nigel_d.

This describes it - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal but its like a magical lift that takes you to the clouds Nige

There are a number of possible reasons but most importantly they never just happen for no reason - consequently it is possible to fly and never have it happen. Flying is like riding a motorbike - it is as safe as you want it to be. Nige

Those earpieces look impressive. I use my iphone in a wrist pouch thing which supplies my music to earphones but also works ok for taking calls whilst flying, I just bring my wrist near my mouth using the phones built-in mic and throttle back a little, it works quite well. Nige

About 300 ft/minute is my descent rate with engine off. Nige

I am using the optime3 also. The sound quality is good with earbuds but I hear the engine more as a sort of droning sound presumably because the buds seal well, whereas the ipod type dont have this problem. Either way its a pain setting them up especially when you want a quick getaway, thats why I would like something that lives in the muffs so you just bang it on. Nige

Thanks and very interesting, I find the iPod type sound the best but have to pull out the foam in my muffs a little so as to keep the earpieces in place. The bud type seems to seal too well in that I hear a buzzy "drone" effect. What I really want is to have over-ear types built into the muffs. Cheers Nige

Hi T, what are the jvc,s you mentioned? earbud type phones are fiddly and I have tried many (I have non-standard ears). Cheers Nige

About 9400 is ok, less than 9 and you may have the prop pitch a bit too coarse. Nige

He could have started it.. I would have been really impressed then!

Sorry for being cryptic, it was from Python

Hmm... "my hovercraft is full of eels" Nige

Awesome clips, even more so when the weather here has been unflyable for nearly 6 weeks. Nige

Oh Most F****** Definately!

Omfd!

Sorry Simon, my initial question was meant for the other chap (I'm sure you already knew about diaphragms) but nonetheless raised an interesting problem. I wonder if my theory is correct. Nige

This reminds me of a debate that me and Pete got into when I mentioned that my old Rad was a pig to start when it only had a couple of litres in the tank. I concluded that the pump was limited as to how far up it could draw fuel, in that a full tank was easier for it, Pete disagread saying that such a carb could pull much higher. Now I would say it is not so much the height but the inertia of an excesive amount of fuel in the pipe/bulb that could be the problem causing running/starting problems. The idea being that the fuel "jumps to the attention of the suction pulses" when there isnt much but becomes more slugish to rapid movement when there is a lot of it. Nige

Why wouldn't the primer work, do you mean the fuel wouldn't go up when you squeezed it or the engine wouldnt run with it in place? Just checking that your aware of the need to depress the carb diaghram whilst squeezing the bulb. Nige

The screw with the cone adjusts the throttle arm's idle position, it has no internal function. The other screw adjusts the low rpm mixture, it should be at about 1 and a half turns out as a starting point and then adjust an eighth turn at a time (trial and error, prop on) to get a compromise between smoothish tickover and immediate response when throttle opened. Screwed in will richen, - too far and tickover will be "chuggy", go too far the other way and tickover may be more "purring" but wont respond well to throttle increase. The main mixture is fixed by the size of the jet fitted. A carb kit would be a good idea if it is the original one thats fitted. Max RPM should peak around 9400. I didnt go to the fly-in, I hold my hand up as one of the undoubted many who was put off by the weather given the distance - I love a party with like minded people but if quality flying looks unlikely then there is only a certain distance I would go. Nige

Just see it now, "Hey love just hold this like this while I do this"

The spark is difficult to see on a rad, if your sure the coil is no good you wont mind sticking your finger down the plug cap (just to be sure). Otherwise sorry cant help but try Radne or UKPPG. Nige

Couldnt help but smile - my v5 prop quick-release described perfectly! Nige

I bet the local hill fliers WILL "tell us where to go".. I would love to do a tour of my old DSC sites that I used to fly many years ago especially if there's lots of pg pilots sitting there waiting for the breeze to pick up, sitting there quietly checking everyone has a BHPA and DSC helmet sticker... Nige

Also to add to the picture an average weight flier might need 30kg thrust to maintain level flight so more than this you climb and less means your going down. Nige

Thrust is the amount of force a motor presses against you with. So a 50kg thrust motor might be ok for an all up weight of up to say 120 kg. Nige

Just checked again and its gone up 8 degrees