Hann__

2.26:1 Assuming your measurements are the diameter of the pulleys, your engine pulley has a circumference of 179mm and your prop pulley 405mm. 405/179 = 2.26 Cheers, Hann

Sounds good, but i just feel a bit nervous of a propeller/line/wing interface if it all goes wrong!

Do you keep the power on or just a quick blast to aid inflation then off again? Well done on the foot landing thing - i seem to be getting worse in that respect! 9 out of 11 flights while training were good landings (on my feet), three out of five since going solo and i`ve stumbled/fell over... Just need to fine-tune the technique on the Synth. I know what you mean about the flare - it seems to me if you apply a bit of brake/very light flare on the Synth to get a `feel` for the wing (biting point)you don`t have much left to play with on proper flare. Think i`ll just hold off and go for one big f-off flare next time (today hopefully).

That seems to be about what i`m getting... Moster 185 on a Synth 31 - i`m right at the top of the weight range (over by a few Kg`s fully-loaded) and flying trims fully out most of the time. I`m not bothered too much about cost, but i`d like to have a good two and a half hours potential flying time at least to do a decent out`n`back XC without being nervous of potential fuel fail on the return leg!

Sounds like you know you`re way around the sky, have you come from paragliding?

What`s your litres-per-hour,Tony?

I`ve got a Nokia, but haven`t got Micro Avionics.. I assume it enables you to use your `phone while flying? I`ve just been ringing the wife when i`m in range of the house and speed-dialling her number - when she can hear the engine/wind noise (i can`t talk, i could shout i suppose but i still couldn`t hear her..) it`s her cue to look out the attic window to see me fly by!

Yep, i got two flights in - yesterday and today. Launch field; View over my home town; ...and where i work - also in my home town!; Cheers, Hann.

So, i did some ground handling on a sports field just outside Romsey last night and it went really well - pefected my reverse launches with my new found technique in just a whiff of wind. I was bringing the wing up sweetly in a really controlled manner, turned, and was able to walk down the field with the wing overhead nice`n`relaxed and it felt good - thought i`d cracked the low wind thing.. Bouyed by last nights success i went again tonight but soon after i got there the wind died to zero. My windsock was hanging there as if petrified. It was limp, lame, flaccid.... Back to the usual attempts at forward launching without much success, then to add insult to injury a paramotor flew over nearby. I `spect he could see my wing laid out on the ground. It looked perfect conditions this evening - if you can get f***ing flying..!! Anyone here?

......and start looking/enquiring about potential flying sites NOW!

Very nice video i enjoyed that, must of taken some time to pull together all those stills... Great music choice, - most vids have terrible music! - edited to perfection too.. Oh yeah, congrats on the 500. Cheers, Hann.

I`d be interested in your opinion of the Lift Ganers, especially low/no wind launch performance compared to your Syntheshits - you do fly a Dudek don`t you? Cheers, Hann.

The webbing where my reserve fixes to the harness is 45mm wide. I can`t seem to find any maillons that are that wide (to prevent the webbing from folding) but are made of a suitable gauge steel for reserve use - the only ones i can find that are 45mm wide are 10mm thick - similar in overall size to the carabiners... Ideally i`m after a trapeziod maillon 45mm one end about 25mm the other and made from 6mm(?) steel?. Anyone know if such a thing exists and where to get some?

Simon, i think you`re spot-on... Thinking about it, when i`m ground handling the wing that`s exactly what i do - hoik the fecker up and PLF on the A`s and making a conscious decision on when to let go, but that wasn`t what i was doing on Sunday. I was launching into it and then guiding the lines up and around the cage - getting off the A`s far too early.. Dunno whether it`s a different technique on the Synth than the wing i trained on, or that i`ve forgotten what i learnt (probably this) but thanks for the heads-up.. Hann.

First time out on MY wing and motor last night after getting back from training in Spain. It was a disaster - failed to get airborne after about 6 attempts. In 27+ degree heat it was just too much, so gave up. Dissapointing... Conditions were light winds (<10mph), and getting lighter all the time - ie: zero wind as i was packing up so no chance then. Not enough to keep the wing up for a reverse so had to forward it. Wind direction was the most unfavourable for my field - have to run slightly uphill and in the direction of the hedge where the wind comes over so possibly crappy air, too.. The wing came up overhead fine on the first push but it just didn`t stay there for long enough to get running and hung back when trying to run forward.. I`ve ground handled it a number of times and in similar conditions can effect regular, reliable launches, but it`s a bit different with a motor on your back, isn`t it..? Any tips for launching a Synthesis in light wind? Trimmer settings? Cheers, Hann.

It`s simple - you`re not allowed! Bye-Laws and all that....

Got back earlier this week with eleven flights and about 3 - 3 1/2 hours of flying logged. Motor ready to be collected soon, just got to follow up on my local flying sites then i`m good to go! Cheers, Hann.

Made my first flight on Friday; https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1vpkbszzp612 ... -180.jpg?m

Look where i am ;

Hi, i`m getting close to the point where i`d better start looking for a motor - and a Bulldog is the motor i`m looking for - Moster prefered. They don`t come up for sale very often, so i`m just putting the feelers out - if anyone has one for sale or knows of one - lemme know, thanks. I`d prefer to buy a used one for a first-time motor - don`t make me buy a new one - my budget for getting into PPG has been `revised` a couple of times already!.... I`m going down to Figueres at the end of next month, so all being well i`ll be ready to fly when i come back mid-June. Cheers, Hann.

I think i can see the problems both of you are having. It`s just a question of balance. You both need to be wearing a heavier pair of shoes.

I`ve seen many videos`s on here of your flights, nearly all of them are low level or low-ish. Does anyone regularly fly at high altitude - 5000` or more? Are there more risks flying at that height, what precautions/special preparations are needed for that kind of flying with a PPG - apart from airspace restrictions of course. Whats the highest altitude you`ve flown at? Cheers, Hann.

Also ground handling on windy days can catch you out. Got lifted off the ground and `flew` for a coupla` seconds downwind today after a couple of unexpected gusts of wind. Scary.....

Yeah, it was videos of Dune de Pyla i was mostly watching... So it`s just the windspeed that determines the height they fly at? These three dudes look like they`re have a good laugh - standing in the harness at one point!; [youtubevideo] [/youtubevideo]

Brilliant, well-writtten account, Bob, cheers! Your chuckling at the end of the vid said it all... Hope to have a flight like that myself one day.