poz

Excellent. Best time of year, especially for flying the beaches. If you want we could meet up for a coffee and arrange some trips out. My mobile/WhatsApp is (+34) 671 889 034 Cheers Dan

How long you here

Ha, I just watched your video. You fly right by my launch. Was trying to spot my van in the field. What day was this Andy?

Hi Alan. All's fine down in the CdS. It's just the ongoing battle that the over 50's have to face all the time trying to keep the old body fit enough to foot launch. Great incentive though. I don't make it easy on myself now that I've fallen in love with the Thor 250, at not far off my age in Kg's when fuelled I look like a complete spas hobbling along with that on my back trying to launch haha Hope you're well. Dan

Hey Andy, you're flying in my back yard. In fact I can almost see my flying field from your photo.

Thanks for that. Ordered

Hi Tom. Out of those 3 I have only flown the Link. My previous wing was a Revo 2 which I flew for 5 years and didn't have any bad experience apart from a glide ratio which was slightly better than a breeze block. Not entirely a bad thing as it's easier to predict where you will land, and if you have a tight space in which to come down, is essential. The Link is basically a PG wing so therefore has the opposite problem in that it doesn't want to come down. In a tight space with a warm field it's presented problems for me more than once. Hope this helps. Dan

For the past couple of years I have flown a Pap Thor 250 under a 27m Niviuk Link, clocking up a couple hundred hours. Here are the numbers: Cruise rpm: 4800. Consumption 2.8 lph Speed (trims out) 28mph Me: 85kg (bare arsed) Machine (44kg with 6 litres) However, I recently got a new wing, well the same wing but in a 23m version which in reality is considerably less fabric. Cruise rpm: 4500. Consumption 2.3 lph Speed (trims out) 31mph Me: 86kg (bare arsed) I've put on a kilo recently Machine (44kg with 6 litres) Smaller wing much easier to launch and land. Very surprised with these numbers, I guess it's about parasitic and induced drag. Not sure which is more responsible for the better performance, but I have a feeling I'm going to be enlightened

Anyone flown one of these? Any feedback? Niviuk Roller

This is what I have used for a while now. It works really well and everything is customisable. Can definitely recommend.

Definitely clear. You can always wear sunglasses under it, but if the light isn't brilliant, such as returning for landing after an evening flight, you can't un-tint the visor. Hope this helps. Daniel Posner ps I cannot believe there's another Posner on this site. It's getting to be a common name.

Wow, that was a quick decision.... I've just ordered a brand new Niviuk Zion mini wing 17m Blue. £890 It looks perfect for my needs. Ground handling fun, flying with my Thor 250 and maybe a bit of Paragliding. Just need to get a harness now. I've been looking at the Oxygen 2, but any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Dan

Thanks for that Stratosphere. I've just spent some time this morning researching Little Cloud Paragliders. They look like a lot of fun, and with a 16 or 18, I would have a wing which I could use for actual flying in windy conditions..... maybe :- A good acrobatic paraglider friend who has some experience of these little wings confirms that they are very good. He did however point out that they are not fantastic for practising ground handling due to their short lines and therefore inherent stability. The way I'm thinking is that I'd rather have a nice stable ground handling wing that is more likely to be fun, which in turn would motivate me to use it more, and in windier conditions. Stumping up £1600 on the other hand is less motivating

Sooo much nicer posting on a posh new website. Nice one Simon, thanks for the hard work that I'm sure it took to update your site. Anyway,I have decided after 500hrs+ of PPG flying that it's about time I started to do some ground handling. The way I look at it, is ultimately we only sustain the things we enjoy doing, so I want to find a way to turn ground handling into a bit of a 'too-much-wind-to-fly' hobby. This means I need to find a wing that is small enough to use on a really windy day without it trying to kill me, but also big enough to be able to progress into all the enjoyable aspects of ground handling that you see on the 'Ground Handling' videos. My 1st port of call was the 12m training wings that a few manufacturers make (Bug, Merlin etc). Anybody have any experience of these wings for my purposes that they could share? However, now I'm thinking that maybe a proper 'flying' wing in a super small size might be more appropriate like a speed wing or a 16/18m paraglider wing). I'm struggling to find much info on the web about this. Probably not important, but I weigh 85kg's and currently fly a Niviuk Link 27 and Pap Thor 250. Thanks in advance for any help. Dan.

