ut for Steve and his apprentices there's nothing to beat being the bird yourself: albeit one who's only just getting the hang of these wing-things.

For the record, his Derbyshire school's been adding to the airborne since 1983.

After the mandatory form-filling, and a briefing shrewdly designed to instil a confidence mixed with respect for possible perils, it was off to the hills.

Any rookie can initially expect to spend more time laying out yards of fabric, straightening strings and strapping on harnesses than actually in the air.

As master of ceremonies Steve is deceptively laid-back. He's an astute observer, and an old hand at spotting the errors which abort promising flights.

"Hands-up, brakes on, steer left, don't jump, look where you're heading." The litany's patiently intoned, often while running alongside a struggling para-student.

And he's not above aiding your take-off with a well-timed push.

Steve himself admits that flying has altered his whole mindset and lifestyle: give him the chance and he'll wax lyrical about the sense of perspective it induces.

He's a big fan of finding the things which challenge you: of properly assessing the risk, but then taking it - of expanding your horizons.

When your horizon, like his, starts to show you the curvature of the Earth, then you know you're one of his graduates: a real high flier.

For the full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/derby/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8617000/8617398.stm