thanks to the Air Creation, four-stroke kite-wing planes. The planes are powered by a rear propeller and guided by a steering bar at the pilot's fingertips. The planes have a range of 300 miles, can reach up to 115 mph or glide just above the landscape at a minimum speed of 25 mph.
McAfee, a Tucson resident, has spent nearly $12 million so far developing a network of eight aerotrekking bases in isolated parts of Arizona and New Mexico for his exclusive club, The Sky Gypsies, that has about 150 enthusiasts. The bases are part of a 1,100-mile circuit that run from Truth or Consequences, N.M., to Rimrock near Flagstaff.
Membership in the club can run from $1,000 to $200,000 depending on the membership package, and the planes themselves run from $30,000 to $120,000, depending on model and quality. You can read more about the Sky Gypsies at their site HERE, more about McAfee's passion HERE, or look into buying your own Air Creation ultralight HERE.
(via BornRich)
Posted by Ghostshark under Adventure, Outdoor | Comments (0)
August 29, 2007
There are those that love to travel and don't always have a companion to go with. Now, there are several alternatives for those that don't mind heading out on their own.
Tammy Weiler traveled a lot in her 20s and 30s, visiting Paris, Thailand, Brazil and Spain. During the day she didn't have a problem entertaining herself, but found dinner could be intimidating from being alone at a nice restaurant. This gave her the idea to start Singles Travel International which offers 30 yearly tours to spots such as Paris, the Caribbean and Africa for the solo traveler. The trips have a blend of scheduled things, free time, and dinner together with others on the trip.
Recently Abercrombie & Kent started "Signature," trips, that allow a single traveler to take part in the planned group events, or go sight seeing on their own with the aid of an A&K-provided private car and driver.
You can head more about the various groups over at the Forbes site HERE.
Posted by Ghostshark under Adventure, Travel | Comments (0)
August 13, 2007
You may not be able to get into space anytime real soon, but you can experience a little bit of what it's like. The company ZERO-G is offering you and 20 of your friends, colleagues, or business prospects the chance to experience weightless flight. The event is achieved aboard ZERO-G's Boeing 727 aircraft named G Force One and based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
To accomplish this, specially trained pilots fly parabolic light maneuvers between approximately 24,000 and 34,000 feet altitude. The weightlessness experienced by everyone inside the airplane is actually equivalent to the type of "free fall" you experience when sky diving. In this case however, the body of the aircraft surrounds you and protects you from the on rushing wind. At the end of the free fall period, the aircraft also scoops you up and carries you back up to the top of the arc to begin the free fall process again 15 more times. During the 30 second period you'll be able to "fly" the entire length of the airplane, conduct experiments, or flip and twist like an Olympic gymnast
In addition, this program includes luxury hotel and spa accommodation, leadership by a veteran NASA astronaut, most meals, limousine transfers, and much more. You can read more about the flight, cost, itinerary of your trip, and much more at the Adrenalin site HERE.
Posted by Ghostshark under Adventure | Comments (0)
August 6, 2007
If you're looking for a bit of a rush, and don't mind being the bait, Adrenalin has a trip for you. Here's the info on this 6-day trip from their site:
Come and experience the world's most famous, most feared and most spectacular of sharks, the Great White. To see a great white shark in the wild is a very special and rare experience but to come face to face with one underwater is the most exciting experience available to divers today! South Australia is the ideal location for diving with Great White Sharks. This live aboard diving adventure departs from Port Lincoln, and heads out into the clear blue waters of the Southern Ocean. At the Neptune Islands you will see an array of wildlife, including many bird species, dolphins, thousands of fur seals, and the beautiful and rare Australian sea lion. This area is also the natural feeding ground of the Great White Shark. You may have seen these sharks on television documentaries wrapping their enormous jagged mouths around cages and wondered what it’s like to be face-to-face with these incredible creatures. You can experience this exciting adventure first hand by letting us put you in a specially designed shark proof cage, in the ocean off Adelaide, in sight of the most feared aquatic animal in the world - the Great White Shark. This is adrenalin at peak intensity! You can board at Port Lincoln with Andrew Fox, son of Rodney Fox. Your team have an incredible knowledge of these creatures and have designed these expeditions and the purpose specific shark proof cages for viewing the Great Whites off the coast of South Australia. Joining an expedition during the recognized “high activity season”, you will maximize your opportunities to sight Great White Sharks and can confidently expect good shark activity on most, if not every day of your tour. South Australia is one of the few locations worldwide that offers this incredible adventure.
Sounds like a one of a kind adventure.
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June 28, 2007
The site Adrenalin is dedicated to adventure. They have a number of trips around the world, and the Air Combat USA based in L.A. is one of them. The trip costs $1195, and is listed as a 5 on their "intensity meter". Here's more about the trip from the website:
"When you arrive you will be suited up in a flight suit, parachute & helmet. Then it is off to the mission briefing, where you learn the tactics and manoeuvres, safety brief, rules of engagements and the physiological effects of g-forces. Fully briefed you'll climb into the aircraft alongside your instructor. With your hands on the controls you will engage in six "g-pulling" dogfights. Your flight will be recorded on video tape and reviewed in a flight debriefing. Groups are welcome. Bring a friend and settle the score. This is an opportunity for the thrill of a lifetime, the chance to take the controls of a light-attack fighter aircraft and engage in air-to-air combat - the ultimate challenge in flying; a fantasy camp for wanna-be fighter pilots. You will fly the plane 90% of the time as you turn and bank through G-pulling dogfights. The electronic tracking mechanism signals “lock-on”, then you press the trigger on the F-4 Phantom gun grip and smoke pours from your opponents aircraft. You’re an ACE."
You can read more about the trip, and look around the website, HERE.
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