Lee Jackson

TBH I do the knees up, into the chair thing, but almost always find myself fettling about once I have some height. This is tightening up the front seat extension thingy, putting on some makeup, loosening the inner carry straps (I take off with everything super tight) and the proverbial thumb to get me fully back in the chair and comfortable. Some of this is habit rather than necessity! I'm like a dog settling down in its bed...

The setup of a bulldog is exceptionally important and key to comfortable and safe flying. I understand that the blue handle (used for carrying) must be level with your neck and that the rest of the setup works from there. My first thought when I read above was that you should actually tighten the leg straps to help getting into the seat... but I suspect there could be a lot more out of kilter. Personally I think you need to get in contact with Clive Bunce to get it set up exactly right (he made your machine and would only want you flying it in correctly setup). http://www.bulldogparamotors.co.uk/dealers.html (Fly2). There is also Mike Chilvers and Clive Mason... amongst others who are very familiar with setting up a Bulldog. Once its right its possibly one of the most comfortable XC machines out there. It'll also help with weight shift once it is setup correctly. One last point is, if you still have issues, you can use your non-throttle thumb to 'hoik' the seat under your ass. i.e. you literally put your thumb between seat and ass and pull seat down and forward. Obviously only do this if you are still having issues, have some height and have parked the brake on that side. As others have said - the risers are not really a wise way of pulling yourself up. You'll get it sorted soon enough!

Hello Hodders, Last year I used JS Insurance for the Spain PMC trip. I made sure that there was an endorsement for paramotoring. I think 8 days cover was something like £40 (off the top of my head). The guy I spoke to was Chris Hollingsworth (01273 773 017). He was very helpful. Thankfully I never needed to use the insurance so I've no idea whether this would have cut the mustard in the event of something unfortunate. FYI I am also in no way connected to them... its just the company I found last year.

Ha, I only mean that as a 6'3" gent you'll be fairly high up the weight range and will need a sizable wing accordingly. It sounds like you know what you're doing, so talk to lots of people, kite wings and ask questions. FYI I learnt a heck of a lot when I went to my first fly-in. Lots of experience (good and bad) concentrated in one place makes for a good classroom. I wouldn't dare to comment on those wings as I only know about Dudek, but I have no doubt they have great wings, perfectly suited to you. If you want to use the wing for free flying and PPG you'll need to ensure everyone knows this when you're looking, as some are more or less suitable for both disciplines. Best of luck with it all. There's certainly some great flying to be had Malvern way... enjoy!!!

Howdy Steve, There is a lot of advice sloshing around at present about exactly this. Personally I'd wait, talk to an instructor and try some wings before you do anything. There is no rush and the rewards are truly great. That said... from what I see, everyone seems to love the Dudek Universal as a solid starting/advanced wing. Whatever you do go for, the new wings are so immeasurably better than they used to be 3-4 years ago... so you'll be fine, but you will need a big one!

Hi Subtlealpine, Cool... just stumbled into your blog. Very good, and a comprehensive look at training. Funnily enough, I was one of the two chaps who flew in from near St Neots. I am Lee (with the Bulldog) and the other chap was Gary. Your 'real' name is Mark isn't it? To be honest, from what I saw, I thought you were doing really well. I suspect you are hard on yourself as you normally pick things up quickly. Your control was good (especially in such low wind conditions) and you certainly have the basics squared away. You are getting great training from Steve and, as frustrating as it is, the more time you spend practicing - the easier it will be down the line. The tandem flights are brilliant and so useful in your training. Most of us certainly never had that option all those years ago. Hann really does get it spot on above. Its one thing to kite the wing, but add in all the other factors and clutter and the game changes significantly. That is why practicing with a motor on and a wing above is essential (I didn't do this and paid the price). You will get used to it and the weight of a Bulldog soon won't be an issue (its actually not that heavy). Note - you do need your arms wide and high for a Bulldog launch and your arms need to stay back (no heavy pushing forward on the A's) until the wing is overhead. Just keep the pressure on the wing through the harness and light pressure on the A's as you continuously push forward. As long as you are centred, and into wind, the wing will come up fine. From there on its just timing and running!!! As I mentioned to you at the field, I didn't get the training you are getting and so have been through a fair few props and frustrating times (I'm sure some muppets on here will agree). You just need to be patient, practice and then practice some more and it'll all be fine. I suspect it isn't long now and you'll be aloft on your own anyway. One last point... the weather hasn't been too good so far this winter. There were far more flying opportunities last year, but don't let that frustrate you. It will come! If you need any help with setting up your Bulldog again, or anything else, you are very welcome to contact me. Enjoy. Lee 'reactionjackson'

Really great vid! It makes quite a difference flying somewhere warm doesn't it!!!

Oh no... not your trusty Reaction wing I hope?

Good to see you up and about Tony. Is your engine OK then?

Hi Alan, Happy New Year too you too - looking forward to catching up in 2018!

Shit oh mighty that's scary. You went in really hard Connor... bloody glad you're still with us!!!!! Another 50-100ft higher and it looks like the wing may have recovered, half of it was flying all the way down. Sooooo glad you're on the mend amigo.

A truly stunning place to fly... I can't wait to go back!

