Mike

Repacks are organised by most PG and PPG Clubs up and down the country. The local one l go to and help with is the TVHGC BFR (Big Fat Repack) Next year its on the 22nd March. The venue is at the Rivermead complex in Reading Berks. The cost is usually around £20. Ideally a reserve should be aired, checked and repacked every year and ideally changed every ten years. This venue has a zip slide so that you can actually deploy it in a more realistic way and there are helpers to answer your questions and help you repack it yourself. For an additional fee the repackers can take your reserve away, repack it then send it back to you. Mike.

Yep, would still like one please Si. Regards Mike

all, Yep a great day (thank god my car got me to take off) good flight thanks again Simon to the loan of a prop. Thanks to Pete B for the advice. Yes you will make a good instructor. Silky smooth conditions today. Hot air balloon was spotted just as l was packing away, blast, l like chasing them Looking forward to a revised prop that works!! Regards Mike

All, just been listening to the American PPG show that you can download from above thread. Hats off to Colin and Simon. Who got in touch with who. They sounded really interested in our British version of PPG. and what a plug for the T2T and Australia 2010. The clip is quite long but Colin starts his talk around the two third mark. See ya in the morning. Mike

Hi Tracey, by all accounts the weather should be on our side this weekend so l will definately be up on Sunday. Hopefully as early as possible, as long as Jackie kicks me out of bed Mike

Hi Rocky, what part of Surrey are you from? l live in Farnborough but fly mainly in Lambourn, Berks. As for kit, the Club in Lambourn instructs students on the Clubs own kit. and once proficient the instructor will point you in the right direction for what kit you may need taking into consideration your weight and how much it would cost. If you ring Simon or Colin (the numbers are on this forum) they can introduce the sport to you and explain any relevant information. If you would like a taster day and need a lift down to Lambourn, again give Simon and Colin a ring to arrange with me or any other Surrey based pilots. Regards Mike

Hi Simon, put a post on the TVHGC site and a well seasoned PG pilot replied. It was Alistair Wilson. l gave him your contact number, so hope he gets in touch. Mike See ya Sunday

all, nearlly 900 hits now on U Tube, its jumped 20 just while l was on, fantastic. The full version should sell like hot cakes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIMON..................................Will try and get down to Lambourn before the two week deadline on the Fusion. Look forward to trying it out, if l may. Run out of holiday days now this year so its going to be a Sun/Mon as usual. (and a mad dash down to you on the 20th ) Regards Mike

The actual show is getting smaller and more expensive year by year, but the comaradery and social side is always brilliant. Glad l came up today. Bumped into, to name a few, Simon, Colin, Slim, Farmer Dave, Tracey, Mark (don't forget Pic ) and several from the PG community. Did l buy anything, yes two cups of coffee. Did l get anything free, yes a Paramotor Mag and a Bailey with ice drink. Went to Michel Carnets talk at One pm done about a dozen circuits of the show to make it feel bigger than it was. The DVD Trailer was a great taster, looking forward to the full monty now. Drove home in awful wintery weather. Hopefully next year the Homegrown Festival will return. Hope to see you all at the flag soon, weather permitting. Regards Mike

Hi Pete, Jackie wants to know what were you trying to do in between my legs on the trailer above. Mike. Jackie says down boy he's mine hahahahahaha

Norman, looks like that old bugger has had a prop strike

Yes, all year round when the weather is on and not on a working day, as is usually the case. And now the dark nights are here well you know the rest. Can't even groundhandle locally as the fields are a mess Anyway l cheer myself up with DVD's and looking forward to the new one coming out

I help out every year at the BFR and every year l see reserves pulled but do not deploy for one reason or another. Some of these reserves are strait from retailers, so all reserves need to be checked and this is the closest you will get to the real thing. I agree, you are not plummiting towards terrafirma or spirilling out of control or have a paramotor on your back but isn't it reassuring that you know your reserve will at least deploy (thrown in clear air of course) The BFR is on every year at Reading usually in March. and is well attended. Normally an attendance of around 120 pilots. Mike

You should be on telly Pete with your quirky answers, , , brilliant

Jackie says if you put to much of a shine on it you won't need a strobe.

YYYYYyyyyyyyyyeeeeeesssssssssss, at last, looking forward to my copy yes yes yes.

Yes, myself and Jackie. Hopefully l can get off work early as its a Saturday. Mike

Booked elsewhere Sunday, but if weather is on for Monday l will be down for a fly at the flag pole. (or have we got a new official airfield yet )

Hi, l reckon a raffle for at least one of the wings then everyone has a chance of owning one. Two obvious points though, is how many tickets can be sold in what sort of time span and secondly how much. If each ticket is say £5 l would buy four at least. My pennies worth anyway haha. Mike

All, l agree with Paul but just to add that most of us get into this sport for the fun of flight which l have mentioned in previous posts. and to enjoy yourself. The last thing you want after take off as an early pilot is to s..t yourself because of a deflation or anything else out of the norm and then wished you were back on the ground. Some schools like Simon's here have their own kit that you can use and then decide which model of wing/motor combination you want to spend your hard earned money on. also take advice from your instructor(s) they have been doing it a tad longer.

Sat here in front of PC, weather is cxxp, Ok bikes. Yep reckon there is a connection. I had a honda 125 then passed my test (many years ago now) and went strait to a Suzuki 850 shaft drive. What a lump between my legs after the smaller one. I will always remember the first corner l took at speed. It was the first and last time my knee touched the ground. Then l built up experience and rode it for about four years then Jackie decided it was to cold on the back so chopped it in for a car. Wished l had one now though ready for the spring but where would l put my PPG Anyway to wet this weekend for anything, hoping next weekend is more favourable.

Hi Simon, Great, the tiny tach was attempted to deliver today but no one in, blast. Got to go to post office on Monday to pick it up. Excellent service from your end though and the new shop, well pleased. Hoepfully if weather looks at all promising will be down on Monday. Mike

Hi Tracey, Good luck with your venture and l hope you get all the support that you will need, not only physically but with all behind the scenes activities like met and French laws etc. As you say its not a long flight but its going to be over water. I am sure you will be elated once its accomplished. One question, which motor will you be flying out of curiosity. You take care and fly safe Mike

Great news Simon, look forward to seeing it