richjones

Penkridge is easy for me i very much doubt Walsall council would entertain using the arboretum. Nice try though

Finding somewhere Walsall/Wolverhampton would be great. I’m trying to get a field near Cannock Chase but I’m in Walsall and Wolverhampton daily.

Flight 28 last night from a field in Tamworth I've never flown from before. It's right behind some houses alongside the A5 so we took off and moved away straight away for as little nuisance as possible. Flying north of the A5, over the M42 and around the north of Tamworth. Forward launch, no problems. It wasn't too windy on the ground but I was moving forward at 8mph at around 1500ft so quite windy up there. I was trying to get some aerial shots of Paul & Richard but I've not got used to keeping the camera focussed yet and the wing was trying to throw me out every time I tried Had an our flight and it was dusk so headed back. 45mph downwind so got back in about 5 minutes! The approach was a little different for me... a couple of hundred feet above the A5 to enable me to land downwind. I knew there were phone wires at the approaching edge of the field so went in high, landed 2/3 of the way down the field safely and ON MY FEET Had a quick pint whilst packing away. Nice finish to the weekend.

Can’t fly this weekend but got flight 28 in last night at Clive’s. Sooo smooth, I got the trimmers straight out and hardly touched the brakes at all. Had an hour around Bruntingthorpe airport and headed back just land after sunset. There’s a gliding airfield nearby and I found myself worrying about the pilots seeing me as it was a busy evening. It’s weird seeing another aircraft at your altitude and feeling very close. It was probably a mile or so but I’d rather keep well away. . Rubbish landing, wind was across the field so very short and I overshot to land in the stubble where the crops have been harvested. Tripped and had a lie down Very relaxing flight though, wonderful way to relieve the stresses of the working week

Flights 26 & 27. Broken Prop and bumpy ride! What a day yesterday!! The plan was to fly with Paul and Richard from Tamworth to Barton Marina at Burton-under-Needwood, land and have breakfast then fly back and possibly get a couple more flights in later on. Arriving at the field about 8.15 to long and very wet grass, we started setup. Wind was negligible, possibly 1-2mph and changing direction. We drove up & down the field to flatten the grass and all set up leaving the wings until last second to keep them dry. Paul and I had set up one way but Richard went a different direction for shorter grass - as I said wind was almost none. Anyhow the wind changed direction and was across our landing. As Paul went up it took his wing a little but he easily got control and powered up no problem. Mine wasn't so easy and the wing came across and down. Mistake no.1 - into wind even if it's almost nothing!. Although it was almost nil wind it did make a difference to me, so I hiked the 150 miles across the field with motor and wing and 12 litres of fuel. Richard got up no problem. I set up in the same spot and got ready. I was hot, knackered and sweaty after the hike but I soldiered on. Mistake no.2 too tired. Anyhow I went for forward launch and the wing came up ok, I powered up a little late but that was not an issue, then crack - my prop broke. I didn't know what had happened and was imagining the worst, expecting line damage. Turns out the wing was fine, the cage on my Maverick had flexed and taken a few inched of each end of the prop, and a hole in the net. Now this is mistake no3 - last two flights I had flown with one of the pin clips in the cage broken. It held the top spar but was OK with the netting tight until I got a replacement. On this occasion perhaps I didn't have the net quite as tight or something, but when I checked the top spar could rise, which flexed the outside of the cage in towards the prop. With the pin in place it would never have risen enough to make a difference regardless of how tight the net is. Expensive mistake, lesson learned. Paul had a spare prop but I was so pissed off I wouldn't have been ready to fly, and I didn't want to risk another prop anyway. Called Clive who had one in stock, so I went and picked it up, along with a couple of clips, and met him at Marston field. Replaced clip, new prop, test run, no issues I stayed in the field chatting thinking it was too bumpy to fly, but at 2.30 I decided I was going to give it a go. I went up and one of Clive's new students followed me for his second flight. Bumpiest flight I’ve had so far, it was like paramotor Tourette’s. I think I prefer smooth flights We went around & over Foxton Locks, round the prison and towards Bruntingthorpe airstrip before heading back. My radio had cut out half way through the flight so I couldn't speak to Clive or Pete, and when I got back to Marston Pete was nowhere to be seen. I had lost Clive's student! I went back a few miles to check but couldn't see him anywhere so I had to land. When I told Clive he said 'he's up there' .. he had come back at about 2500ft and I lost sight The flight was about an hour and aside from being thrown about it was lovely. Oh... landed on my arse At about 4.45 I went up again. Had a bimble out towards Foxton again, avoiding Bruntingthorpe after 4pm (Notam in place), but for the first time ever I felt uncomfortable, like I shoudn't be up there. It was a bit bumpy, not much, and I was enjoying the flight but didn't feel at home so I went back and cut it to a half hour flight. I think it was just an odd day for me after the two failed launched and prop break in the morning. Oh... landed on my feet When I was coming in I made sure I didn't flare until my feet were less than a metre from the ground, leaned right forward and looked ahead instead of down. It works you know! I had a great day at the field but it was an expensive day, but I got another foot landing

