irm750

Move it a week or two - Or three cos I'm on me 'olidays in hopefully sunny Spain 'til 20th Sep!

Yep, the wetter, er, I mean weather forecast is looking a bit interesting! Are we still on for the weekend? Wouldn't blame you if you didn't want to sit in a wet windy field under canvas for the weekend. Or perhaps you developed a taste for it on the Tip to Tip! Oops, just seen the other thread with a vote! Best regards, Ian.

Initially I struggled like a b*****d to forward launch my revo. I was left on the ground when there was light/nil wind, scratching my head and wondering what I was doing wrong. The frustration just built more with every failed launch until I developed a bit of a Nil-wind-o-phobea, hoping for reverse conditions and dreading lighter winds. It was only when I specifically asked for someone to watch my attempts and they said that the leading edge was folding under that the penny finally dropped. I think that I had been subconciously putting more and more pressure on the A's with every failure in the mis-apprehension that this would overcome the problem. On the next attempt with lighter pressure I managed my first successful forward launch! Subsequently had a couple more successes, and not been left on the ground due to nil wind since. Best regards, Ian.

I agree with Francis. I was taught that for a forward launch you can start with the risers over the forearms and the A's in the open upturned palms of your hands with your arms out to the sides initially so that when you walk forwards you can feel that you are in the centre of the wing and so going to put equal pressure on the risers. As you move forward for launch, the hands move to a position just in front of the shoulders with the palms upturned and thumbs facing inwards cradling the A's in the V between your thumb and first finger. As the wing comes up you push your hands up to exert an upward pressure on the A's until the wing is overhead. No pulled shoulders and no bruised forearms! Best regards, Ian.

You could always leap frog the whole which is better, the Revo or the Synth arguement and go straight for a Dudek Reaction. At the moment that is the next one on my christmas list! Best regards, Ian

Hi Ben I bought my 1:250,000 airmap from a flight training school at a local airport (Rochester). They were more than happy to talk about flying as a mutual passion! Best regards, Ian.

Hi I am a beginner too. Have had 15 flights and about 8 hours, with all but the first two flights on my Revolution 28. My experience for what it's worth is that I got onto full reflex on my first Revolution flight to make the most of the increased protection from collapses. I then realised that I had become a bit dependant on it at the expense of confidence steering with the brakes and have made a concious decision over the last few flights to have some time on slower trim settings making tighter manouveres! As a beginner I tend to fly in conditions that are safe for all trim settings from neutral to full reflex, and so use the trim settings that I want to at the time. If I am trying to catch up with a flying mate, if it gets a bit bumpy, want to make progess over the ground or through stronger winds then I go to full reflex and use weight shift along with my retro-fit tip steering kit (which has made a world of improvement from pulling the stabilo lines as I did for quite a few flights!) If there is low wind and I don't need to make progress, or just want to wang it around using the brakes then I use 1 or 2 inch of trim. Take-off always 1 inch. Landing either full slow in low wind or 1 inch in higher winds. I love the confidence that this wing inspires on all trim settings. Even when the engine has let me down, the wing seems to look after me! To conclude I can't vote as I feel that the answer lies somewhere between the two options! Best regards, Ian.

Hi Steve and welcome to the Kent section! I know Pluckley as I shoot at the Black Horse Gun Club there every fortnight and I am only 5 minutes from your mate in Harrietsham (I live in Bicknor)! You would be welcome to fly at my instructors field in Detling. It is flyable with wind from any direction. Or there are always my fields on the Romney Marsh (if you can find a day when it's not blowing a gale down there!) If you are thinking of going reflex, you can give my Revolution 28 a try. What weight are you? Best regards, Ian.

