Phil_P

Alan, I'm probably a fair bit closer to Telford than Simon is (Newark Notts). Would welcome someone visiting, and if it's not yet sold, he could probably have a blast on my Adventure and one of my wings. I'd happily bring him up to speed on air law, and local airspace issues. Obviously, I'd like to think that damage would be paid for (sorry if that sounds mercinary, but with the cost of the new Bailey and Apco, SWMBO would lynch me if I can't sell the F3).

PM me if you want contact info.

PK

I think that all you will get will be opinions. It would take a very bold person to say 'of course it is ok to fly 20kg over your wings rated max AUW'.

That said, a great many PPG pilots do exactly that.

OK, whatever, no problem, just giving extra info. If it's not relevant, ignore it. My autistic traits kick in sometimes.

If it fires at bottom dead centre, then the second spark IS wasted, because there is no way firing anywhere near BDC will 'augment' combustion. In fact, the very last thing you want to do, is partially ignite the incoming charge close to BDC.

From an HEIS installation guide...

Be careful! Your new H.E.I.S. will start very, very easy. It will only take 100 RPM’s versus 500 RPM’s to start. If you have a Tiny Tach you will have to get it recalibrated or exchanged for the "1-c" model because it's now getting a double spark and the "2-c" model will read twice the rpms. Your paramotor may get better fuel consumption and will be easier to start.

...so the second spark is a by-product of the HEIS set up. It isn't wasted because it the energy for the HEIS.

Well if the HEIS is triggering two sparks together, then that might improve the flame front in the combustion chamber, but that is a very big might.

The concept of wasted spark is when in a two stroke, the spark is generated every 180 degrees (ie around TDC and BDC). In a four stroke, a wasted spark is created because the engine fires every 360 degrees (ie, at TDC on both the compression and exhaust strokes).

A twin spark system is nothing to do with wasted spark, it is usually used as a redundant system (as in GA aircraft) so a failure in one system won't mean a dead engine or cylinder. Seems like we are trying to compare apples and oranges here.

Simon, there is one test parameter that you have not said you've allowed for in testing, and that is the direction that the exhaust is pointing in relation to the sound meter.

The procedure for testing race bikes, is to measure the SPL at an angle of 45 degrees and at a distance of 1 meter and on the same side as the exhaust outlet. The direction the exhaust is pointing can have a very real effect on measurement.

Also, I don't think you can simply add together the two SPL values to get a result, mainly because the SPL scale is logarithmic, and it works something like for each 10dBA increase, you will experience a doubling of perceived sound level. Just quote the two values separately, that's fine.

Just a thought, to try and keep the playing field level.

PK

it fires every 180 degrees, therefore one spark is wasted

baa

If the system has a HEIS fitted then that second spark is used to augment that so it is not wasted.

If it fires at bottom dead centre, then the second spark IS wasted, because there is no way firing anywhere near BDC will 'augment' combustion. In fact, the very last thing you want to do, is partially ignite the incoming charge close to BDC.

There is of course a school of thought that the cage is pretty much just there to prevent a line/prop interface, especially while forward launching. It could be argued that landing on it (the cage) is outside of normal operating parameters, and therefore damage should be expected in that circumstance.

PK

Who said anything about when they were young?

Now when I was young, bought a Honda C50 step-thru with my mum, crashed it on the way home from the previous owners and broke both my arms. Repaired it while still in plaster, and then rode it with the casts on, using big woolly socks as gloves!

In the classifieds section, so not going to duplicate the ad. just a heads up.

Phil

when you talk about safety who ya concered over me the individual? i think not i would believe it is the sport your more concerened about and that is the wrong motive to give safety advise i would think

Leo, I have not long ago stuck my neck out regarding your attitude towards training and flying, but I fear you are pushing beyond that support now. I am quite sure that your attitude will be 'well I don't need your support anyway', but hey, that's life.

You have asked questions on forums, where people give opinions (even those who may not have an intimate knowledge of the subject). Like it or not, that is what happens, so I hope you can understand some of the replies to your postings that you have taken exception to. It sounds so much like you are looking only for opinions and advice that will support your already made up mind, and when they don't, you get quite shirty with people (who then respond further in the same way). It is the sort of thing that flame wars are made of. Lets face it, if some young scaffolder came up to you and asked for advice, which you then freely gave, wouldn't you get a bit ticked off if they stuck two fingers up at you and said 'stuff it, I'm doing it my way, even if you do think I'll kill myself and my work mates'?

You are right that we don't know you, your abilities or your skills, but I think you are wrong to dismiss people who care about the sport, as much or more than they care about you. There is a very real risk, that if paramotoring cannot self police, and minimise accidents and injuries, that it will become much more heavily regulated than it is at present. While that may not matter to someone who is going to get bored and move on to something new in six months, assuming they survive, to those who want to stick at it for years to come, the people who look like they are about to become the next accident statistic are a very real menace.

Please try to take the advice being given, in the spirit that nearly everyone has intended. Concern for you, your prospective passengers, and the sport of paramotoring. Not necessarily in that order, but I think just about everyone who has replied to your questions has had concerns about all three.

