bendmeroundthehedge

At the moment I find I have to have two different insurances. One to cover Public Liability( On Risk) and the other to cover accidental damage to me (Sports Guard) while paramotoring. Does anyone know of an Insurance company that covers both these risks on one policy? It is expensive and no doubt that would be the case which ever way round it worked out, but it would be better to have all the eggs in one basket. Your thoughts please. Bendme

Off down to Aldi shortly. Think they are selling kites! Anybody want one? Bendme

Paddy, how it's going. Not heard from you for a while. The weather may improve shortly???? We can all get together again then. You never know I might get my first xc over to yours soon. Kev

Yeah, got mine out today. Being a lazy so and so thought I'd clean the garage out with it. Made a brilliant job, but took me twice as long to put back the things that shouldn't have blown out in the first place.

Hi, Dug this off the net. Worth a read. ****************** In the UK, we are allocated one (one!) airband frequency for HG exclusive use - but NO ONE uses it, as no one has an airband radio - for historical reasons - they all use 2-Metre instead. This is because : 1) They're cheaper, like half the price 2) They have much clearer transmission and better range. 2-metre radios are FM, airband are AM, which is antiquated and inferior to FM in terms of clarity and audibility. 3) They have multiple channels (we actually use a small "illegal" band between 143.750 and 143.950 Mhz) ONE channel, after all, is no damn use when there are fifty pilots in the air at a site - as happens in the UK on good days. 4) All other HGPG pilots that use radio use 2M, so if you bought an airband, you'd have no one to talk to. For safety/rescue/collision avoidance they'd be useless. 5) It's what HGPG pilots in most other countries also use, so you can take it on holiday and use it. (Oz excepted) You don't HAVE to have a radio at all - although there have been persistent murmurings about the authorities trying to get us to compulsorily use Mode C transponders (height-encoding radar reflectors). No such HG-compatible device exists at present, though. I'll put this reply on the Epg list, in my position as **** radio adviser because some people STILL don't know these basic facts. If you buy an Airband radio in the UK, you'll be talking to yourself - 'cos NO ONE else on an HG or PG has one! (Well, a tiny minority of XC hounds maybe). Only the other day I had an anguished email from a guy who had bought two airband radios (for him and his wife) and was trying to get them licenced through CAA! He couldn't understand why no one else on the hill had a CAA callsign, and why he couldn't talk to them! He also wanted to know how he could legally use his airband radios abroad (he can't in most countries). Sadly, I had to enlighten him that he'd wasted his money... And just to recap for anyone who is in the dark..... The "unoffical" frequencies used by HGPG in the UK are: Calling channel....143.950 Other channels used for "private" nets (groups going XC, teaching new- soaring pilots, etc): 143.925 143.900 143.875 143.850 143.825 143.800 143.775 143.750 These frequencies are not currently used or allocated elsewhere, so you won't interfere with anyone else. Do NOT use any "official" frequency between 144.00 and 146.00 in the 2-metre band - these belong to the radio amateurs, who will shop you in an instant. (They're a bit anoraky as a tribe - sorry any Amateurs out there - how's the Asperger's coming on? - still suffering from "frozen trigger finger" where you key the mike and rabbit for ten minutes without saying anything?) Also, NEVER use anything above 146.00 Mhz - these are used on a split- frequency basis by ambulance, police, fire, etc, and although the channel may SEEM to be empty, you can get into a repeater and cause havoc over half the country from 2 grand! The same goes for anything under 143.750 Mhz. Why do we get away with illegal use? Well, there are very few vans with spinning roofracks at 3 grand over most sites - imaging the enforcement problems - we are never at the same place 2 days running, we never LAND at the same place, hardly, and while we're in the air - what can they do to catch us? Bit difficult unless the RA heavies hijack the local Plod Helicopter... People used to use any old frequency that they could tune their 2M to - and caused quite a bit of havoc. I've spent years trying to shepherd everyone into this small unused band just below 2M, where they'll do least harm. It seems to be working.... ********************** Cheers Bendme

Hi all, Took the opportunity to visit the radio ham meeting tonight. In a nutshell they told me that the frequency 143.950 is just underneath what they call the 2 metre band which starts at 144. Serious s**t in there. Unofficially the frequency has been used for so long without any problems, a blind eye has been turned. Worse case scenario(they suggested) the radio would be confiscated. So to summarise- it IS illegal to use this frequency, but as long as people do not abuse it, I (and once again unofficially, they) cannot see any problems. I, for one, will continue to own one. Bendme

Hi Jase, I use an Apco Mayday Bi with a sink rate of 5.4 meters per second at maximum loading of 200kgs all packed into a side mount container, which is never removed apart from repack. My GPS and Vario, Flytec 6005 attached one on each thigh by velcro. I feel less cluttered with this arrangement. Fitted to one of the reserve bridles is a lanyard type engine kill switch. In the unlikely event of having to throw the laundry, the deployment will immediately kill the engine. Bendme

