Up, up and away! Incredible moment TWO-year-old giggles as she takes to the skies, paramotoring 700ft above the ground with her daredevil dad
A two-year-old thrill-seeker bravely took to the skies and went paramotoring 700ft above the ground with her father.
Little Matilda Harwood, from Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, bravely took to the skies strapped to her father Louis Harwood, who has been involved in adrenalin sports since he was a teenager.
Incredible video footage showed daredevil Matilda giggling happily as she went paramotoring a staggering 700ft above her hometown.
Paramotoring, also known as powered paragliding, is a form of ultralight aviation which sees the pilot wear a back-mounted motor to launch from the ground easily in still air using a paraglider.
In the clip, the father and daughter became tiny specks in the distance as they soared higher and higher into the air on the overcast day.
Her nervous mother Jenny Martin, 37, watched through her fingers as her tiny child enjoyed the adventure while securely strapped to Louis, 36.
Matilda Harwood, two,, from Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, bravely took to the skies strapped to her father Louis Harwood (both pictured)
Incredible video footage showed Matilda giggling happily as she and her father went paramotoring (pictured) a staggering 700ft above her hometown
The father-and-daughter duo (right) flew for around 10 minutes arriving safely back on land, while Matilda (left) has been back in the clouds a number of times since
The father-and-daughter duo flew for around 10 minutes arriving safely back on land, while Matilda has been back in the clouds a number of times since.
Father-of-two Louis, who has been paramotoring for around three years, said: 'It took a while to convince Jenny, but Matilda loved it.
'She was smiling and laughing the whole time and now whenever I head to the field she says "Matilda go flying".He later enjoyed speed flying before embarking on his paramotoring hobby around three years ago.
Despite his decades of experience, Louis admits he was nervous ahead of taking Matilda, fondly known as 'Spud', on her first flight.
Despite his decades of experience, Louis admits he was nervous ahead of taking Matilda, fondly known as 'Spud', on her first flight (pictured)
Once he took to the air with Matilda (left and right), he said they 'took it easy' and simply enjoyed the stunning views of the beach some 700ft below them
Matilda's nervous mother Jenny Martin (both pictured), 37, watched through her fingers as her tiny child enjoyed the paramotoring adventure while securely strapped to Louis, 36
Louis, who flies a couple of times a week, said: 'Before my first time with Matilda, we did thorough safety checks and practice runs.
'There was a lot of preparation and I made sure the weather conditions were absolutely perfect.
'We used a specially designed harness, it may not look like much but the equipment is specially made for her age and weight and we conducted plenty of risk checks.
'We probably went overboard with her straps but she is only two after all and I wasn't sure if she would wriggle around.'
The pilot said he always thoroughly checks his equipment, but he also 'trusts' it, insisting that the sport is 'amazingly safe'.
Once he took to the air with Matilda, he said they 'took it easy' and simply enjoyed the stunning views of the beach some 700ft below them.
Louis said: 'It wasn't that high really, we headed over to the beach, circled around, it was all very nice and gentle and then we came down to land.'
He added: 'Because she is so small, she was very close to me. She was sat on my lap and I could see her smiling the whole time.'
Before he took her to the field, Louis said he got his daughter used to idea by putting Matilda in a child's seat and strapping her to him using a harness at home.
He continued: 'I also did practice runs with weight plates to ensure we had the hang point correct and Matilda has come to the field with me plenty of times before so she was familiar with the setting and watching me take off and land.'
Mother Jenny admitted she was nervous to see her infant child take to the skies, but added that Matilda came back to land 'giggling away'.
Before he took her to the field, Louis said he got his daughter (both pictured at Buttermere Haystacks, Cumbria) used to idea by putting strapping her to him using a harness at home
Louis said Jenny was nervous as Matilda is her first child, but he said he learnt with his eldest Hilary, six, (all pictured) that 'kids are tough creatures and they can surprise us'
Mother Jenny admitted she was nervous to see her infant child (pictured left and right with Louis) take to the skies, but added that Matilda came back to land 'giggling away'
The family enjoy spending time outdoors, and they have taken Matilda (pictured with Louis in Cumbria) and Hilary, six, on hiking and camping trips
She said: 'She absolutely loved it so I know her flying adventures have begun.
'Her dare devil streak is coming out.'
Louis added: 'Matilda is Jenny's first child so is understandably protective, I'm not blasé at all, but Matilda is my second daughter and I have learnt with my eldest Hillary, kids are tough creatures and they can surprise us.'
The family enjoy spending time outdoors, and they have taken Matilda and Hilary, six, on hiking and camping trips.
Louis said: 'I want my daughters to experience the same adventures I did when I was a kid. I used to love to go climbing.'
Louis added: 'Hillary is a little older so she is more aware now and I think that makes her more nervous.
'I have also taken Hillary flying with me too. She saw her little sister do it and even though I knew she was much more nervous than Matilda, she insisted she wanted to give it a go but I'm not sure if she will be so quick to do it again.
'I want to encourage them both to try anything. I love for them to try new things, to be outside, explore and have fun.'
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