Mike

All, hope to be at Simons airfield the Mon and Tues next week. have no other plans yippee. Need a fix Mike

Simon, this sounds like great news, can't wait to listen to the change in volume of your Macro. Will be freeflying now on Sunday but will pop in later for chat if your free. Colin, how did you manage to fly on Xmas Eve, Scottish weather is getting better than ours haha. Jackie says did you bring back a Haggis haha. See you all soon Mike

Hi Simon, would have liked to but am in Spain from 5 - 10 Jan, l have booked all the training weekends, but l think l told you that. Next Sunday is looking good for PG but if the winds die down a tad then PPG on Sunday for definate. Regards Mike P S HAPPY NEW YEAR (it wont be long before Spring now)

yesyes yes yes Mike

To all, HAPPY CHRISTMAS and lets hope the weather gives you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR. May be flying Xmas day, depending on how much xmas dinner l've had. Happy landings Mike

Hi Dan, ditto to that. Hope to fly Sunday but got to go into work on Mon, Xmas rush an al' that. Simon, if your free for half hour on Sunday perhaps we can swap the socket. Regards Mike.

Hi Gazza, no not gloves, these are heated pads that warm up once you open them. take about ten mins to warm up but remain hot for eight hours. Rob slipped them into his gloves that he was wearing. They are a once used throw away item and cost just under £2 a pair. Mike

Simon, will upload the pics ASAP, they came out slightly dark but l have about five to upload. Mike

all, yes it was very cold, but had to try my new motor so arrived at the grass field about midday to find Neil already there. Simon turned up shortly afterwards with some much needed supplies. Took off about an hour later into smooth air and the new Parajet peformed really well, flew into wind towards Simon's house, spotted the air ambulance helicopter on the deck so circled back and headed towards the launch field again. This time with the new motor l had plenty in reserve if needing more power but it cruised ok on half throttle for most of the trip although the harness was a tad tight but sorted that out later. Once landed Neil and l waited for Neil's brother Rob and Clive to arrive for a quick turn round trip from redlands to the grass field, hope they got back before dusk (and Rob, did the hand warmers do the trick ) To windy for Monday so hope to make next weekend (sun/Mon) and hope its a tad warmer.

to all, l have just been reading 80 odd emails from PPG, Avon, and few others come to mind and l was thinking back about five years ago when l started learning Paragliding and how friendly and helpful pilots and future pilots were. without sounding sarcastic l felt that l belonged to a flying family. Recently though l am getting a bad taste in my mouth with all the bickering and political claptrap thats going on in other clubs and forum's' The Tip to Tip has yet raised more of this. I had always presumed that we joined this sport for the fun, adventure and being able to get into the air. I joined the Lambourn Club because this club still has that element of fun, excitement and adventure. The tip to Tip could have been started by anybody at anytime for any reason. Simon in this case has started it, now (for next August) and one main reason is, its for a good worthwhile charity and it will be an endurance adventure. Its not a competition and it was well advertised within this forum before the pilots were named. So l am hoping that the 200 odd members of this club forum do not get effected to much by the amount of negative emails that are floating around. This club in my mind still has that element of excitement and all the pilots l have met within the club have been brilliant and all look forward to their next flight or their next pint with likeminded pilots. Regards Mike S

Hi Simon, You lucky devil, its good you had a flight thou' . I'm sure the weather gods wait until l'm at work before the best of the weather arrives, bet it was cold up there though. It looked good in Farnborough as well. Mike

Steve, The answer "yes" or "no" is correct in a way as the Synthesis is a good newbie wing in the fact that it is very stable especially in reflex mode but its as fast as any DHV1/2 or even a 2 with speed bar on. I have one and am delighted with it. Mike

Hi Dan, although l have been introduced to Barry l, as well have not flown the site yet as every PPG flying day has been either at Simon's or Basingstoke, but yes your idea is good but as you say a bit off the beaten track for the tip to tip. Regards Mike.

Hi Whitters, Welcome to the team, looking forward to our first meeting when all the pilots and support team meet up together. I'm reckoning it will be the most talked about event in the aviation calender to date. Can't wait for some of the rehearsals on Dartmoor. Regards Mike

Hi Simon, Glad you got the fifth pilot (paramedic as well) l can now confirm that l can fly on those dates so if the slot is still available put my name down for sixth place. The planning thats already gone into this is fantastic, well done to all . See you all on the 15th unless this weather improves

Yep cheers Togsie, thought of the wires myself after the posting. but l have a bundle of those hand warmers now, that Simon mentioned, so armed with those and the back up of the battery system l should keep well warm. Mike

Hi Simon, yes l will be getting those as well, so no frozen thumbs this winter eh! Mike

Hi all, someone mentioned heated gloves and l saw a good pair at the NEC for £119, but my budget wouldn't run to that but this someone mentioned Maplins shop and that they sold heated gloves there for £9.99. couldn't believe my ears so went to the shop and there they were so l bought a pair. Not to much money to throw away if they were no good but they do work. Trouble is they are powered by three AAA batts in each glove and apparently only last an hour before batts need changing. A question is, 6 batts at 1.5 volt = 9v. if l connect both gloves to one power source which on my Macro is 12v would my gloves overheat and if a resistance was put in line how would l go about it. Just to add that Maplins also sell heated jackets but had none in stock, but the price tag was £19.99. Obviously powered the same. Gloves would be great for an hours boat around in the winter but l would get through a few batteries in the process over the winter period. (if it ever does become flyable ) Mike

Hi Francis, In addition to your post, my first couple of flights with a motor, l was flying a PG wing and on strait and level flight l had a full symetric. It lasted about three seconds and with a dab of break came strait out again. But since buying a Synthesis PPG wing the diffrence is amazing l havn't been in any bad turbulance with the wing yet but the stability and reassuring feel of the wing is great. The take off also with a reflex wing is so much more stable and when high enough to take of trims, the attitude of the wing knuckles down to forward motion and with the speed bar on you are really flying fast over the ground. Mike

569, Just a beginner but let me get some practice in and hope to do better. Regards Mike

Hi Simon, Glad the Parajet stand went well, pity the Splash event wasn't as big as in the past at Telford. Hopefully some of the organisers might take note and change the venue for 2008. Anyway should be down for a bit of flying Monday, hopefully get to the field about same time as you 1130 - 1200ish. Regards Mike

Hi Simon, glad you got the post, see you on Saturday, should be there as the doors open. I may have to cover my "T" shirt if its too cold thou'

320.5 You must have found a cheat button Norman

Hi Woody, welcome to the forum. I have tried a couple of schools, but third time lucky l found Simon's school at Lambourn near Hungerford. He is an excellant instructor and would recommend him to any pilot new or converting. Simons airfields are large and flat and take any wind direction. I also fly at Basingstoke and soon at Normandy near Aldershot with my PPG. I also fly PG's. Regards Mike

Good to hear you had some flights Mon Colin, hopefully when we're all on the airfield and the weathers good and the motors are behaving we can go on an XC together. yes the strobe is still blinking and the Ting ping thing has gone since my modification so all looking good. The wing got damp Monday afternoon just before dusk but drying out nicely in the dining room as l type. One of the reasons l couldn't launch that day. Was it an easy fix on your spark plug prob Colin. See you all soon, Take care Mike