Hi Simon, Yeah, no problem. Will let you know all the info after tomorrow. Cheers Kev

Hi guys, The subject of using 2 meter radios at the moment appears to have everybody jumpy. Yes, it is illegal to use them unless you are licensed. At the moment it appears that a 'blind eye' is being turned. So, I am going to a meeting on Tuesday for amateur radio enthusiasts, where I hope I can find out exactly what the position is. Will report back after the meeting. God.........I love being a geek! Cheers Bendme

Hi James, I am fairly new to this sport, but I'll give you my take on it. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. 2 bladed props are more efficient than 4 bladed. More blades allow bigger motors to have a smaller prop diameter. Fitting a 2 bladed prop will depend on your reduction - drive ratio. The idea is to keep the prop tips spinning about Mach 0.6. After this it gets too noisy and less efficient. 2 stroke engines produce the most power at high rpm, hence the reduction drive to keep the prop speed down. To work out your tip speed take the rpm multiply by prop diameter (in inches) then divide by 256000 for example: 6500(rpm) x 44(inches - prop diameter) divide by 256000 = 1.12(Mach) which would be ridiculous, hence the need for the reduction drive. The Vittorizi Easy 100, also the new pulse prop uses the same size as you mentioned (6 x6mm x50mm) running anti-clockwise. The reply might be a bit geeky, but it will hopefully help someone. Bendme

Hi Stu, Just had a look on Metcheck and it's looking a bit tooooooooo windy for me. As I had already set Sunday aside for flying, I could give you a lift if you want. As long as I am back at HQ for a bevvy in the afternoon. Give me a ring 0787 666 8624. Cheers Bendme

Hi Simon, Played my last gig last night. Frees me up to concentrate on my flying now. So yeah, count me in for Sunday. Bendme

Hi, Type 4C - now virtually obsolete is used for 4 stroke engines with points and distributor. If you manage to pick up a second hand Tiny-Tach that does not have a reset button, it is possible to reset it Bendme

I know you lot at the Leicestrshire Branch have a BLACK fetish. But I'm ordering a T-shirt and it's white, so there! Bendme

Bit of information you might find saves a lot of frustration. There are three different types of Tiny-Tach, you need to make sure you purchase the right one for your machine. 1C - used on engines that have a spark firing every 180 degrees. 2C - Used on engines with one spark firing on each revolution of the crankshaft. Also used on 4 strokes with electronic ignition. Bendme

Nice one. Paraglider Pete was talking about it the other week. At the moment the power to weight ratio between the 4 and 2 stroke means the 2 stroke wins hands down for me. I think the electric ppg is a non-starter. This is just my opinion, but I think the Wenkel engine will change all this. 4 stroke, more power, less weight and quiet - it has to be a winner. Bendme

Hi, Any idea if parajet will be bringing out the 4 stroke Wankel Engine. Would be very interested in that. Bendme

Hi John, Was good to meet you on Sunday. First time of many I hope, but with lots more outside! Roll on summer. Bendme (Led Zepplin)

Nice one Jase. Just what I have been looking for. Bendme

Hi Norman, I was playing with Simon's on Sunday at the HQ. It looks a nice bit of kit, but still not decided as yet on what to purchase. Too much choise. Think I need to do more geeky things (research) before I make up my mind. Bendme

Hi, Couldn't get the link to work. If anybody is thinking of going to China, here are some useful phrases. Our meeting is scheduled for next week...........................................Wai Yu Kum Nao Your body odour is offensive.............................................................Yu Stin Ki Pu Great.................................................................................................Fa Kin Su Pah Stupid Man........................................................................................Dum Fuk See me asap.....................................................................................Kum Hia That's not right..................................................................................Sum Ting Wong Bendme

Pete, Had a look at the mini jet engines and really got my imagination fired up. If we coild mount it high enough above our heads so that we could get the forward motion without increasing the AoA we could attempt the paramotor speed record. Anybody want to be a guinea pig.....I mean ......test pilot? 'Course the other option is to get her indoors to take it to work and ask the guys in the Gas Turbine Labs (Aeronautical Dept, Loughborough Uni) what they think. Who needs small wings? Just give me the power!!!! Bendme(dreaming)

Hi Pete, I'm sure I read somewhere that the new colour for the RAF training jets is black. It is, apparently, more visible in the air. Moral of the tale-- keep using black until they invent a darker colour! Bendme

Hello folks, Yes, I'm OK for 14.00 Sunday. Bring your new toy Simon so I can have a look. Might be what I'm looking for. Pete, when do you get your new black shiny gear? Would like to come down with my video camera and make a movie. Will it be a series or just a one off? Cheers Hedgehopping Greasley

I am currently thinking about replacing my old GPS unit. I have been looking at the Road Angel Adventurer 7000 as it supports memory map with CAA charts. Has anyone got experience of this model or do have another suggestion? The Fly Angel looks good but at £600 is a bit expensive. Bendme