scottishmotorman

Thanks Alan. I'm actively seeking replacement hobbies but it's a tall order finding activities as exhilarating as paramotoring. The search will continue!

With great reluctance I'm having to hang up my Paramotor wing for medical reasons and as a result I'm selling a virtually brand new Parajet Zenith Thor 200. Please see http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Parajet-Zenith-Thor-200-Paramotor-/281143860364?pt=UK_SportingGoods_OtherSports&hash=item41757adc8c for more information. If you've any questions, please email alanjcorrie@gmail.com

[youtubevideo] [/youtubevideo]I hope you enjoy this video from a couple of weeks ago over the Fife coast.

Great shots Mike.

Maybe Norris will think twice the next time he plans to share a potentially interesting project and offers to help others than to mention it on the forum. So many people ready to shoot it down. Go for it Norris!

[youtubevideo] [/youtubevideo]Let's hope last weekend wasn't the last sunny and warm weekend of the year!

Hi Barry, There are a few take-off sites that I use although I've got to go a few miles west of Linlithgow to clear Edinburgh airport controlled space. The very closest I can get to home is http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=linlithgow&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=17.308821,46.538086&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Linlithgow,+United+Kingdom&ll=55.985797,-3.669852&spn=0.003991,0.011362&t=h&z=17. From here, I've flown over the south side of Falkirk to the falkirk wheel where I took this video [youtubevideo] [/youtubevideo]Further up the M9 I have permission to fly from here http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=stirling&sll=55.985797,-3.669852&sspn=0.003991,0.011362&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Stirling,+United+Kingdom&ll=56.110527,-3.978236&spn=0.001989,0.005681&t=h&z=18. This is a great site for heading over to Stirling Castle, Wallace Monument etc as you'll see in this video - [youtubevideo] [/youtubevideo].Let me know when you're coming up next and I'll keep my fingers crossed for some nice weather. Alan.

Cheers Alan, there were moments on the flight that were just magical. This has got to be one of my favourite times of the year for flying with all the harvesting going on and the bails sitting out in the fields - it's so much easier on the eye that poly tunnels. Well done on an excellent forward, nil wind launch by the way on your vid.

Keep up the posts Andrew - I'm eager to see what happens next. and Good Luck!

If Billy wants some company, give me a shout. I'm based in Linlithgow between Edinburgh and Glasgow and fly in the Lothians and further afield.

If Billy wants some company, give me a shout. I'm based in Linlithgow between Edinburgh and Glasgow and fly in the Lothians and further afield.

The quality of the video isn't great due to my using a hand held camera that doesn't appear to have heard of motion control but I captured some of a glorious flight from Callander, about 30 miles down to Linlithgow (or as close as I can get without hitting controlled airspace) this morning. Flying past the Wallace monument was a real highlight. [youtubevideo] [/youtubevideo]

Sorry mate, but no Paramotor shops in Scotland, not any that I'm aware of that is. The only source of equipment here is through cloudbusters (www.cloudbusters.co.uk) who fly around the Abington area most weekends. If you're interested in seeing some flying there are often people flying out of here - http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=drymen&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=17.256447,46.538086&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Drymen,+Glasgow,+Stirling,+United+Kingdom&ll=56.054821,-4.455879&spn=0.007944,0.022724&t=h&z=16 Good Luck!

The fuel use is quite variable depending upon flying style ranging from maybe 4-6l/hr with my large Dudek Reaction wing. Let me know how you get on once you've got some stats - I'm going to be in the market for a new wing next year I think so will be checking out what's available.

Glad to hear you've had a good maiden flight - it was a beautiful evening last night and I would have liked to have been out myself but I had some other commitments. All the points in your write-up ring very true with me including the idling although I haven't had many cut-outs so hopefully that will be solved by running in. Speaking to Gilo when I was collecting my motor back in January he did say it was difficult to tune the engine for low revs. Your notes about vibration also ring true although it's so easy to forget what it used to be like flying a previous machine - I recall having my ears ringing whenever I landed after a longish flight with my previous engine but don't experience that any more. I look forward to seeing some photos or footage and hearing about your next exploits.

I find the throttle has enough spring in it not to warrant any kind of restrictor and that I seldom go to full throttle - it's just good know that the power is there should you get into sinking wind or need a bid extra for a nil wind takeoff.

Fantastic and well done!

For a nil-wind take-off use between quarter and half throttle and you'll be off the ground in a dozen paces. On a reverse take-off a quarter is all you'll need. Because the battery usually charges to full in under 30 minutes I carry an inverter in the car and can charge it on the field if it needs it but truth be told I get over 20 starts from a single charge. Good luck and happy flying!

I live in Linlithgow which is between Edinburgh and Glasgow. About half an hour from Stirling Castle and the Wallace monument, an hour from the Trossachs and about 2 hours from Glencoe, the Western Isles etc. so there's some great flying when the weather plays ball. Give me a shout through the website if you (or anyone) fancies hiring the motorhome for a jaunt. It'll easily take 2 paramotors and associated kit with one on the cycle carrier and one in the storage area. Happy flying.

I have a 6 berth motorhome that I've been hiring out privately for some time now. When it's not on hire I often use it myself to explore different areas of Scotland for flying and it makes a fantastic mobile base for a flying break. If anyone is interested in hiring it for a weekend or longer and seeing what Scotland has to offer the Paramotor pilot, check out the website I've set up at http://www.tourscotlandbymotorhome.com or get in touch via the forum. http://www.youtube.com/user/scottishmotorman Happy Flying.

Fair point about the extra netting and it's the kind of thing that can be added later at little cost rather than having to be a part of the unit when you purchase. Good luck with the search for the perfect motor but I warn that you're always going to making a compromise in one way or another as power usually offsets against weight and price often offsets after sales service levels (more expensive in the UK than bought from abroad). Personally I lean towards having some extra power at the expense of weight as I think it's easier to launch a powerful engine than a light (less powerful) engine. On cost, I'd rather pay a bit more up front if I thought it was going to result in better, more accessible after sales service later. It's for these reasons that I bought a Parajet having owned an Adventure before.

I know two friends that have bought Blackhawk units and both have had problems with them ranging from the wrong kit being sent so the prop was actually touching the netting at full revs, to other more mechanical problems that have led to engine failure. One friend is still experiencing a lot pf problems over a year in. The company has been quite responsive in each case but I think the damage is done for one of the guys. I'm afraid I don't share your belief in netting as a net is probably the flimsiest protection you can get and any engines that I've witnessed and owned which used a thin cage and netting inevitably ended up getting bent out of shape in the early stages of flying when the cage tends to meet the ground a little more.

Some of the best moments I've had flying were a result of great flying conditions and the right music coming out of the ipod. If you're not listening to music I really think you're missing out on another dimension and if your so concerned about your engine that you need to focus on its sound all of the time, maybe you should consider a more reliable engine and free yourself!

I totally agree about Power Director. I tried a bunch of different packages and none of them could provide smooth playback but PD does it really well and has some nice editing features.