Steve

Which engine? On the Thor I replaced the standard pull starter with a Briggs and Stratton. 

Edit - Just realised you said starter motor, ignore my post. 

If you intend to fly a paramotor, inspection and maintenance will be one of the things you should learn and must do. Your thoughts about the mounts have probably been the same for many new pilots over the years but the reality is they don't often fail and in eleven years I've not known any sag (although I generally get a new machine every three years or so). If you look at machines like the Parajet Maverick you'll see that there is also webbing on the mounts. But replace them with manufacturer approved mounts every year if it bothers you, it's an easy job on most machines. Certainly cheaper and less hassle than making your own. 

As for the netting, if you don't start you machine on the ground (which you absolutely mustn't) then it's unlikely you'll need to worry about your hand holding a throttle going throught the netting. 

Give yourself some time in the sport before getting too het up about how flawed things appear. Nothing's perfect and the machines are constantly evolving and improving. If you can add something that will make the sport better that's great but we have been here with a lot of things many times before. 

Don't assume training abroad will guarantee you good weather and a completed course. It isn't just rain you need to think about, it can often just be too windy or thermic. Or it might be lovely. But you won't know until you're there.

And I certainly wouldn't think about training in the summer months in Spain or similar. 

It doesn't matter what you buy, you will need back-up from the manufacturer/dealer. If they don't offer that then look elsewhere. 

13 hours ago, Pilot Paul said:

Just bought an Ozee Millennium thermal suit

Very good decision.  

Ozee - without a doubt.

My cold weather suit has done ten winters and is still very warm, comfortable and waterproof so I can kneel on wet surfaces without worry. They also do made to measure. 

That's John Welch, great guy. 

Wow, that's incredible. Nobody's ever thought of that before!   

1 hour ago, Hann__ said:

How come you guys have taken a `sidestep` from your previous wings to a Solo?

Not knocking the Dudek, but it`s a very `mild` option?

Several reasons, one of which is needing a stable hands-free platform for my photography and video work and also something less tiring for long XCs. I have held off for a long while as wings I had flown like the Roadster 3 felt too numb and I thought I'd not find something 'milder' that I would like - but the Solo is quite nimble when not in novice mode (but not as wicked as the GTX) and is a very pleasant cruiser.  

I was going to test fly the Speedster 3 and the Hadron 3 but by chance I got an unexpected opportunity to fly the Solo and I realised how good it was for what I need so bought it there and then.  

Once inch slack (trimmers out) might be cutting it a bit fine for me, I'll settle for two or three.  

Agree with your observations on brake line lengths Alan, I measured seven inches of slack on the brakes with trims fully out (the lines are set at the shortest of the three factory lengths). I'm taking a double wrap to land to give the control that I like. When I first launched the Solo I thought there was something wrong with it, as if there's a breeze it feels like it's going to overshoot but the brakes go down to your waist to try and damp it out. I don't think it will overshoot generally, just gives you the feeling it will and the lack of brake control is weird. I'm going to take about four inches out of the lines and see how that goes. 

I think Dudek have provided over-long brake lines for the same reason as they lock the wing tip steering handles with velcro, to stop newer pilots getting carried away. But I think the brake line length is a mistake as it makes the wing feel a little sloppy until you realise what's going on.

Having said that, I think the Solo is awesome - like you, I think the wing tip steering is sublime and it's easy to generate enough energy for solid wingovers and spirals. It also rides like my old XJ8's magic carpet ride. 

I launched it last week in zero wind with tiny cross wind gusts and (being aware of the long brake lines) it was perfectly behaved. The ability to handle cross winds is awesome. 

I'm coming at this wing from a GTX so have gone into the upper 'advanced' weight range and I'm seriously impressed with it. 

You'd be hard pushed for spares and it's very old tech and relatively heavy by modern standards.

Here's an article about how the DK Whisper evolved into the original Parajet paramotor. 

We managed to get over to Spain (and back) just before lock down. It was awesome. 

53 minutes ago, hadders said:

We had a local farmer who fired some firework rockets at a couple of pilots. He had a visit from the local police. We just don't fly over his farm anymore so not to wind him up.

I had one deranged farmer discharge both barrels a couple of years ago - all over a simple misunderstanding. Always remember they are armed!  

Seems like it's mostly pretty light hearted, the OP just has a gripe with the house owner. It's not the first time reactions happen like that when outsiders with money move into farming areas. 

Won't damage the engine and is the easiest way to do it. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-general-aviation/coronavirus-covid-19-general-aviation?fbclid=IwAR0wlxkj3f06HSwKcTDPsPqNl15UQAx4DdisqiCbR-oLf4-_0MA19hZifZM

More on my centre foldback, two, two ...

I'm getting double alarm bells now - good job I like stereo.

Apart from the Dell syndrome, does anyone remember that idiot we had on here a few months ago pretending to be an airline pilot along with the associated fantasy stories he spun.

I feel the two merging into one new character ...

There's a simple solution to all of this. And I encourage all new and wannabe pilots to adopt this stance.

If Dell Schanze, Flat Top, Dominator, U-Turn or WPPGA are catching your interest, then just move on. No good will come from it and you will at best waste some time reading/listening, or at worst waste your money and time. 

Don't even get into debates - you don't know who you're dealing with a lot of the time as Dell has many pseudonyms and a little army of evangelists. It's all very bizarre. He's been poisoning the PPG community for more years than I can remember, certainly I remember reading his stuff 12 years ago and he's as poisonous now as he was then. 

My alarm bells are still going off ...   

1 hour ago, AndyB said:

Bob is sounding more and more like a super plant. We also have micro Tony on the FB forum who posts videos of him trying to break a students ankles!

Shame he's starting to pollute the UK in the same way Dell has done in the US for years.   

9 hours ago, Bob27 said:

but I do believe that you have one of the best paramotors on the market.

Can't help myself but reading that sets off all the usual alarm bells. Maybe it's just me ...

Welcome to PMC Tom. Have you loooked on the member map for your area?

https://www.paramotorclub.org/membermap/