craigs

Dear All, I've bought Noel Whittals' From The Ground Up & Jeff Goin's Powered Paragliding Bible, both of which are great books that give a great overall view of PPG, I will continue to read and re-read these until some proper physical training is arranged. I'm wanting to start studying the meteorology side of things in a little greater detail so basically the question I'm asking is: Which book/s should I buy that you guys have found useful to help me along in my ongoing quest for the journey skyward. Any website recommendations would also be appreciated. Thanks in advance, Craig.

Sorry but forgot to say in my last post that I have seen non airworthy, ground handling only wings advertised on the flybubble website for just £150.

Hi rob1980, welcome to the forum, it is a great place to pick up tips & advice from some very friendly & passionate pilots. I'm a newbie, in a similiar position to you & have gained some good advice from these people. To throw a curve ball into what previous posters have said on this subject & I want to stress in very strong terms that I AM NO EXPERT but I went to the fly in at Sheffield a couple of weekends ago & spoke face to face to some pilots. Some were self taught but had the benefit of having friends who are pilots to lead them on their way. They too bought a ground handling wing & just trained with that until they were 100% with how it worked, the adding of power later was an automatic progression. I'm in a similiar position Rob - I need to do this as cheaply as possible (my Mrs is already being very understanding about my new found passion) but in no way do I want to compromise my safety. Therefore my plan to get in the air next year is this; Have bought & am currently studying the Powered Paragliding Bible by Jef Goin. This books tells you everything you need to know from the thread to the needle - a very useful training guide for something in the region of £25. Buy a ground handling wing & train with that over the winter (2 x reasons for this - 1. just can't wait to get started & 2. I want to be in a position, when I go for tuition that I understand how the wing functions.) Endownment matures March 2013 - not a massive amount of money but should be enough to buy me reasonable second hand equipment with some left over for a family holiday (we not been abroad since we moved into big mouthed old house 4 years ago). Go for training - Not decided yet whether BHPA or independent is the way to go but hopefully my knowledge of ground handling will help me to get through things quicker. Hope to be trained & up in the air for back end of summer 2013!!!! This is just my view on how I can make this work for me. There's a number of differrent ways to go but one piece of advice that I have picked up from everyone of the pilots that I have communicated with is to have the upmost respect for the sport, it's freedom & indeed it's dangers. Good luck...................

I saw this shot in the paramotor mag & was impressed myself but is this not 'illegal'? 500 metres from any person, vessel, structure etc? Tis a good photo though!

Hi Pazza101, I work in Bradford probably a couple of times per week. After spending a bit of time with the guys last weekend at Sheffield & with the absense of funds to buy the full kit until next year i think I've made a decision to buy a relatively cheap wing & ground handling harness & spend some time building up some experience before going for the full training next year. If I'm being over familiar then please forgive me but I'd like to come over & spend a few hours with you so I can get some tips on ground handling. Please pm me if you want & I'll give you a bell. Cheers, Craig.

Hi Pazza101 - you say you're not too far away; whereabouts? I'm in Barnsley, South Yorkshire & am struggling to find anyone really local to me. Have you attempted any training yet? I'm starting early next year.........

Gents, Just wanted to say thank you to you all for Saturday morning. It was great to meet you all & pick your brains & see some of your machines in the flesh. You'd all got loads to say & I feel that despite not seeing any flying my knowledge on ppg has advanced from having a chat with you all & it's really spurred me on to get some training asap & I picked up some great tips. Thanks to Jason from Hull - let me know when there's some stuff happening over there & I'll head over. Sorry that you didn't get to fly the dam gents, gutted for you all but sounds like the pub got some hammer which can only be a good thing!! Sorry that I didn't catch up with Sticky who's been great since I joined this forum but I hope to see you at another event in the future. Thanks again gents!!!!

Sticky - what time would be good for me to turn up? I'm coming on the Saturday & can be there any time - I only live about 40 minutes away, I was thinking of getting there early - 10ish. Is that okay?