Well it’s hit and miss but we’ve had a fair bit of good flying weather lately but I couldn’t make it often. Also, Clives field is over an hour so after work becomes a very long day too. Hoping to find a field close to home As I’ve just about finished my training now.

It is common and I have too many hobbies and other things in my life to get all the flights I’d like. Probably because it’s new and I’ve waited so long to be able to do it I want to fly all the time. It’s just not practical. I’m enjoying documenting flights on here for people learning and anyone else who’s interested really.

I seem to be having a couple of weeks between flights as life gets in the way but got flight 25 in last night. I’d been at a festival in the peak district all weekend and kept seeing pg and ppg going over. So, when I was home mid pm on Monday I thought I’m tired but I’m going! Off to Clive’s field in market harborough, took my time setting up. You know how you get that little bit of nerves when it’s been a while. Set up for reverse and up it went nice and easy. That’s my second ever reverse launch. So warm and so smooth! First long flight in my tee shirt. Went off towards the M1 to find Stanford hall, circled around and flew over the hall and back downwind to the field, then turned towards foxton locks to find Clive and a couple of other pilots. Saw some others too so there were six of us all there. Came back and flared too early to land on my arse. No surprise there the That’s 25 flights 19.5 hours flying 23 forward and 2 reverse 5 foot landings, 3 or4 knee landings and the rest on my arse. 5 failed launches. Pretty happy so far. Landings are my bugbear but I’ll get it stanford hall pic.

Got two more on tonight. Straight up to 2200 for my engine off test. How lovely it is to glide without the engine noise. I didn’t want to come down! Also got up with a reverse launch for the first time. No reason except there hasn’t been enough wind on any occasion I’ve flown. Anyway came down ok and landed in the designated area, unfortunately on my knees not my feet. Second flight was forward launch as the wind had dropped right down. Lovely smooth flight into and beyond sunset. Landed fast in zero wind and got a couple of steps then fell forward. Really need to sort out my landings. Thats 24 flights now ever get one of those flight where for some reason you’re just not that comfortable? My second flight tonight was like it, just couldn’t really settle and relax. The flight was fine but I just felt a bit nervous like I did in my first few flight but not as bad. I guess it happens sometimes. Anyhow all good and having a ball