Phil

I have the Thule rack and love it, but got it cheap from a well known auction site. Usually the motor is simply dropped on the rack complete with cage. However, for those times when you want it out of sight, I have just spotted a 'Garden Storage Box' in 'Netto' budget shop for just under £30. It is 44x20x22 inches and I reckon will take everything bar the cage (and maybe even that with a bit of juggling), including wing, clothes, helmet, motor, spare fuel yadayada.

I'm seriously thinking about it.

Oh, it's also got wheels on one end so you could make it QD and wheel it about.

PK

Well there is at least one brand of motor that they tout as jetison-able. Can't remember which one it is though. Don't really like the idea of abandoning a motor to drop on some poor unsuspecting soul on it's own. At least with a person on board, they can yell a warning.

Does that mean I'm the only one mad enough to do it on a push bike?

Malcom,

I think the landing issue has to be related to the active arm system which affects the brake steering when coming in and shuffling your bum out in preparation for the inevitable landing..........good or bad!!!!

Mike

Nope, I'm just a cock basically! I'm not very good at working out my glide rate and lining it up by sight so I either come in way before the field or way after so now I tend to drive myself to where I want to be and then try to pack everything in to 4 seconds so just as I think to myself "I'd better lunge forward out of my seat and do a good flare", I'm already skidding along on my arse!!! I'm honestly not bothered though, it will all come together soon enough, I just seem to be slower than others, more likely a mental than physical thing!

I did slam in a bit hard the last time and had to pull the cage out a bit at the bottom but you'd never know it!

Cheers

Malc

A tip for checking your glide (try it with a bit of height first, till you get the idea). Pick a reference point on the ground near your proposed touch down spot and line it up with a fixed point on you or your gear (end of a swing arm, or your knee for example). If the ground point is moving away from you, you're going to come up short, and if it's slipping under you, you are overshooting. It can help you get a feel for the slope you are gliding down in differing wind conditions, and hints if you might want a touch of brake, or even a little bar/trim/power.

It might sound completely obvious, but when you are at an early point on the learning curve, there is so much happening, that you can just lose track, and even arrive at your landing suddenly remembering you've not slipped your bum out the harness yet.

Or if you don't have access to the 'net, for example, you are already at a flying field;

Call the AIS free-phone number 0500 354 802

for stuff like up to the minute Red Arrows TRA's or Royal Flights. Don't want you getting shot down for being a risk to Her Maj!

If you just want to try it on 10-20 litres, let me know and I'll send you a little bit.

PK

I haven't been able to find the extensions yet, but you could just buy a pair of brake handles and attach them to the same tie in point as the original brakes but with an extra six inches or so of line. Be cautious of adding too much free length to avoid free floating handles from finding their way into propellers. I suppose ideally you could add some extra keeper magnets too, or just some little bit of Velcro.

I've seen some brake handle extensions on Fleabay, that might work to get the brakes more comfortable. It would also mean you could stretch a little to grab the upper handles to give you greater control authority in the flair.

Phil (aka PK)

Yup, it's a Bailey

Here you go; http://www.dyedepot.com/product-list.php

Phil

Simon, is it OK to post the URL for my big bro's rental self catering apartment near Malaga? I MAY be able to wangle slightly improved rates, but no promises.

Hey Simon, back in Feb, some guy posted asking for info, who lives in Newark, the same town as me. It looks like he has never been back, so won't have got the PM I sent him. Obviously, I don't want you to give out contact details, but could you email him to suggest he logs on to check his messages (or ask him to contact me direct if you wish, you can pass on my email addy)?

Phil (PK)

I have been having trouble seeing the fuel level in my tank, as I just have a thin sight tube on the side of a solid aluminium tank. I have been pondering ways to make the level more visible with things like white card behind the tube, chevrons like the water level gauges on old boilers etc.

I have managed to track down some petrol dye that gives the fuel a much darker blue colour which makes it really visible. If anyone wants to try some, for whatever reason, let me know. You only have to add about 1ml to 20 litres, so a teaspoon will do you 100 litres . Cheap as chips when they are selling it normally in quantities for companies to dye thousands of gallons to help stop pilferage. I just bought what they called a sample bottle (100ml I think, that's 2000 litres worth) less than a tenner and they are even including a free second sample bottle with every web order.

Phil (aka 'PK' as I'm resurrecting an old nick-name now I can go faster).

Unfortunately I will, by the evening of Friday, be settled in a Youth Hostel (stop giggling in the back there boy) in Hawkshead in the Lake District. I guess that means I'm ruled out of the trip, which is sad, but hey, I guess you have to draw the line somewhere.

I hope you have enough time to get all the planning elements brought together, as time is pushing on, and whatever you do, please don't take short cuts.

Good luck everyone, sorry I'm not going to be able to add my bit to the pool.

Phil

Main wing before today; XL Swing Arcus with PowerPlay risers (bit big now weight lost)

Spare wing; ITV Apache (hard work on the brakes)

New Toy, maiden flight this evening; Medium Apco Thrust HP '09

I like the Parajet one, but from what I can see, it's no good for me as I use a left hand throttle.

You could do a lot worse than building your own I reckon. A bit of push bike handle bar, a mountain bike brake lever, a couple of push switches, some corrugated conduit and some heat shrink. Mount the switches in plastic plugs that are a tight fit inside the handlebar, one at the top to kill, and one at the bottom to start, or get more creative and incorporate your radio's ptt switch too.