norman

Yes Martin, I wonder at the interaction between flows off both props too... Mind you, he seemed to get airborne fairly quickly. I wonder how much power the gearbox itself absorbs; his motor didn't look massive... interesting tho' isn't it?

YouTube link.

Thanks Col, Yes, I did look at doing just that myself but as it is seriously safety related item I just wondered what would go through my mind as I threw it for the first time. I also wonder whether it will fit. Although Sup Air say it will fit any reserve, mine is a 200kg jobby and I have my doubts looking at it. Still, we will find out when Simon returns. Engine noises? mental preparation matey! - wandering around the garden on the mower rehearsing.... Thanks for taking the trouble Col, I hope to see you on the 18th!

Togsie, Yes, it is rather sad isn't it, the hammock that is. As for the pic, I think Don Martin was a cartoon genius and I loved Mad Comic when I was a kid. The character just seemed to sum up how I felt after tripping and falling....

Hi Marko, I am new to this game but I will answer your question as best I can. Perhaps others more knowledgable will step in at some stage. Yes, tossing is good in Europe (for laughs), throwing might produce less red faces in polite company. Launching with the reserve/cockpit combo would be much the same as with (our normal) lap hung reserves. It bobs around a bit but is tolerably located. Very handy to get at if you need to with either hand as the handle/ripcord is centrally located and pointing ahead. The bridle has a choice of mounting using this method, either the main riser karibiners (low hang - European style) or routed through to mallions at the shoulder/main harness. .

Hi Gazza, I just bought a Garmin GPS60CSxand am delighted with it. The whole 'air map' question is interesting and I am looking at it at the moment. If we couldn't 'arrange something' collectively I would be surprised. The best option for me would be to use digital maps generated by the CAA, they are amended and directly relevant to the quarter and half mil charts they issue. Questions about their compatibility with various devices need looking at but as the Authority, they would be my first point of call. From here it seems that... I am writing an article at the moment about pilot navigation (paramotors) and I am looking for someone who considers paramotor navigation/cross country work to be their focus of interest to use them as a 'Guinea Pig' and a source of opinion. Any takers? Please email me from the link below. .

A links section for members links and recommendations.

A depository for file upload and downloads. Eg: Someone has a file they want to share with the members... .GPX/.KML track files PDFs Drivers Paramotor Manuals Wing Manuals you name it.....

Togsie, Swingin' there in that tree in my (carefully adjusted) Parajet harness was very comfortable....

Togsie, If you want to identify and create a link in a post you can just copy the link and place tags either side. copy the url to here if you want to 'hide' the link and tag it to a statement you need to do this - {url=http://www.apple.com/}Click here for Apple.{/url} << Repleace the { } brackets with these [ ]. The software recognises them and SHAZAMM! you get this - Click here for Apple. Hows that?

Ah! I wondered if the solution was going to be simple - I didn't know it would be that simple.... LOL

I picked up a tip that I hadn't fully clocked from Simon the other day (shortly before ploughing the field with my cage). He said, "Aim to touch down at a little above walking pace. Moving forwards when you touch down means that you don't need to judge things so finely and you won't get pulled backwards by the wing if the wind catches it as it collapses." Profound I thought... I found that though handy to contemplate when musing over my next landing. Well done Col, pleasing isn't it when it all comes together in the end? You do sound chuffed!

There is an interesting safety section on http://www.footflyer.com. Plenty of articles and alternative perspectives. .

Togsie, High Hang points I know Togsie, I should have said, 'ever hung with high hangs'. Jeff Goin (the US luminary for PPG)makes some comment here you might find useful. They use slightly different points but I believe they achieve similar geometry's as our hi/lo points. I have hung in the garden from a tree (in my rig) for around an hour and found it to be very comfortable. Quite how it would have felt with high hang points I don't know - but less so I think. The Parajets are probably comparatively slightly heavy, but they are also comparatively strong and well made. Once you are off the ground then all the other stuff really matters doesn't it. Nothing in aviation comes for nothing, even Titanium has its down side - (repair complexity, cost.) I would talk to experienced paramoteurs Togsie, I know zip about this game at the moment and don't want to lead you up the garden path. The rest of the aeronautical stuff has lived in my brain for years but making an expensive decision about the motor.... Clive sounds like a good source. i love my Parajet and I suspect those who go that route feel the same. I was given a Rolex in 1977 when I started flying - 'had it ever since. It's heavy and it doesn't keep perfect time, but I wouldn't change it for another.

Interesting dilemma Togsie. Fresh Breeze does seem to push out well made kit. They are now using Titanium which streamlines and lightens the kit still further. Though I have a Parajet I can appreciate your quandary, I wonder if FB will supply with low hang points which must be better for weight shifting when cruising on your cross country's? Ever flown with high hangs? It will be very interesting to see which way you go.

Dear all, I have just received a Sup Air combined cockpit/reserve bag. Does anyone know who would be the best guy to transfer my reserve from it's present bag to the new unit? Do we have someone we take our reserves to? Any advice gratefully received....

Beaches, Brandy sours, kebabs.... and no flying! Luxury! Have a great time Simon, come back safe and refreshed for another session of laughter and fun at Lambourn collecting pieces of my new prop.

Quite an accolade considering he is selling it. Probably buying a new one as it looks like an early version and done some time.

So Warwick, how did the (final) landing go?

Let's hope we haven't found the club frame bender!

Hi Ian, I believe Simon is on the case.

Crikey, that was quick! THANKS Chris, PM sent.

Went up to Lambourn today to fly. Arrived at around eight to be met by a FANTASTIC day for aviating. A gentle breeze down the strip and not a soul around except Simon, Mark (Parajet Ops Manager) and myself. Simon got airborne to check the air for Bernoulli's and returned to earth with his usual grace to tell me that the conditions were perfect. I was pretty much ready to go and dead keen as I have not flown since first solo and was gagging to get up there again. Briefed up and motor warmed - set up for a forward launch as the wind was about right for it. Launch time - good stride forward, up came the wing and away I went - around ten paces that is until I mishandled the brakes (against the soundest advice born of long experience from Simon). To cut a long story short, the wing moved forward overhead, I lost my footing, fell onto my side plowing the field in the process and destroying my prop as the cage distorted on hitting the ground. 1 bent cage, 1 totalled prop and a lost opportunity for around three hous of aeronautical bliss..... GGGRRRRRRRRR! Had I followed the briefing Simon gave me to the letter I would be swanning around above the clouds still. Lessons learned. Make a conscious effort to keep the brakes elevated during the takeoff run until you have flying speed. The wing cannot accelerate with the drag present from brake selection. When a launch is not going right, as soon as you find yourself stumbling, bin the launch and kill the motor. With almost any thrust set as soon as you start to face mother earth the thrust line will push you forward and over. Recovery at that stage isn't really going to happen. Don't try and save the launch, save the prop and cage then have another go. Last but not least, and this is a good one; listen carefully to the briefing (did that), take a moment to think (did that), mentally run through/rehearse what you are going to do (didn't do that). Still - a trophy for the study, a tea-shirt for me and the missus, a sticker for the helmet and a wiser man and back mid to late September with repaired cage and a new prop. Have fun up there in the interim folks! God I love this game... PS: Col, thanks a bunch for taking my cage to the menders for me. .

OH! Are there people that don't realise the awesome potential of that 'motor of motors?' No intention here to cast nasturtiums on other motors you understand.

Could this be catching? I wonder which manufacturer this machine belonged to? Food for thought? .