These breaks between flights are getting frustrating! 17 days since my last flight.. Went to a mates field in Tamworth last night. Forecast was gusty until between 7&8pm. Did. Bit a of ground handling whilst waiting for the air to settle. Was hoping for a reverse but overall it was too calm so did forward launch. I’d just done a good end rebuild/ 100hr service on my engine as I was having fuel consumption issues and cutting out last time I used it. I’ve rebuilt carb and found needle valve sticking and pop off pressure was about 8psi. Reset to 15-16psi. Changed piston bearing and rings, decided and repaired broken baffles in exhaust. Also wasn’t getting proper full throttle so adjusted cable too. Engine proved a little hard to start so tuning needed but was ok. After take off I could see rain over the m42 further north. We headed west and after about 10 mins felt some rain. Paul went a bit south then continued west around tamworth but I turned around and flew local to the field to avoid rain. Otherwise it was fairly smooth and a little chilly. After an hour at 8.40pm we decided it was time to land. I was up at 1300ft so I put engine on tickover and turned to lose height heading back to field. At 700ft my engine stopped so that tuning is needed now!! I couldn’t get it to restart in flight so pulled my trimmers in and released my seat board ready to land. Plenty of options if I couldn’t make the field but I got downwind if the field ok at about 300ft and turned into wind. With engine off you notice everything and I was very aware I slowed and stopped descending as fast once into wind. Nice and relaxed, I glided over the field and landed perfectly on my feet I’m not one to panic but I was pleased with my handling of the landing and my assessment of ability to get back to the field. I did get close to running out of field but judged it ok, landing near the car and about 40-50ft from the next field with 5ft corn crops in. All good, flight 22 done and another foot landing. tonight I’m off to Clive’s probably to do my 2000ft engine off assessment so this was good practice

Ten days with no flights! got out to the field last night. I was first there so I just set up and went. First time I’ve taken off with absolutely nobody else around. I did a 15 min flight in my shorts and tee shirt which was also a first. Lovely and warm down low but not so higher up. Not cold though. I came in to change and try my landing. On approach I saw the wind had changed 180 degrees from take off - what wind there was. As I flew around the field I watched the windsock change another 90 degrees so I approached from there.All ok but a little twitchy as I came down and landed on my arse. Consistent anyway As I flared it felt lopsided, as if one side brake was harder to pull. Maybe I wasn’t quite downwind not sure, but I think just the wind changing direction so quick threw me. Anyhow Clive arrived and we went back up, had a fly past the land rover show at Kelmarsh hall and went to say hello to the virgin hot air balloon flying low nearby. A brief 35 min flight and I used 4 litres fuel. Service time! Engine is at about 80 hours now. i was going up again but it steered to rain and my wing got too damp to lift properly so called it a night. Always worth the drive when I get to fly thats 21 flights. 2 on my knees, 5 on my feet and 13 arse landings. Only 5 failed launches. All forward not had wind for a reverse launch yet. Total 17 hours flying so far.

You know when you have those moments you’re trying to remember everything ?... it was one of those. Mid come in too low to I either had to abort or blip the throttle to get into the field. I chose the latter. No particular reason I just felt ok at that point but obviously affected me. Not something I normally do I just seemed to be misjudging my approach that evening. No damage and my pride is waaaayyyy past being bothered or embarrassed it’s all learning i do appreciate feedback on here and try to take it into account when flying too. Thanks.

Busy week. Tuesday got another two flights in so I’m now up to 19 short flights about half hour each. First one was engine off at 2000 feet - part of my training. Came in a bit high and it didn’t seem to want to drop so I lifted my feet over the hedge and overshot the field to land perfectly on my feet yet again. Just in the wrong field. All good though I want to do it again for my own satisfaction. Second flight was with a few others just local to the field nice but I got nervous when I needed eyes everywhere and I felt too close to other motors so I moved away . Nice little flight but I came down short this time and had to blip throttle to get into the field. Then everything happened too fast, no wind so it was fast anyhow, and you guessed it I came down on my arse!! oh well I did three foot landings in a row so I’m getting there back to Clive’s tonight for first part of meteorology lessons. A lot to take in but as I want to do cross country I’m interested and keen to be safe. I don’t get back from Clive’s until 11.30 so 3 late ones this week, making the most of the light nights, it’ll soon close in.

landed on my feet Twice!!!! flight 15 - 1hr 25min from east farndon past Kettering and around Corby and back. Great flight with John and Martin from Clive’s club. Came in almost no wind, did everything as I hoped I would and nicely onto my feet, turned and brought the wing down. Had another short flight 20 mins. One failed lunch when o held the A’s too long. got the sunset and came in from 1400 on tickover to practice my engine out test which is coming soon. Same again, lovely landing with turn and wing gently down. I knew I’d get it eventually! Chuffed

Clive mason cm Paramotors. Market harborough. We flew around Kettering tonight. Great instructor and great group of people http://www.cmparamotors.com/

