mochamon

Sorry for the delayed response, been working. Gotta pay for the toys you know. I am not learning by myself, just increasing my experience by myself. I learned how to fly from Don Jordan in Monticello, Indiana. I also fly hang gliders, but they don't usually require the calm weather that ppg's do. Good advice on the landing field, the thing of it is that it was right beside the field I took off from. Less than a football (american) field away. I have gone flying since my last stupid excursion. The winds were calm, the air was smooth, the field was much bigger, and I only got to 50 feet. Spent most of my time just circling the field. Low on upwind, high on downwind, smooth conservative turns. Made me realize why I bought it, what a great flight.

First off, thanks for all the great replies, makes me feel a lot better (I was starting to think I should sell my PPG for a powered hang glider).... I am flying a Fresh Breeze Simonini, and a Powerplay Sting wing (DULV 1, DHV 1/1-2) and I have a total of 5 hours experience. I also have 12-15 hours hang gliding experience. I do fly actively, I think, I keep about 5 lbs brake pressure (number 2 according to the PPG Bible) and I check my surges. I just don't have the experience to feel if I am flying properly. As Dan the Man said, it is probably just turbulence. The more I think about it and the field I flew from it just makes more sense than thermals 30 minutes before sunset. It is also the strongest wind I have flown in with my ppg. There was a small 'ridge' where I was feeling the lift the most, only about 30 feet high and I was around 150' up so I am not sure if that is what I was feeling but it makes sense. Also the only reason I went over the barn, which I knew would be bumpy, was because there was a field on the other side more suitable for landing and I wanted DOWN. LOL. Simon thanks for the great link, learned lots of stuff As for flying higher, that is what I wanted to do but I figured I would end up going backwards. All added up, it is obviously Idiot Pilot Error for even taking off. I am just glad I was safely able to learn something from it. Thanks again everyone and happy flying.

How dangerous are they? I took off last night at 8pm, 30 minutes before sunset, and 'found' a few thermals (around 2-300fpm up)(tow on the bump scale). The wing didn't do anything funny and I wasn't really getting tossed around that much, until I flew over a metal roof barn at 200 feet(three on thee bump scale). The upper winds were pretty strong as I was almost parked so I didn't want to go higher, but I also didn't want to hover around 200 feet with thermals. I think I might start flying first thing in the morning to avoid thermals all together, at least until I get some more experience. Does anyone have any input regarding evening thermals and if I am just being paranoid?