bholleran

Hi Mark, You are quite correct I did get it from UK PPG in March, Cambridgeshire. I spoke to Richwill15( Al I think) by phone on friday before I left. I drove up late on Friday night so that I could spend the day up there. We arrived at 11:00 on site to be greeted with a very warm welcome by Nigel and Nikky later in the day. Now for the good bit, I ordered an ec extreme 33. This comes with the Simonini Evo engine, I had Various amendments made to the standard spec. I ordered the wasp colour scheme which is orange and black (not bright orange as previously mentioned ). I had a three blade prop fitted. I had a 15 ltr tank fitted instead of the standard 9. And finally I had the harness adjusted with a larger seat area and longer middle strap. This in turn ment the bars needed to be lengthened. All of which were done by the factory where they were very accommodating and were very Ernest on making sure that I got something that was going to be usable by me. On opening the box it was extremly well packed and Nigel had to hold me back a little bit from just jumping right in there and starting to throw things together. Stuart who had got his unit the night before was also there to help Nigel and I assemble the motor. Nigel took lots of photographs to capture the moment. In particual the grin on my face. We then spent the next three hours checking that it was exactly the way it was supposed to be and doing hang tests to make sure I was ready to go. Now all I had to do was wait for the weather as it was looking very dynamic and not ideal for a first flight. But as it got later in the day it was looking perfect wind strength, althought the direction was variable. By this time I was getting the nod from the wife that we had to get going soon as we had a 4 hour drive home and she has to get up for work at 5:30. So it was now or never, After doing my preflights I started her up, and I have to say it is a beast with more power that you can shake a proverbial stick at. After a few adjustments to the wing to get it into wind it was go go go. and I was up, I had quite a lot going on in my head. This was the first flight under power on my new wing, and it was the first flight on a new motor which is a high hang point machine rather than a low hang point machine which I am more used to. But I was up and going up like a rocket, a little wiggle and I was properly in the seat ( A real first for me) it was very comfortable with very little vibration. I was also not exhausted and dripping with sweat after running for half a mile down the field on the wrong wing / motor combinations. I tried a variety of power settings and just general bumbling around. And it was all worth the wait. Summing up: I had a great day out and met some really nice people there (Stuart and Dan, Stuart sorry once again about the socks / sandles comment) The equipment is brilliant and I am really looking forward to fully running it in and getting some good flying in. It weighs about the same as my home built motor but it sits more comfortably on my back as the harness actually fits properly, and I think it is considerably quiter than my current one. So overall I am a very very happy camper. Pictures to follow. (I need to take some and I know that Nigel is busy and has told me it will take hime some time to get them to me)

It has been delivered. So all I need to do is collect it from cambridge tommorow. I feel like a kid at christmas, super excited. I am hoping to fly it tommorow as the weather is looking good, so I will let you know about later in the week. Barry

just a quick update guys my motor is out for delivery today I intend to collect it from cambridge on saturday so I should be good to go after the weekend if all things go well.

Thanks to all who replied. When I got to the flying site yesterday the rain was about to set in and I was only going to get a top to bottom in nil wind, but I guessed that it would be as good a test as any. So a perfect forward launch on typically Greek launch site (full of rock , thistle and small bushes) and scratching around trying to find any lift. Really good to test the handling of the wing. Now for the landing, the landing field is less than perfect (a lot like launch) and did not fancy twisting an ankle or breaking a leg etc, So the pressure was on to nail it this time. I came in on full slow (as I had not read Luke's comment yet) which still seemed quite fast and resisted the temptation to touch the brakes until I was at about 15 ft and then pulled to about half brake and leveled out, I traveled a long way at about 5 ft off the ground and then pulled a full flare just as I was starting to drop. And yipee I landed perfectly. So thanks to every one for there help. Now the question to me was what had I been doing wrong before? This is the best explanation of what I was doing wrong. I am used to free flying and almost always fly in fairly strong wind conditions that allow for top landings. Now when I have been comming in to top land (normally on a downward slope) i found it necessary to progressevely brake and almost stall the wing in very lifty conditions to get down on the hill and not fly out back over the lift zone. This resulted in a very mushy landing, and braking \ flaring too high off the ground. So I think I was trying to do the same when I was doing a nil wind landing and just finding it did not bleed of the speed as I expected as there was no head wind. I suppose I had just forgotten what I had originally been taught because I do not regularly fly in those conditions. Sorry to the original poster for hijacking this thread as that was not the intention, but hopefully it will give you the confidence that the long brake travel is not a problem.