On Monday 8th I did some ground handling but didn’t fly as it was quite gusty. On Tuesday 9th I did another xc flight. From east farndon down to pitsford water near sywell aerodrome, fly around and back again. Not the longest flight but racked up a total of 28 miles. Took off in the field with no instructor present and nobody to give me any guidance, just one spectator so this is the first time I’ve had no real backup available at take off. Zero wind needed a hard run but it was fine and off I went, trimmers out, headed southeast until I could see the a14/a508 junction after which I could see the lake in the distance. Google says 9.5 miles as the crow flies but I’m obviously not as direct as the crow! lovely flight with total cloud cover so smooth and warm. Got rained on a little halfway back so was prepared to land if it got heavy, was in touch with Clive all the time. I headed back to the field and had a little fly about before coming in to land. Came in fast with no wind and lifted my feet to land nicely on my arse One day I’ll get this landing stuff sorted!

Flight 14 in the bag went to Tamworth with a fellow student of Clive’s to fly, grabbing a weather opening. One failed launch because I was too lazy to reset the wing after it fell forward. Easy second launch and felt a bit bumpy so I got myself up to about 2000 ft to settle in. Get my trimmers out and we had a slow flight into wind around the north east of Tamworth tot he school where Paul works. That took about an hour, then a fast flight back in 20 mins. It was a great flight, pretty smooth hands off unless I wanted to turn quick. Got my first wave from someone in a beer garden, tempted to join them! came back in and over corrected my direction on landing approach, slowed too early and flared to late. landed on my arse I think im going to end all of my posts with ‘landed on my arse’ best flight I’ve had so far because my confidence and comfort are improving, I’m getting happier in the turns and with the movement of the wing. 14 flights and a total of 11hours 20 mins flying. Still loving it

He ought to be able to help. 8 flights isn’t much to be confident enough alone really. Its a very relaxed tuition, you go to the field when you can make it and there’s usually a handful of people about most of which will go off flying. Everyone’s really friendly and helpful too. You could try Clive now he’s always available but works during the day. I imagine he’s at the field now they were planning to go.

Hi mate I don’t know of anything local. I travel to market harborough to train and fly. It’s about 1hr 15 mins travel. I don’t have a friend with a field in Tamworth but we’re both still in training and couldn’t give any tuition/guidance really. I train with CM Paramotors and he often gets people who have trained elsewhere needing a little more help. It’s a great club and worth the journey. You could give him a call and chat see how he’s fixed. Clive 07729 783989 I’ve done 13 flights now and I’m happy to go out alone if there’s nobody else at the field so I can vouch for Clive’s tuition. He’s really nice and very helpful. Have you flown anywhere else local or not? Rich

Yeah I seem to just forget to lean forward and run. I either sit down or lean and fall on my knees. I’ve done two good landings on my feet and felt like it couldn’t be easier but not that simple. My landings aren’t heavy just not on my feet.

Flight 12 & 13 done last night went to the field with s few others and hoped for the gusts to be less than forecast. It was breezy and looked good for my first reverse but by the time I was set up it had died and although the tall windsocks showed wind the low one showed hardly anything at field level. Tried for reverse but it wasn’t happening so another forward. Considering my arse dragging beginning I’ve only had 2 failed launches so far I think I’m still hopping into my seat a little early but not silly early. Did a 55 min flight, not bumpy at all considering the forecast said gusts of 16mph. Followed a couple of others over foxton locks and bumbled about for a bit. Big progress was letting my trimmers out for the first time got up to a safe 1500ft and gently let out my left trim, weight shifting to compensate for the turn then fiddled about sorting the right one with my throttle hand. Just practice I’m sure. What a difference tip steering is! So much more responsive and I’ve done tighter turns than ever , I think because I’m not putting so much effort into pulling the brake. Anyway came down nicely, wind had dropped and I landed on my arse squeezed in another flight at about 9.25pm just a 15 min one to see the sunset and try and land better. Trims out again, don’t know what I was worried about came in fast and went forward onto my knees. Loving the flying and trying to do something new each time but I wish I could nail those landings!!

