poz

Sorted I spoke to Garmin who confirmed that it was just a moatter of time before the GPS figured out which way is up. 4 hours did the trick, although it's way way out on altitude, so not as useful as I'd hoped. Thanks for the advice though. Dan

Hi. Don't know if anyone can help, but I won't know unless I ask I have just dug out my old Garmin GPS90, which I haven't used in 10 years. Thinking it might be ok for PPGing. It was working fine when I last used it, but now it doesn't seem to be able to find any satelites, despite being left outside 'searching the sky' for over an hour. Anybody got any idea why or what I need to do to get it working again? I am running the software from 1999 (version 2.06) Thanks Dan

This is a cracking post for newbies like me. This is where this great forum comes into its own.

Love it All done and dusted . After all I am the boss of the household...and... .....actually I really wanted to clean the house for the next year and buy that nice handbag i've been looking at for a while...in fact, the list is long but if something is worth doing... Now... the GoPro, the helmet, the GPS.......

http://www.flyparamania.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=152&Itemid=34〈=en Looks really nice I've been given a delivery date as mid June.

1400

Just weight my Pap PA 125 and added to list

Great to hear that you finally got airborne and it sounds like it has exceeded your expectations, which is great....as I just took delivery of mine tonight It's my first paramotor, so I'm moving around it like it's made of egg shell. It's a going to be a bit of a learning curve working out all the bits 'n' bobs I need to know. Can't wait to get going on it, but I think I'll have an refresher day of tuition as my course was 7 months ago. Hope you sort out the prop damage mystery Dan ps Just weighed it with harness , but no fuel/reserve - 28.6kg Not too bad

Nothing major? Bloody hell! I wouldn't want to be around you if something 'major' happened!

[quote in the old days when i had a fizzer... Cor you had a fizzer, you lucky bugger. I had to make do with an old Honda C70 step thru that I bought for £7, but I always longed for a Fizzer

This is exactly what my research has suggested. Basically I'm reading that these days there aren't really any 'bad' 2 stroke oils on the shelf. However, I can understand the scaredycat mentality and I guess I'm in the same camp Interesting article: http://www.sea-doo.net/techarticles/oil/oil.htm Dan

It's been many years since I had cause to buy 2 stroke oil. What's the situation these days? Do I need to spend £12 on a litre of fully synthetic oil or would I get just as good using the one on the shelf next to it for £7? Are there any 2 stroke oils for sale these days in the high street that really would be unsuitable for a paramotor ? Dan

I'm not sure if it's just that I'm new to this sport, and maybe a little too keen, but I'm finding that whenever I'm driving anywhere and I see an open space, I find myself assessing it's potential as a launch site. It's kind of becoming a bit of an obsession. Is this just me being a little too anorakish or does anyone else relate to this compulsion or, is this infact the norm amongst paramotorists? Dan

So it is Can't you attach it to a watch strap

Sounds to me like you had an ideal set up. The Geko for accurate everything bar altitude and the cheap watch for more accurate altitude. Me thinks you were tech seduced

Hi Ashley It's funny you should ask that because I was just thinking the same thing. My line of thought was that I need an Altimeter and if I fancied thermalling or paragliding in the future then it would kill 2 birds with 1 stone. However, I am need to cut back on the spending, so I figure that for the time being I will use my Garmin 196's altimeter, although it's not as accurate as a barometric one. I've always dismissed altimeters on watches as a bit gimmicky and probably not very accurate or user friendly, but I'm slowly coming around to thinking that it could be very convenient for paramotoring. What do you use? Cheers Dan

Alan, Ian, great idea! ta very much, that's another 30 quid towards my Go Pro Think I'll go with the stuff sack. I'm flyin' off the beach and I want to get the wing off the sand, getting as little sand inside the wing as possible, so I figure the less time on the sand the better Dan

Thanks Pete. Another decision made Thanks Dan. I've been looking at this watch, and I know it's got the functions mentioned, but have you used a dedicated Variometer (eg Flytec) before, and if so, does the watch make a good, usable replacement? Cheers Dan

God I love this website In one evening you guys have just: a) Saved me a packet b) Saved me a load of research c) Made me feel a bit thick for not thinking of a lot of these cost cutters in the first place Any other experienced based tips of the sport would really be welcome. Please don't be shy Anyone got one of those concertina style packing devices? Any good, or just stick to a stuff sack? Also...sorry guys, I'm on roll the dashboard/storage device. Can you realistically carry anything more than a couple of essentials? For example I noticed ScottishMotorMan mention a digital SLR I would love to take mine, but I ruled it out due to it's size/weight. Anyone using a fancy watch instead of a variometer? Sorry to be a pain asking all this basic stuff, but between you there is a ton of experience and I'm sure any newbie would find this post really helpful. Thanks Dan