Hi Alan, Thanks for the reply, I have never had to take a wrap on any paraglider I have owned and the speed that you would come in to land seemed to be considerably slower on my paragliders than the Nucleon on full slow trim. I assume that there must be a slightly different technique. What height would you normally start to flare from assuming that the brakes were in the fully parked position? I also assume that the flare would go from fully up to fully down quickly. i.e. 1 to 1.5 secs ish not 3 -4 seconds ish? Would the flare height be any different on a normal paraglider? Do you have any video of good landings with a nucleon or synthesis so that I could compare and mentally go through the action and see if I can spot the difference? Thanks

Hi Mark, No it was at a place near Gatzia in Greece. I am still there so I am going to experiment a bit more.

Does this also apply to the nucleon? The reason I ask is I have flown me Nucleon for the first time yesterday, and it was a delight to fly, but when I came in to land in almost nil wind I could not get enough of a flare even with a wrap to land on my feet. I was flying on full slow trim and assumed that on full slow I should still be able to get a good flare. I assume that this would only be worse if I had the motor on due to the extra weight. What are the recommended brake lengths for both low and high hang point machines? Thanks

I have one on order it should arrive in the next week, I can let you know then. I know that Aquatix has one and I am sure he will be along to answer you questions.

Hi Mark, I will be paragliding in greece. I know that is not what you me but I could not resist.

Thanks for the quick reply Simon but I am not so sure I just tried it here and it is still asking for a login. can anyone else confirm? Ta

I am sure it is just an oversight some where but every branch except the West sussex branch can be viewed without logging in. i.e straight from the home page you can go to any branch and get straight to the postings. But you have to login in to get to the west sussex one. Can any one tell me why? At first I thought it was because it dod not have a moderator but I can see that others do not have a moderator and they work ok. And more importantly can it be changed so that it is the same as the rest. Thanks Barry

Hi Mick, It was good to speak to you this morning, We have set up a new branch in the west sussex section. If you have a look there you will get more information for where you want to fly. viewforum.php?f=64 Regards Barry

What is the maximum number of places?

Great minds think alike, and just pipped to the post. But it does not mean it is correct

Gravity?

Mark, I will be up for it but I need to work out range etc of my new motor. But if the specs are correct with the bigger tank I have ordered I should be good for 4 hours. I think My new unit will be approx 3 - 4 weeks, before I get it. I will keep you informed. I dont think I fancy it on my current unit. I am on holiday for 2 weeks from the 5th of june as well so cant make it then.

What sort of dates are you looking at? I will hopefully have my new motor soon

Should there be a choice for BHPA paraglider only. And then other for paramotor? i.e self taught etc So a mix of formal and informal. It is just that if you have had 200 hours on a paraglider but are self taught on a paramotor. The odds are probably better than being completly self taught. In particular with regard to air law etc.

Hi, Yes it is possible. It was done recently. See the following link. viewtopic.php?f=24&t=5933&hilit=top+gear&start=0 We also have a new field in the area that should make it easier in future. Have a look in the west sussex branch.

Not that I do it, but what law is it breaking?

Hi Mark, The best i can do is this. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... =UTF8&z=14 Let me know if that is ok. Regards Barry

Thats why they dont use much fuel, they arent in the air long enough. meowwww! Fight, Fight Fight.

I gathered that much, I was looking for a bit more specific. The other half is working a Night shift on that day and I am trying to figure out if we coulf make it.

Does anyone have the details of where it is going to be?

Hi, Welcome, A group of us fly in west sussex you would be more than welcome to give us a call or come over and visit us when we are flying. Have a look in the west sussex branch on the forum. Where in sussex are you? There are plenty of people on here that will gladly offer you advice on kit ot get etc. Barry