Hi Norman I set 10 degrees initially but this allowed the motor to rev to 11,000+ rpm compared to the original 7,800 with the carbon blades (only for a VERY short time as I didn't want to blow it up!). I then gradually increased the pitch 5 degrees at a time, testing the rpm at each stage. My flight test setting was 24 degrees which yielded an engine rpm of 6,800 as I wanted to set it low to gain more dynamic thrust and hopefully increased efficiency in flight. I will be reducing the pitch to bring the max engine rpm back to 7,800 and flight test again. Best regards, Ian.

So I got to the field with my shiny new 3 blade GSC prop set more for dynamic thrust than static thrust (6800 max engine rpm as opposed to 7800rpm with carbon prop). Got set up for a reverse in variable 4-6mph wind, warmed the engine, pulled up the wing and did my best impersonation of Usain Bolt. Unfortunately no gold medal and no take-off for this olympic effort. Managed a short hop before being planted back on terra firma with my legs going like the clappers! I realised that I could not make a useful climb-out, and with discretion being the better part of running faster than your legs can carry you and breaking your jaw by falling on your face I throttled back and applied the brakes. The extra weight of the prop compared to standard didn't seem to have any adverse torque reaction for the short time that I was airborne. The good part about the adjustable prop is that you can, er, adjust it! I will give it a tweak for less pitch and increased revs and try again. Will obviously keep you posted as I am sure that there is some useful thrust in there waiting to be let out. Best regards, Ian.

Hi Mike Good to see that you are back from Spain safely and even better to hear that you got a good flight. Andy's massive field at Detling is operational again (they ploughed it so that they could turn in some muck and sow fresh grass seed!) Hopefully going to fly there tomorrow morning. Update on todays attempted flight in the 3 blade GSC prop section! Best regards, Ian.

Thanks Phil. Certainly plenty of choice on there! (page 1 of 10 below) http://www.fish4parts.co.uk/advanced_search_result.php?categories_id=800109&inc_subcat=1&sort=3a&page=1 Best regards, Ian.

Hi Norman I think that Charly Quick outs are a great idea, especially if they can save you from this................ (Due to the high humour content I will risk degrading this thread into a reality TV show!)

I will use the webbing idea - Great suggestion, thanks Paul. That's a good start with the new thread. User gleaned information and tips will be very valuable, but this would be enhanced significantly if added to by the manufacturer. If only we knew someone on the inside......................... Best regards, Ian.

Hi Paul. I don't know what the Parajet part numbers are, but my new mounts (you need 2) are approx 18mm thick as compared with the originals which are about 25mm. You can get them from Partco or other motor factors locally and I paid a couple of pounds each. They are actually Leyland mini exhaust mounts and I had the complication of having to find nuts to fit on the threads which are imperial (the original Parajet ones are metric) but luckily my father in law has a garage which is an alladins cave which I regularly plunder! You can get them from ebay complete with nuts - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Universal-Exhaust-Mount-bobbins-nuts-suit-classic-cars_W0QQitemZ330265732531QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item330265732531&_trkparms=72%3A636%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 I am thinking of drilling either side of the mount and lock wiring across to prevent the exhaust leaving the motor mid flight if these mounts were to fail. I would love to see an update section where manufacturers could list safety improvements made for each type of motor. It could save some costly failures. Best regards, Ian.

Hi Pete With my carbon blades the motor revved to 7800rpm. When I started, the pitch was 10 degrees and the engine was revving to 11,000rpm. I got this down bit by bit by gradually increasing the pitch until the rpm was about the same as with the carbon prop. It is now at 24 degrees which gives a max engine RPM of 6800rpm which gives a reasonable static thrust. I have yet to try and fly it but am hoping that it will yield a greater dynamic thrust than the carbon prop. Does this sound about right or am I barking up the wrong tree?? Cheers, Ian.

Not too sure of having full control over the trailer tent, but the dogs will keep me in check after I've had a few beers! Looking forward to it! Hope you've got your order in for some decent weather this time?

Hi Simon Less than a couple of weeks to go.....................What's the plan? Will it be OK if I bring my trailer tent and the boys (Arnie the Black Labrador and Baxter the Jack Russell)? Cheers, Ian.

