alancorrie

Good luck to anyone that's taking part in X Scotia up at Lochearnhead, Scotland this weekend. For those not in the know, you can find out more at http://www.shpf.co.uk/x-scotia.php

Just after I bought by first wing, and in my eagerness to get the wing out for ground handling at every possible opportunity I took my kit up to a popular local walking area thinking it would be a great spot. I was right and the near horseshoe landscape was giving me some nice air to get the wing up and reaqlly start to get a feel for it. Thank back to those early days when you imagined the wind would just whisk you off your feet every time and to have some control over this incredible sized kite was (and still is) such a thrill! Unfortunately, within about 15 minutes I heard the note of a quad bike coming over the hill with a less than chuffed farmer on board. He explained that around the other side of the hill, but physically in the same field (but well out of site) was a herd of cows which would be less than impressed as the sight of a gigantic wing flying round. I made my apologies, packed up my kit and made a sheepish exit (no pun intended). In my personal flying log I try to note a few lessons each time I go out. Apart from always seeking approval from the landowner, the lessons from that day was to beware of fields that have cow pats in them!

I bought a Casio Protrek a couple of years ago and certainly wouldn't buy another. Hugely inaccurate at almost everything - a real dissapointment. A friend had one of th lidl £20 watches at the weekend and it was far more stylish and was also giving a pretty good pressure reading - worth punt at £20 I recon.

I did read somewhere else about the Nirvana cage being a good alternative and god knows my Adventure cage has seen some bends and scrapes! My silencer has corroded on the ball like joint where it joins the rest of the exhaust. I've since been advised to grease these areas regularly as they corrode from the inside out. I'll check out Mojos Gear to see what they've got to offer. Thanks, Al.

If anyone knows where I can lay my hands on a silencer for an A4, or any other spares for that matter, please get in touch. I live near Edinburgh but would obviously be willing to pay postage.

I bought a Garmin 60csx while I was out in the States last week (much cheaper that the UK as you'd expect) and I took it out free-flying yesterday at the Tinto site in South Scotland. It performed really well recording my locations from car park to final landing and giving what I believe to be good climb/sink, altitude and speed readings through each flight. When I got home I easily transferred the data to my PC using MapSource which comes with the Garmin and with much anticipation clicked the view on Google Earth option. Everything launched fine and my route was displayed in detail but unfortunately the whole thing was shown at ground level. My next steps wll be to source a full UK Topographic map so I can also see exactly where I am in flight, and to find out why the Google Earth transfer didn't quite work out. If anyone has any tips on either of these, please let me know.

I recall reading somewhere that carrying a reserve presents some risk although small of accidental deployment and this fact should be weighed against the risk of actually needing to deploy. Did I imagine this or has anyone else read similar?

The 3d google earth map looks very good - thanks.

According to the BHPA Handbook, category D (controlled) airspace requires entry and transit to be granted by ATC. I've just bought an airspace map and note that all the category D zones also include reference heights. I think I already know the answer to this but can someone confirm whether ATC clearance is required at all heights, or only those within the specified range. By way of example, where I live, the map describes the airspace as EDINBURGH CTA [D] 2,500 - 6000.

I'm going through Paramotor training with Peter at present having completed my EP with him and can recommend him. See... http://www.cloudbusters.co.uk/ Peter only runs courses at weekends but weather permitting it's virtually every weekend and there's a good crack amongst the students and club members.

Great tip about the Adventure cage and the comparison with a kit-kat wrapper is very accurate. Do you have any tips on where I could source a replacement silencer? The section of my silencer where it joins the expansion chamber or "Megaphone" (as the Adventure parts list describes it) has snapped which means exhaust is escaping leaving me with a lot more noise and less power.

I have a Dudek Reaction.

This is a very informative post and as a relatively new flyer I'd just like to double check something... When I'm free flying without a motor the lack of forward thrust is going to reduce the angle of attack (right?) and as a result I'm going to fly fast and lose height more quickly (yes?). I was flying at the weekend and most people with dedicated free flying wings were finding it far easier to stay up/gain height than me - of course this could have been a lack of skill on my part but some of those flying had just the same level of experience. This being the case, should I then pull the trim tabs down further past the 0 (zero) point to give me a more acceptable free flying profile?