irm750

I trust your opinion and hope that you are right! So when's the next fly-in??? I've got some old junk that needs to be test flown into a concrete wall. Any untrained drivers fancy a go??

Yes, not much flying recently! I too have resisted wading into this thread up until now as I am not normally someone who is politically active and prefers to live and let live, but it seems that there are too many assumptions being made about what’s best for the “paramotoring community” and for me to stay quiet could lead some to incorrectly assume that I agree with, or am coming around to their viewpoint. When I read the MEN article it was because I was voyeuristically interested to know what had happened to a fellow paramotorist and how the press were portraying it. I was reasonably satisfied with the article (apart from the expectedly sensationalist headline) as a balanced and unbiased piece of journalism. I felt simultaneously sorry for and angry at Darren Hill but felt that he had already paid a high price for his foolish behaviour which risked bringing our sport into disrepute. It was when I read the comment by Francis that my blood started to boil. This is where I’m a bit torn. I met Francis a couple of years ago on a couple of occasions and as a relative newcomer to paramotoring at the time I found him, like many other experienced pilots to be friendly and approachable. I was intrigued by the fibreglass paramotoring contraption which he had invented and strapped to the roof of his car, even though it looked like it was “designed and built from bits of junk cobbled together” I was quietly impressed and knew that the freedom from regulation which afforded him to do this was very attractive to me. I had heard that some in the paramotoring world had their grievances with him but I speak as I find and until someone does something to piss me off then I’m prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt. I know that Francis is an opinionated and eloquent member of the community but was shocked, disappointed and frustrated that he had chosen such an inappropriate place and method to air his controversial attack on paramotoring. Yes, a lot of what he said is factually correct but the tone can only ever have pitched to alarm the uneducated reader into some kind of knee jerk reaction. Which lead me to wonder at his motivation…..Subsequent posts from both Francis himself and others who have highlighted some of his other internet posts are starting to open my eyes to his intentions. Very clever Francis, you have got your agenda onto one of the most popular paramotoring forums in the UK. But at what cost to us all? You mention Lee Ganleys counter post as a balance to yours as if you had some hand in it? I praise Lee for stepping in to defend paramotoring, but it should not have to be defended from an attack from within! It was very tempting to post a counter argument myself but I feel that this would only have added to the credibility of Francis’ original post on the MEN site. I would also have like to post a link to this PMC thread so that everyone could see that we are considerate people who like to enjoy our sport without impacting on those below but thanks to some of the less politically correct remarks I sadly feel that this would be counterproductive. Taking personalities out of the equation, my opinion on the “idea” itself is that I came into paramotoring because I have had a life long passion for aviation and this sport puts it financially within my reach. The lack of bureaucracy and red tape involved in getting into the air is refreshing. I personally was taught by an independent instructor who worked to the BHPA and BMAA syllabuses and having a brain in my head allowed me to assess whether he was up to the job. I feel that the status quo is working for me, but then perhaps if I was a “Senior Instructor of foot-launched flying machines” and had gone to the considerable effort and expense of getting BHPA registered then maybe I would feel differently and want to eradicate some of my competition? Or I could just get on with becoming the best instructor and running the best school that I possibly could and then I would be so busy and successful that I wouldn’t have to worry myself too much about politicking behind the scenes? Best regards, Ian.

Unbelievable! Why he thought that was ever going to be a good place to fly from is beyond comprehension! Thankfully nobody got hurt. Shame, but it didn't look like he totally destroyed his kit beyond future use.

Cos them kites can give you a really bad string burn if you fly through one of their lines!

Doesn't mean that there isn't but I've never heard of one. Why do you ask? If you've heard people talking about it, perhaps they were talking about a reflex profile? If you search this forum for reflex profile you get 49 results. Best regards, Ian.

I love the way you've commandeered the kids swing!

Thanks Alan. I have been looking into supplying lithium iron batteries which will fit straight into a paramotor/motorbike and accept a charge as per a normal lead acid battery but at a fraction of the weight. I have been a bit snowed under to persue it but Craigs enquiry has prompted me to get off my backside and get it done! Hopefully I should have specifications, prices and availability on the Shorai and Super-B ranges of lithium iron batteries in the next couple of days. Best regards, Ian.

Hi Dave. I've not flown many wings but found my Paramania Revolution 1 difficult to forward launch as a newbie. I would dread turning up at the field on a still evening which is a shame as these are some of the best flying conditions. With experience this has improved greatly and I'm now as happy to forward as reverse and rarely fail a launch. I flew my instructors Dudek Nemo Moto for my first flight and that was really easy to forward launch but would for me would rapidly have become boring as it's a non-reflex wing and relatively slow. A trade off between performance and ease of launch but that was a few years ago and I have a feeling that improvements will now have been made which narrow the gap. Best regards, Ian.