I've had both, I had no end of problems with the 200 and overheating. Eventually swapped for a 250 and haven't looked back. It's a brilliant motor, if not a little heavy. IMO there is no comparison

It doesn't feel warm! But I'll not expect any sympathy on this forum I'll get Pierre to move it at the same time I get him to relocate my starter over my shoulder. He says he's seen too many 250 pilots with rope burn necks. Think I'll take my chance if its possible to start this engine over the shoulder. Thanks again

Thanks Carl. You're right the motor is in a Pap frame and it has a thermostat. I did think that the stuttering could be something to do with the needle being in the 3rd notch, but then I would have expected the spark plug to indicate running rich, and if anything to me it looks a tiny bit lean. I guess when I take it in for it's 10hr 1st service and Pierre moves the pin to the 2nd notch as he said he would, I'll find out if this is the cause. It's not hot here in Spain at the moment (15degrees) which could explain the correct colour of the plug, but then why the stuttering

Thanks Carl and Mark for your help with the starting procedure. I've got it completely sussed now by doing exactly as you said I've gotta say, this is a great engine, the weight doesn't bother me any more than the 200, and if I can iron out a couple of uncertainties I have, hopefully with your help, it will be the perfect engine for me. So niggle number 1; below 5000rpm (straight and level for me is 4800rpm) the engine keeps missing a beat every few seconds and I've no idea why. The plug is a nice tea colour, so nothing obvious to suggest it's lean or rich, and it's nice and responsive right up to 8000rpm. The next issue probably isn't an issue, but I would feel happier if you could confirm. The water temp seems to hover around the 58 to 62 mark. Is this too low? Could this be causing the motor to stutter? Flew tonight on my very floaty Niviuk Link 27 for 50 mins and burn't just a tad over 2 litres. Amazing Thanks guys. Dan

That's interesting, i'll be moving mine to the 2nd one down once i've put a few hours on it. Thanks for the insight

Trust me Mark, these days I very much feel like a wimp. Getting old is shite. 73kg on a 250, crikey you must go up like a rocket!! Last time I was 73kg I was doing a paper round I'm trying to work out why my starter cannot be over my shoulder. It's not that it can't be pulled, but more that the flash starter isn't reaching the 'turning the engine over' stage, if you know what I mean. I wonder if the starter cord is too long (thinks out loud)

Well done Is your starter positioned over your shoulder? If so, any chance of a couple of pictures including a close up. The reason I ask is because my 250 has been fitted into the frame of my 200, which had the starter over my shoulder, and worked a treat. However, Pierre has refitted the starter down on the left side as he says the compression is too great to start over the shoulder whilst in-flight. If you are saying you do exactly this, then I'm going to ask him to relocate the starter over my right shoulder. Pictures to show him would really help. Thanks Morgy ps you're not a 20 stone bodybuilder are you

Thanks guys. That's made me feel a whole lot better Are you able to hand start whilst in flight? If not, how are you getting around the problem? I've had to resort back to a foot stirrup as i did with my old PA125. I will miss the easy over-shoulder starting from the Thor 200

Hmm, it would appear my new Thor 250 weighs in at 38kg...dry Add to that enough gas for a couple of hours work...7.5kg ....and my very dodgy 51 year old spine. Interesting times ahead Interestingly enough, to me when they're on my back they all feel the same i.e. 'kin heavy but manageable for a few seconds. Whether it's my PA125, Thor 200 and now the 250. Might have something to do with pre-launch adrenaline. Mind you, I haven't tried this new motor yet as the weather's been crap.

Hi Alan. No test flight, in fact I've only ever flown a Revo 2, all 200+ hrs so it's a bit of a leap of faith. Mind you, my needs are modest. I'll be happy so long as it launches well in nil wind, lands slowly, fly's stable with a good glide/climb ratio, cruises around 28mph and is made with quality materials. That's all I've spoken at length with someone that has one with similar requirements to me, and he's changing his after a year for exactly the same. I could have got a Roadster 2 for a couple hundred pounds more, but to be honest the Niviuk Link sounds more up my street. Will let you know. Cheers

Ended up with a Niviuk Link. Brand new for £1300