Hann__

That`s my neck of the woods.

Are you a new local pilot, where do you fly from?

Flown over to the IOW many, many times.

...and all the way around once or twice...

It was called Para2000.

That web address seems to be occupied by another flying site but attempting to link to the old part of the original site where the individual wing info was results in a 404:

https://www.para2000.org/wings/dudek/synthesis.html

`Kiting` is a waste of time anyway because winds strong enough and with enough duration to `kite` a wing are conditions you won`t be flying in anyway and will be of limited use when it comes to your actual flying.

The best paramotor conditions are low to no wind and that means a forward launch....

Any location later in the evening when winds die right down and dictate a forward launch is where your time will be spent more productively and be of any future use to you . Any local park or open space would be suitable for that, no need to travel miles..

I`m not on the IOW but frequently fly over there from the mainland.

You`ll probably soon tire of just flying around the island and want to go further - gurnard to Lepe, Hurst Castle and if you`re feeling brave Ryde to Gosport..

You too will soon be seeing sights like this;

I did, and have flown it for ~ 240 hrs - but not much recently (another story...)

It`s an E-prop NDG.

The hub has `nubs` which set/limit the amount of pitch available, i fly/flew it on max pitch which was only approx 1 - 2 degrees more than a `standard` Moster prop. It dropped the engine speed significantly leading to a much more relaxed and quieter time in the air (from about 6200rpm level flight down to about 5200) I used about half a litre an hour less in fuel compared to a standard prop.

Thrust-wise i get possibly a smidgeon less rate of climb but you`ve got to expect that if you`re tuning for long-range, you can`t get one without sacrificing the other.. Absolutely fine with me though for the type of flying i do/did..

Max engine speed also dropped from 8400 to 7400 so i`m still using the same proportion of available engine speed but that range has dropped by 1000rpm into a more comfortable zone for me.

I filed off the nubs once and tried the pitch at ~4 degrees more than standard and the motor could barely hit 5700rpm and the rate of climb was dire!

Throttle was well open to maintain level flight.....i thought the consumption was going to be bad on that experimental flight but it wasn`t as bad as i thought, much more than normal though of course.

When i first started out flying my Moster used 6l/hr.

Tuning it properly instead of the super-safe factory carb settings it went down to 4.5

The Eprop took it down to 4 then a change to an efficient wing (HadronXX) has dropped the fuel consumption down to as low as 3.4l/hr.

^^^Can you say what sort of claim, personal injury or property/other?

Has anyone ever heard of a claim being made against a paramotorist that required an insurance settlement?

On 05/07/2020 at 14:43, Torchy said:

A friend keeps sending me pics of some fellow pilots flying near totton/ romsey area of hampshire. Just wondering if I could join in on the fun?...pretty please

That could well of been me, or the other PPGer i know of who flies in this area who often fly over Totton on our way to the IOW, but not much flying happened last year...

Finding flying sites in this area seems very difficult.

I lost one field when the elderly farmer passed away and the farm was taken over by a new tenant.

The other regular field i had used for several years had crops in it instead of the usual grass so that one was out of action for the whole year.

I couldn`t find any other willing landowners so last year i only flew 5 times...

The whole process of finding a site will begin again this year i suppose, but if nothing comes up.......i expect the appeal of PPG will fade away....

I think you`d be better off with a trailer.

This is my rig for when i take the pitbike to bike doo`s so we can razz it round the field after a few beers!

You could easily make a trailer to hold a paramotor, and when loaded up i bet it`s still quite a bit lighter than mine with bike + camping gear on it, you can certailnly tell you`ve got a trailer on with all that behind you, although once up to speed monowheel trailers are remamrkably stable.

ps

my wife used to think i was bonkers too, but she`s used to it now.

I received this email from them recently:

"Hello,

Vittorazi Easy 100?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=vittorazi+easy+100&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiJoceYn4PxAhUYCWMBHcijDhMQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1536&bih=694#imgrc=-5wmUlBP0W1d7M&imgdii=C3Rxe9PSZzLP7M

^^^ I can definitely relate to those feelings poz, for the first few years it`s obsessive - constantly thinking about the weather, looking at fields whenever you`re out in the car, and flying at every opportunity.