I totally agree! What an amazing fly-in! Everyone was so friendly, the facilities and food were great and the location was fab to fly around. Even the weather was on our side! Thanks to Neil and everyone else whose hard work and good spirits made it a massive success. See you at the next one! Ian.

Welcome to the wonderful world of 2-stroke engine ownership! This is normal for this type of motor, to a degree. The oil which is premixed with the fuel to lubricate the engine is only partially burned in the combustion process and exits through the exhaust causing the symptoms you describe. To put your mind at rest thought it might be worth double checking the fuel to oil ratio and type of oil that you are using to make sure that they meet with the manufacturers recommendations. Best regards, Ian.

Thanks again. Al, I've had a look at the email address and all seems good. Just wondered what you'd picked up. Simon, any help will be welcome. If you're at the Essex fly-in maybe I can catch up with you there. Otherwise will it be Ok to call you in the week? Cheers, Ian.

All I can say is.............Arse!

Thanks for the feedback. I've got some product pages in the background that I'm working on to show examples of the different battery types and manufacturers. Would like to build a shop page but that will take a bit more thought! I do like to be able to question customers and then advise them on product and price as it allows me to supply the right solution for the customer and also upsell for product and fitting fee, but moving on I realise that I can do more with less personal effort if I get the website working for me. Cheers, Ian

Thanks Alan!

Hello All. I don't know if this is allowed here but I've just built my first multi page website for my car battery business and was hoping for some constructive criticism if you can spare the time please? http://www.ReviveBatteries.co.uk Thanks in anticipation of your help Best regards, Ian.

Hello Brian Thanks for getting in touch, I will give you a bell tomorrow (Monday) Info on the Essex fly in is available by searching this forum but here is a link which will speed things up for you - viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6089 Best regards, Ian.

Blimey! Thanks for posting that. Courtesy of an online translator I have read (sort of!) Sandrines explanation for her crash and she was on neutral trim to give herself more manouverability in a trade off for full fast reflex stability and when she passed on the downwind side of the pylon the wing collapsed. She said that the wing was trying to re-inflate but being that close to the ground there was no time. Full credit to her she was still praising the Nucleon and blaming the accident totally on herself. Bruised but OK. Lucky!

Hello Drummer and welcome to the PMC! You have come to the right place for some friendly advice, mostly because everyone on here loves flying their paramotors and is really keen to share their experiences. I'm based near Maidstone and fly near here but also on Sheppey and down on the Romney Marsh. If you've done some top to bottom flights under a paraglider then you'll have some idea of the feeling of paramotoring. I did a BHPA EP course before having a motor on my back and it was a good introduction. My instructor flys from much the same area as myself but doesn't really do forums so if you send me a PM I will gladly put you in touch with him. Would be worth you coming along to the Essex flyin later this month where you will be able to see loads of different motors, wings and other kit and have a chat with everyone. Welcome! Ian.

Blimey! Thanks for sharing your misfortune for us all to learn from. Hope you have a speedy recovery! Best regards, Ian.

Thanks Col. Will look it up.

SW - I pity your other half!

Always better to wait until the wind calms down and is just wiggly!

Just wanted to clock up my 500th post. I should get out more! I would if only this weather would assist. Ian.

Nice video! I've flown with balloons a couple of times as Leeds Castle and their balloon is only a couple of miles from our field. I know that they are nervous about people overflying them as they can have a massive rate of climb! It's amazing how long it takes to catch up with a distant balloon as they are so huge it is difficult to guage how far away they are. A very special and unique experience though.

Hello All. I have recently bought a ten year old (but mint condition) Walkerjet Superhawk with a Solo 210 engine. It has a 130cm prop marked superhawk and a 125cm replacement both wooden. Surprisingly the 125cm gives more thrust but similar engine RPM. The engine seems to be completely standard and had the Walbro carb with a K&N type air filter, plus the standard black box type exhaust. The engine seems to rev nicely, is smooth and fairly quiet but...... I need more thrust! Have enough to take off and climb-out but it's a fairly pitiful rate of climb and will struggle to maintain altitude on full fast trim (Paramania Revolution) and I can't even contemplate speed bar. Please can anyone suggest any upgrades to achieve this? Thinking possibly bigger head, tuned exhaust, beefier prop etc and have seen that some bits might be available from Fresh Breeze (expensive!) or Simonini. Has anyone done this before and can recommend parts and/or suppliers? Thanks in advance for your help. Best regards, Ian.