Paramotor and wing ordered and should be arriving next week (hopefully) So, what else do I need? I am a self confessed gadge lover, as I think most of us are on this forum and I have a list of stuff I would love to get, but have limited budget. I know there is basic stuff that I will need, such as: Jerry can Funnel (is it worth getting one that filters everything out including water?) Wind sock Helmet/ear defenders Stuff sack Safety knife Some sort of 2 stroke measuring jug? Anything else essential And then there is the gadge list : Variometer - looking at flytec 6010, but not sure whether it would be more practical to get a Suunto altimeter watch...? GoPro HD - of course GPS - I've already got a Garmin 196 from my GA days, but not sure if is suitable for PPG http://flighttraining.aopa.org/images/learntofly/gadgets/Garmin196.jpg I would love to know which gadgets are genuinley useful, as right now the gadge mist has descended on me and that's when I normally end up buying without really thinking, so any help would be appreciated. Cheers Dan

I keep hearing this phrase 'good technique' and I watch experienced paramotor pilots launch so effortlessly and obviously they have good technique. Even though I have completed a Skyschool course I have to say that I'm still not quite sure what constitutes good technique. Is it something that can be put into words for me to work at. I have noticed that beginners tend to run slightly bent over (as per my first flights), which I guess directs the thrust skywards, whereas I see the pilots that always seem to get airborne really quickly tend to lean back slightly. So this is a technique I will try to adopt. Anything else? The reason that this is so important is because even if you are very fit and strong, the very nature of the paramotor launch (especially with poor technique, prelonging your exposure) requires you to go from nothing to extreme effort in a very short time span, which unless you have warmed up and stretched thoroughly, is a really risky business. You can tear muscles and you won't even know about it until you land and twist and suddenly recieve a back spasm. I agree that ground handling is a fun and relevant way to improve your fitness level.

I cannot wait to get my wing/paramotor and get stuck in to this great sport. Normally when I refer to something as a 'sport' I tend to connect it with something that is either going to improve my fitness or requires me to be fit in the first place. All my other sports ie cycling, walking etc, kill two birds with one stone, ie I enjoy myself and at the same time I'm looking after my health/fitness as well. However, paramotoring is an unusual one. You need a certain amount of fitness/strength on launch, followed by... couch potatoe with a view I was wondering about the general fitness of those involved in our sport. Would you consider yourself fit, or do you spend most of your time doing what you do whilst paramotoring ie sitting down. Computer (ahem), telly, car, etc Unfortunately, most of us spend a significant proportion of our day sitting down on chairs with a back rest (no back muscles required), which leads to poor spinal musculature/function and ultimately, for many, chronic back/hip/knee pain later on. Interested to hear any views on this subject. Dan Notice how happy this little chap is. He's got no spine, hips or knees to worry about

Stuart, thanks very much for taking the time to photograph your winch technique. As you say, it's really simple but, for me it looks ideal to travel the short distance to one of my launch sites. Will definitely give it a go with my kit. Cheers Dan

I have just visited Pierre Aubert at PAP this morning, because this thread has me concerned about the true weight of my PAP PA125 that I've got on order. I had a very interesting conversation on the subject of published figures, but from a manufacturers point of view. Basically he said that as soon as the first lies were told re weight/thrust etc, manufacturers, in order to stay competative, also felt that they were forced to lie. In other words, would you buy a Parajet if the advertised weight was 33kg, when others with similar power are claiming 26kg. Probably not. But, interestingly and quite correctly he pointed out that it's not just about the actual weight of the paramotor on the scales, so much as how it feels on your back. If you have a very slim 30kg unit with light weight final drive components it will feel more comfortable and managable that a thicker paramotor weighing a couple of kg's less. In a past conversation, he has proved this point by showing me two paramotor units to compare, his and a popular 4 stroke unit. There wasn't much difference in the actual weight, but the deeper 4 stroke unit, I felt was really pulling me backwards which made the whole experience much more uncomfortable. So, I believe it isn't solely about the weight of the paramotor that needs to be taken into consideration. Dan

Superb pictures, well done! Sounds like a pretty perfect day to me Cheers Other Dan