How long since my last flight???! Bloody weather! got in flight 11 this evening. Flying from Marston airfield my first totally unassisted takeoff, flight and landing. Up until now I’ve at least had a thumbs up to take off. A lovely if somewhat hazy flight totally off the brakes for 90 minutes. A bit of Facebook live, a quick video call to my granddaughter and a circuit around Rothwell where a mate came out of his house to take a photo Today’s lesson - don’t take off with one of your trimmers fully out it makes a hard run and a confusing couple of minutes working out why I’m going in circles ! And as I hadn’t used the trimmers yet it was a challenge getting it right again. In zero wind I landed forwards onto my knees but not heavily have to check my tuning as I used 9 litres of fuel! I was changing my altitude a lot because I got a new altimeter so I now know what I’m doing so maybe that’s a bit of it but the plug is quite black too. loving this sport... not loving weather watching and waiting

Got in flight number 10 on Thursday 6th. Evening ride to market harborough and met a few of the club in the field. It was blustery but forecast to drop about 8pm. Forecast was pretty much bang on. I set up and Clive arrived then I found I had left my headset switched on and was flat. Clive offered to lend me one but I chose to do my first non-radio flight if Clive could just give me thumbs up at take off. Great forward launch and a smooth flight but it was too windy aloft to make any forward progress into wind. So I tootled about backwards and forwards across wind at about 2.5k ft for 40 mins until the sun was setting. Clive had given me a pep talk on landing no radio and I just followed his instruction. Came in high and brought myself down across the far end of the field backwards and forwards on tickover until I was low enough. Came into the field ok, engine off and landed perfectly on my feet. A few steps and turned to bring the wing down. Makes a change from landing on my arse!! Bloody annoying when everyone else is just over the brow of the hill and can’t see my landing. I’m sure they expect me to just land on my arse every time now

It’s been 16 days since my xc flight and not had a chance to get to the field. Seeing others getting flights on several evenings doesn’t help the frustration !! last night I got my chance. Flight 9 done met clive at the field for a quick set up and go being cautious as it had rained an hour before. Yet another forward launch, up first go without a problem. Not much to say about this one, 40 minutes, bumpy down low but smooth as anything at 2500ft. Most of the flight off the brakes just relaxing and weight shifting until my hands got cold, enjoying the setting sun and the views. I am finding I feel the cold when flying, maybe more than a lot of other people. Landing was simple but on my arse again. Foot slipped a bit on the damp grass, no big deal not a hard landing, still frustrating. Waiting for the next one, thinking about trying out the trimmers still loving it!

What a fantastic day yesterday! cross country Sunday. Up at 6, out at 7. Off to sheepy magna to fly xc from a farmers field to Clive’s field at east farndon. Direct about 22.5 miles. In reality we did about 25-26 take off at 9am and had to circle for 20 mins or so as Paul had problems. first fully nil wind take off. With packed lunch, layers of clothes and 10L of fuel it was a hard run but got up ok. As we’d taken off about half an hour later than planned and the weather was hotter than expected it was the bumpiest flight I’ve had. Oh well I had 20 odd miles to get used to it. We flew past Hinckley towards market harborough with some great views. Above the clouds at 3000ft, past Croft quarry (massive!!) over bruntingthorpe airfield and before long we could see Marston airfield and I knew the way to the other field from there. Took about 90 minutes. Both our phones lost gps so didn’t get a tracked log, but we were navigating by map and planned route anyhow. Had a hot hot day in the field and ended up waiting until 7pm for calm air to fly home. Homeward journey was about an hour, gentle and calm, a lovely flight. I could see the Wrekin and Malvern hills it was so clear. With a short flight in the afternoon I’ve now notched up flights 6,7 & 8 my landings are still a bit dodgy but not terrible. Oh except my big mistake of final landing downwind.... I’d flown over the purple windsock and could have sworn I got the direction but I got it wrong. Fortunately next to no wind so it was just a very fast landing. On my arse more learning on getting wind direction needed, and initial navigation was harder than I thought even though I’d studied the route. Loving this sport