Good advice Geoff, read something earlier about accidents in paramotoring & in all cases they were very experienced pilots who were doing things that they knew were dangerous or pushing their machines beyond the limits of it's capabilities.

Ha ha, good advice, I've already started getting all the jobs done that have needed doing forever in preparation for next year. In all honesty though she is very cool about it & maybe interested herself at some point!

Dear All, Come on then, you've all earned your stripes, BHPA, Independent, or all on your own but you must all have one snippet of inside knowledge that you've found invaluable in your paramotoring career, so please share it to enhance my experience. Many thanks, Craig.

Cheers mike, you coming on the next trip to Snowdonia then ?snippets of Tis Craig, not Mike, nay bother though , unfortunately I'm only a very envious onlooker at the minute but will be doing my training next March then will be happy to join some obviously talented piolts for some very much needed (and wanted!!) experience. Any snippets of advice etc would be gratefully accepted, I'll start another thread for that............

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fantastic video Carl, truly awe inspiring.

Dear All, Have done quite a lot of looking at ppg's s & I'm aspiring to getting some kit next March then upgrading when I'm fully up & running, well practiced & knowledgeable in a few years time. As far as I can see the Flat top is the absolute daddy of ppg but I think (that's think not know) that Bailey also look pretty pretty good. So ladies & gents, I'm sure that another can o' worms has now been opened but what is THE Daddy ppg machine to aspire to? PS - Simon - I will contribute to this marvellous website soon........ Cheers, Craig.

Just thinking - anyone willing or able to take me up tandem at the fly in? I'd obviously pay whatever it would cost.

Brilliant - many thanks stickygrape, I think me & my Dad'll come along, I was chatting to him about ppg yesterday & I think he might be interested in taking it up as well!! Really looking forward to this now.

Gents, Not yet a pilot but I'd be really keen to come along for a few hours & have a chat with some of you & get some advice & see some flying. Would this be okay?

Stuart, thanks for the advice but I promise - I won't buy anything until I've had a chat with an instructor. If I'm heading a mile high I want to be absolutely sure that my kit is going to get me there & back in one piece! I have also tried to contact the Yorkshire Owls Paramotor Club so I can go & have a chat with them & hopefully see them fly, just waiting a response........

Oh good grief - has anyone seen all the paramotor packages on e-bay at the minute, there's some really good deals but my funds are not available until March 13!!!!! It's driving me crackers

Brilliant - thanks Gordon, that's cleared things up but has also prompted my offer of support for anyone who's around my area - Barnsley in South Yorkshire. If anyone's flying by let me know & I'd be happy to help & may even supply a cuppa!!

Hi All, Daft question I'm afraid......... I'm a complete newbie, just researching & saving brass at the minute but looking at buying a paramotor next year. I've done quite a lot of reading & wiled away hours watching video footage on youtube etc but I can't quite understand how the xc flying is done. If a tank of fuel lasts approx 2-3 hours how would you re-fuel when you have to land? Would you need to be near a petrol station & carry oil or would you have pre-planned this & have someone waiting for you? The xc flying interests me more than anything else, for example fly out, lunch, walk around then make your way home. Told you it was a daft question

Hi Rob, I'm suffering the same thing as well - can't get the idea of freedom from my head (suppose that comes from having 2 noisy kids!!) I'm just looking at starting (and trying to raise some funds!!) & bought the book - Paramotoring From The Ground Up by Noel Whittall, that's a good read & very informative too. Let me know how you progress........

Cheers Tortoise - will do.....

Good afternoon all!! I live in Barnsley, South Yorkshire & am currently frantically researching & trying to raise some funds to take up this amazing sport. I'd appreciate any advice anyone can offer & would be particularly interested in going to see some paramotors flying & having a general chat about things. I've seen dozens of the youtube vids but would love to see the real thing. Is there anyone local who'd be happy to pass on some of their knowledge? Thanks in advance........