Finally got my crap together and took some pics of my gorgeous 3 blade GSC prop on my Parajet Volution Compact. I wanted to be happy that it was going to work well before singing its praises as I had a bit of a challenge initially. I was gradually increasing the angle of attack and testing for revs on the tachometer. When I got to about 15 degrees the prop started to bang on the exhaust (eek). I wanted to go flying so re-fitted the old carbon fibre prop and put the GSC in the shed while I had a bit of a think. A couple of weeks later the carbon prop then started to hit the exhaust during starting (very dissappointing but glad to have spotted it BEFORE take-off!). This turned out to be worn exhaust mount rubbers and speaking with Gilo at Parajet this is apparently a known fault which is rectified on new models (yet another item for the pre-flight check!). I bought thinner mounts from a car parts shop (designed for MG Midgets!) which put the carbon prop well clear of the exhaust. I remembered the GSC languishing in the shed which I have subsequently fitted and incrementally adjusted up to 24 degrees for maximum dynamic thrust. Am yet to fly it (hopefully this evening if the weather plays ball) but it spins up fine and tests out well on the tacho. I have heard that original carbon props are in short supply, so once I am happy that it flys as well as it looks I will be importing a number of these as replacements. I should be able to sell them for £295 including postage to UK addresses. Best regards, Ian. Rear View - Hub View -

Hi Tom My Parajet Volution has a WB37 carb. You prime it by closing the choke and turning the motor over until it just starts to fire. This uses the vacuum pulses of the engine against the diaphragm pump in the carb to pull the petrol up. You then open the choke and start the engine. Works like a charm. Hope this helps? Best regards, Ian.

Hi Francis I have been thinking of using a pair of ducted fans for paramotoring/power assisted paragliding for some time and found the following thread which contains pictures remarkably close to my ideas. (apolgies to Simon for pointing people to another forum!) http://www.paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=18623&start=0 Having given the project more thought, and after discussion with knowledgeable model aircraft enthusiast friends I am unsure that it would be so efficient at the relatively slow air speeds at which we fly. It has so many safety, practicality and aesthetic benefits that I would love to be convinced otherwise! Best regards, Ian.

I discovered these articles from an experienced instructor. I found them useful despite being from the other side of the pond. Took me straight back to my RAF flying scholarship days! http://www.fatboyzaviation.com/columns/bw/index_bw_files/page0009.htm http://www.fatboyzaviation.com/columns/bw/index_bw_files/page0010.htm http://www.fatboyzaviation.com/columns/bw/index_bw_files/page0011.htm http://www.fatboyzaviation.com/columns/bw/index_bw_files/page0012.htm Especially liked this bit - "Sages repeat this ditty to help us understand the hierarchy of aviation importance: · Aviate · Navigate · Communicate. This means fly the airplane in a controlled manner first, stay aware of where you are going secondly, and lastly, talk on the radio." Best regards, Ian.

You answered my next question. After watching your inspiring video, I was going to ask what the frequency is for the Heathrow tower. Would be fun to take off and land like the guy in the vid (and possibly a couple of touch and go's??) using the main runway at Heathrow. Maybe if I ask nicely? (Tongue firmly in cheek) Best regards, Ian.

I had noticed from the tip to tip photos that Colin was trying to feed pork pie to one of the Macros. That must have been your one that he was trying to fatten up for you then Simon! http://www.flickr.com/photos/28499398@N04/2741118537/

Hello All Been having some great flights over Kent! Got permission to fly from a stubble field near Lenham and the weather played ball to allow an amazing morning flight before it was ploughed. Most of my recent flying has been from the Isle of Sheppey. You don't have to climb too high before you can see accross the Swale to Herne Bay, over the mouth of the Medway to Grain and along the Essex coastline - Absolutely stunning! Anyone fancying a flight, please feel free to get in touch. Best regards, Ian.