Hi AdamJedgar, Please forgive me, I'm really not looking for any kind of trouble/fight, but I do want to make a quick point. Back in August I was in Florida and met Eric and some of the Aviator PPG team (I know others on here have too). Naturally I think they are great guys, so what I say will probably be biased... regardless, they are very passionate people who are obsessed about everything and anything paramotor. In my humble opinion there is nothing wrong with being enthusiastic about something that is good - as long as it's sincere. I truly believe they are sincere. Eric loaned me a Speedster 2. He and I had a good chat afterwards about the Speedster 2 and how it compared to my Nucleon xx. Whilst it was very good, I vastly preferred my wing, and he happily accepted that. If I remember right his 3rd wing (in the closet) was his trusty old Hadron for XC's. He may be fanatical about what is good, but he is by no stretch of the imagination a 'Dell'. Now, they have made a free video, which appears to be very good (I haven't watched it all yet). They are clearly trying to develop their own brand, whilst helping people in the field, I don't blame them for that either. As some would say there is room for improvement in my nil wind forwards - I will watch it closely! Again... I'm no looking for and argument with you, but I feel you're being a tad harsh. Disclaimer - I am not a brand devotee in any direction... but happily accept free wings.

Surely not another mid life crisis Neilzy?

All those angles of filming... must have taken you forever! Great work Sandy. Totally agree with Nielzy though - only on your back!

I don't have a preference either way. I like to mix it up... there's definitely something special about a bumble on your own, but there is equally something cool about being able to share the experience with a friend(s). I'd guess at about 70% of my flights being solo - only because its easier to be spontaneous when alone (i.e. slip out from work). When I fly on my own I try to make sure I have a decent bit of cash and a charged phone at the very least. If you live where other people are scarce and phone signals are iffy I'd definitely be thinking about some other form of communication backup. I also always let the Mrs know roughly what the plan is, the wind direction, and I always text her when I land... so someone is aware of what I'm up to.

I've done it many times and, on the whole, I've had great success. Sometimes it takes a bit of detective work as the landowner can be quite remote to the actual bit of land you want to use. I'd advise you to have a picture/video ready on a phone as they'll almost certainly not know exactly what you're talking about when you say 'paramotor'. Then its down to your charm and choice of words - I find it is important to smile and reiterate you'll leave nothing more than footprints and you'll be respectful to their property/crops/animals whatever... and make sure you are too! I'd never ask if there were any animals around anyway. If the owner is unsure/wavering I'd offer to pay for the use too... but I've never yet met anyone wanting payment. Whatever you do, be polite, even if they are not! You can always go back later and throw poo at their door if they were nasty (joking). The main thing to remember is that you have absolutely nothing to lose... but an awful lot to gain!

This is the funniest post I've read in a long time! However I suspect some of you have overlooked the need to fit a commode flap to your seat. Nothing worse than an old timer blowing a piss smell everywhere!

LOOK'S LIKE HELL HAS CAME 2 STEEV .

Turns out I'd lost a lot of camera footage (mostly of people around the campsite), but I'd just enough left to make a video. Oh and apologies, I missed the Bore itself!

Yes couldn't agree more... a fantastic weekend! Thanks you Simon and Col and anyone else who helped. After a shonky start to Sunday (yes one of the broken props was mine) it turned into an amazing day for flying. The afternoon/evening 'chase flight' over by the meander was just brilliant. It would spontaneously happen when I didn't have my camera on too. Now I know myself, Dickie and Andre were in it but who were the others?

I really didn't know this!!! I think all my radios have VOX, but would it really work with wind/engine noise? Anywho, I'm using the 20s and get along fine with it... albeit I've only ever been paired with one other pilot. I do need to try the ride connect app soon though. Good idea to post this here Danny.

I'd soooo love to do this trip! I hitchhiked my way around NZ in the 90's and totally loved it there. To be able top fly there would be beyond amazing. Sadly don't think I can justify this in 2018 with everything else I have going on. Bah!

Wow... in early 2016 I had a situation virtually identical to this Andy. In my case it was a dried up thistle I'd inadvertently pulled into the lines as I'd brought the wing up (in bloody winter too). For me the wing was hard pulling left and barely climbing at all. Using opposite brake I did eventually manage to get some modest height and do some circuits before I could bring it back in - all on one brake. I was scared (note sh***ing myself) that I'd collapse the wing if I tried to clear it. I just concentrated on getting back down. The landing was a tad hard but as it was very muddy I sort of skidded in (still damaging my immobile prop). For some silly reason I still tried to flare... which collapsed the wing and added to the hard landing. Big lesson learnt!!! In my case the twig/thistle was sizeable, I really should have seen it. BTW the video above gave me very clammy hands! He is seriously lucky to be alive.

... well you can't knock his enthusiasm! I would have perhaps tried a tandem before shooting my mouth off about such a challenging trip myself! It reminds me of a chap I saw at the first Parafest. He was proudly telling his family and friends how paramotoring was the best thing ever and he knew he was going to just love it. He had a tandem and soon changed his tune, never letting go of the tandem support bar thingy and keeping the peepers tightly shut. It definitely isn't for everyone.