Pianoman

That's a good point. He's obviously a stroppy control freak who doesn't like it when he doesn't get his way - wouldn't surprise me if he snapped Pianoman Sent from my iPad using PMC Forum mobile app.

You know it's bad when your butt cheeks start gripping your harness! Nicely handled mate! Pianoman Sent from my iPad using PMC Forum mobile app.

I thought it was 28 days a year, not 25? We're lucky enough to have a few fields we use in various locations so as not to annoy locals etc. I think we flew from this particular field 10 times last year so we're ok on that front. There's no public roads or footpaths near where he was shooting from and although he's clearly an idiot, we do avoid flying directly over his property if wind direction allows etc. The farm house is quite a distance from the field we use that borders his land and there's no livestock nearby either. As a farmer, of course he's going to have a shotgun and occasional cause to use it.....it just seems a bit of a coincidence that it only seems to come out when we're flying, and then only along the border of the field we use and his land. I think you chaps are right - if this behaviour continues we'll put a call into the local licensing officer and ask him to have a word in his 'shell like'. Thanks guys. Pianoman Sent from my iPad using PMC Forum mobile app.

Oh it's his land he's on - he stands there glaring at us for most of the time from his side of the fence. On a few occasions now he's started firing as we're setting up, taking off and landing. From behind his hedge we can't actually see what he's shooting at - as I said after a few verbal arguments about what he thinks we can and can't do, he's got a little pathetic about it all. His land or not, I'm sure I read somewhere that using a firearm near any aircraft was an offence. I haven't involved the local Plod yet. Pianoman Sent from my iPad using PMC Forum mobile app.

Long story short... A local farmer who thinks he owns all green fields in our area and hates us flying from a friends field that borders his land (even though we're miles away from his house and any live stock etc) has suddenly started using a 12 gauge shotgun shooting at God only knows what on his land when we're taking off or coming in to land in a pathetic attempt to intimidate us. I don't for one minute think he's firing at us, but my question is this... I'm sure I read somewhere that it is an offence to use a firearm in the vicinity of any aircraft (for obvious reasons). I've google searched the issue but not found anything useful. Anyone able to quote me an Act / section of law that I can pin to his gate if this behaviour continues? Ta D x Pianoman Sent from my iPad using PMC Forum mobile app.

I'd love to go Dave - alas my bloody career interferes yet again and I've used up all my allocated leave for this year. Pianoman Sent from my iPad using PMC Forum mobile app.

Has anyone else noticed that 'SuperDell' has had his 'YouTube' channel suspended due to multiple and repeated violations of YouTube policy? I'm no fan of Dell but I'm rather upset by this. His wild and crazy claims about being the best and encouraging his students not to wear safety helmets etc were a source of constant amusement. Pianoman Sent from my iPad using PMC Forum mobile app.

Thanks chaps - all very useful stuff!

Thanks chaps. Pianoman Sent from my iPad using PMC Forum mobile app.

Thanks Neilzy! Much appreciated! I'm in Kent near Sevenoaks. You? Pianoman Sent from my iPad using PMC Forum mobile app.

Can anyone recommend an intermediate XC reflex wing that's easy to launch in nil wind for a 6ft 5", 120kg pilot that currently flies a Dudek Synthesis 34? I love the 'Synth' - it's rock steady in flight and it's fast in Reflex profile but it's sooooo cumbersome to launch in nil wind. I'm no stunt man - just like the view on a XC trip. Any suggestions? Thanks guys. Pianoman Sent from my iPad using PMC Forum mobile app.

Agreed. If landing and taking off are the most difficult and dangerous bits of flight, I can't imagine an instructor or a student would want to do both so close to each other. A nice relaxing circuit in between is a much better idea. Pianoman Sent from my iPad using PMC Forum mobile app.

I couldn't agree more Dave! Too many pilots take silly risks and give the rest of us a bad name and as you say, will ultimately piss off enough people to cause us to be licensed which would be a great shame! Pianoman Sent from my iPad using PMC Forum mobile app.

Has anyone ever heard of a pilot being prosecuted for low flying? i hear lots of stories of it happening but have never come across anyone being fined for it. Pianoman Sent from my iPad using PMC Forum mobile app.

It's a difficult subject this. I don't think we're anymore annoying to nesting birds than we are to anything else we fly near. Birds tend to ignore us. Every now and then, a few fly very close to and even in formation with us! However, that said, I've looked at lots of pilots videos on YouTube and I've noticed that lots of people seem to flout the 500ft rule! I'm told by a more experienced pilot that fines for breaking the 500ft clearance rule are severe yet I've never heard of anyone receiving or even being threatened with one. If this idiot pilot was truly slaloming between boat masts then he needs a good slap! That kind of behaviour is only ever going to piss people off, disturb the peace and turn people against us! On the other hand, I've also heard examples where 'killjoys' make malicious allegations against Paramotor pilots just because they don't like what we do in what the killjoys perceive to be 'their back yard'. We should all make an effort to avoid flying too near to any place that is likely to piss people off but at the same time, no matter how cautious we are, there'll always be some miserable old git that thinks we're the spawn of the Devil! Some pilots however, definitely need to remind themselves of the law in order to keep the rest of us with a good and responsible reputation! Pianoman Sent from my iPad using PMC Forum mobile app.