To be honest the holiday from PPG i`m having at the moment is almost a weight off, the feeling that you have to fly at every possible opportunity - sometimes when you feel like you should fly if only to make use of the weather window, is sometimes a burden.

I hope i`m not getting too old for it or losing my enthusiasm for flying because that would be dissapointing, but the constant niggles at the back of my mind such as should i be looking for a site to fly from and getting knocked back and leads going nowhwere is a bit of a relief not to deal with at the moment.

As i said above, if i had my own field i`m sure i would feel completely different about it.

`Oi, get oorf moi laaaand`!

It`s not just newbies that have difficulties in flying sites....

I have been flying now for nearly 8 years but because of one thing or another i have flown just twice in the last six months and currently have nowhere to fly from.

I was at the top of my game last year after 7 years of doing PPG and having perfecting my flying had some epic flights............and now nothing...

It looks like i haven`t missed too much fun though as the weather recently has been abysmal which is probably why i haven`t been too bothered about finding another site just yet.

If the right piece of land came up for sale locally i`d buy it.

15 hours ago, Jimmy said:

 I've searched every app in the UK, but can't find one that gives the height above the ground.

The above points notwithstanding regarding GPS accuracy the app `Flyskyhy` has an option for height above ground (as well as altitude of course), both options can be configured to be viewable on screen simultaneously.

It appears quite accurate - when flying over the sea both altitude and height above ground displays show the same figure but as soon as i head inland the height above ground changes instantly.

Flyskyhy is a great app.

Yes, of course it`s black - Vitorrazi supply their engines with a rich (safe) factory carburetor setting to keep it cool and increase reliability at the expense of efficiency.

You can keep it set as it is if fuel consumption is not a priority and just enjoy hassle-free flying or tweak the mixture to gain more flying time per litre if you have some experience in tuning carburetors and are confident that you are not going to do any damage by running too lean.

A symptom of over-rich idle mixtures on the Moster though can be excessive vibration at idle ("four stroking") which can be a contributory factor to the infamous Moster exhaust breakages (probably only on the direct-driven non-clutched models?).

Nice work.

Where did the #2 cylinder come from?

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?

I notice that the belt is branded `Optibelt` - rather than the Gates that they used to fit.

Anyone with a newish Moster that can provide noise and longevity feedback?

I once tried a belt other than Gates (sourced from a reputable bearing supplier) and it was totally and comprehensively crap - very noisy and lasted only a few hours before it started falling to bits..

Try a Gates if fiddling about with alignment doesn`t work and the noise still bothers you.

Looks like an interesting area to fly.

Coastal flying for the win.

8 hours ago, Steve said:

I've had similar - sadly, there are duff new plugs out there. 

Glad the landing was a good one.  

It`s definately not unknown, at least in the motorcycle community, to hear of `dead on arrival` plugs.

Wasn`t an NGK by any chance  was it - they`re the worst offenders.....

Wow, 30 degrees at 2000`!

I must admit, i bottled out of flying once or twice during that mini heatwave we had a few weeks ago, i just didn`t fancy setting up in 30 degree heat in the middle of a field..

I've never experienced the extended or fast run-out, I always seem to get enough lift to take off with a moderate throttle at easy jogging speeds. Might be because I'm 68kg and have 70kg + thrust.....

The funny thing is when you are preparing for launch at the field it may be in mid summer with 26 degree-plus heat bearing down on you in the middle of a heat-sink of a field, but you just know that you have to don that extra fleece under your flight suit `cos after 2/3 hours + `up there` you`re gonna` be glad you did.

Just suiting up, getting the motor on your back and started, and the walk to the wing to clip in can have you sweating. It certainly concentrates the mind for a successful first launch attempt because the effort of setting up again doesn`t bear thinking about.

In the depth of winter i have about 4 layers on my legs and 5 on the top!

....and a neoprene muff to keep my hands out of the wind..

6 minutes ago, Blackburn Mark said:

Looking at your water hopping flight, you must have quite a fuel capacity on that thing!

I get 3.5l/hr on my Moster 185 and with a 15 litre tank can go over 4 hours.

Yep, that`s excellent alright, i don`t think many 2T`s would be able to get near that!

Must be a great feeling flying with a motor that sips fuel so sparingly, cheap too!