Phil_P

NB this is just my thoughts, not based on any experience; If it really is just the case of 1mm extra needed, I'd carefully grind it or turn it off the end of crankshaft. Phil

You could do with chatting to Clive Bunce who was importing them.

Does that mean each bounce in a take off run is loggable as a very short flight? Phil

Think 'kite buggy' and you are nearer the mark.

Thanks for the positive vibes Andy. The surgery I was hoping for is now not on the cards due to some cysts round the joint (Google 'hip resurfacing' if your interested, you can even watch it on youtube). This means I have to go with a 'conventional' THR, with which, my orthopod has already tried to talk me out of paramotoring completely (some hope). I'm intending to slew all the 'average times' by a bit of sheer bloody mindedness, given that most replacements will be on slightly less ahem.....determined septo- and octogenarians. I have opted for the spinal anaesthetic, so I get to watch the op on the tv Phil PS If it's perfect flying weather the week after this next one, expect me to be in a foul temper the following week.

Last year, best part of a hundred hours. The coming year I'm planning for zero, and any more than that is a bonus

Surely, if you make plans for an 'unplanned outlanding', it is by definition no longer an unplanned outlanding? Phil

I would think that prop choice would be a factor, as your prop and redrive combo presumably want to be chosen to load the motor so it runs at the 'best' revs. Best in this instance might be your selection that gives perhaps the best rate of climb, best cruise speed, or optimum fuel economy. Personally, I would probably choose a combo that would load the motor such that it is held to around it's peak power RPM. Phil

Blinking Heck 'Turbo', I've just this week sold my GSC GA prop. If I'd have known, you'd have been welcome to try it to see if it solved the problem before forking out on a new one. Oh, hip's being done on the 30th if all goes well 'PK'

Have a look on the ParamotorsUK web site, they have a section for finding pilots in your area. Phil

Well you should always have access to the kill switch anyway, so as long as you are still able to open the throttle, you should be OK.

I chopped an aviation map into A5 sized pieces, laminated them (with some back to back to save pages), punched holes at the edge and joined them with a couple of key-rings. A stretchy scuba lanyard completes the ensemble. You can undo the pages and arrange them so the ones surrounding your immediate area are all close together, or just the ones you need for a route. Small enough to stuff inside your suit or down the side of your seat. The lamination renders them almost indestructable and easy to felt pen or chinagraph notes or lines on. Just as a side thought, it's really handy to draw a nice big 'wind arrow' on your chart when you go flying, perhaps using the aviation form with airspeeds at altitudes to get suitable values (sorry, can't remember the form number). Can help when diverting or landing at strange spots .. It's common practice in GA. Phil

On my Bailey, I have slipped a largish rubber 'o' ring around the main grip. This can then be pulled over the throttle lever to use as a cruise control. Due to the shape of the lever, by moving the 'o' ring towards the base you can decrease the revs, and moving it towards the tip of the lever will increase the revs. Quite fine adjustment can be obtained by rolling the ring up and down the grip with your thumb. Just my solution, KISS. Phil

Very much a personal thing I think. The one thing I have found is that side mounting can be used to offset torque steer effect. Phil

Norman, a small correction. VRP's are now 'Visual Reference Points'. CAA advice is to avoid directly overflying them to reduce likelihood of collisions. Phil

I'd go for a non enclosed flight deck, as then it doesn't matter if say your radio or vario overhang the sides by an inch or so. With an enclosed one, you really are limited to what will fit inside the enclosure. Ensure all instruments are fitted with an extra lanyard, tied off or clipped off somewhere secure and the job's a good 'un. Don't tumble flat on your face and damage isn't an issue

That'll teach me to look at my charts before replying. It looks like in Valley's AIAA that you are best below 2000 feet. That somehow sounds at odds with others reports of activity in the area. The chats with ATC are definitely your very best option, as they are definitely in the business of keeping everyone safe and are helpful and accommodating whenever it is humanly possible.

The reason to store wood props horizontally, is it stops any moisture contained within the wood from migrating downward. Flat as well as horizontal is best, away from direct heat that might cause warping. Glass or carbon fibre are impervious in this respect, so tuck them away any which way :0)

As I understand it, the CANP should only be invoked when there are a number of motors flying at the same time from the same location. That is not to say of course that the five mates you were planning on flying with, just didn't turn up Using CANP, at least RAF pilots should get a heads up about your activities as long as you do it far enough in advance (is it 24 hours, can't remember off hand?). I would think a good strobe could be one of your best allies. See, and BE SEEN! I am in a similar position, right on the edge of Lincs AIAA, with circuit traffic for Waddington and Cranwell coming close, as well as fast low transits by mostly Toccanos. Get high (preferably above 2000 feet) as quick as you can, and keep a good lookout to make your contribution to the deal. I actually selected my wing colours with visibility issues such as this as the prime mover. It can be quite fun watching the military stuff below you. Phil

The word you are looking for is 'blades' You will see motors with 2,3 or 4 bladed props. As I understand it, two blades is possibly the most efficient, but by using more blades the prop can be a smaller diameter. Usually the reduction ratios are different depending on the number of blades. If you can physically cope with the larger cage demands, then two blades is probably the best option, all other things being equal.

Most of the two stroke motors used on PPG's rev to about 7500 (give or take) and have a reduction of about 2 1/2 or 3 to 1, so the prop speed is perhaps only 3000 RPM maximum. So by using different reduction ratios or even direct drive we can use engines with lower or higher RPM while still giving the sort of prop RPM that we are looking for. Above certain numbers of prop size and RPM, the tips start to travel faster than the speed of sound and become much less efficient, so we aim to keep the RPM to a level that will prevent that. In the UK, we are looking at purchase prices of 4 to 5000 UKP for a complete motor (much more if you are looking at 'Parajet's' recently released rotary engined model), So that would equate to anything up to $8000 US. Because many complete motors, and also bare engines are sourced in Europe, with a strong Euro against the Dollar, prices will be high for you. Honda make a four stroke OHV engine that is used in everything from lawn mowers to small electrical generators. That is the GX200. Many Chinese (or at least far eastern) countries have produced copies of this motor which are pretty cheap. These can then have the power boosted by fitting after market parts that are targeted at the karting market. A lot of these parts are sourced from the USA so you could be onto a winner if you think about going that route and building your own. Do a google for the 'egg motor' project. where a group of flyers have built a PPG around that motor. Hope that helps a bit, Phil

There could only EVER be a legal case against Simon or the poster if what was said about a product was untrue or defamatory of an individual. I still believe we should be able to report factual findings and information about motors or equipment be they good or bad. That is one of the fundamental raison d'etre of fora such as this. Are you going to remove any posting that says 'My ParaBoys wing is crap in low wind' or 'my HyperJet motor is hard to start'? Because postings such as those would be JUST as open to legal intervention were such possible. Take away that information and we are just a bunch of guys exercising our jaws in a mutual admiration club. This is the ONLY forum I have heard of that actively bans criticism of a brand. Phil

I doubt there will be much, if any import duty, but there will be VAT at 17%. You will also be charged a handling fee by Parcel Farce or whoever deals with the delivery, this is usually around the £15 mark. Some vendors have been known to be 'creative' on customs declarations, although US less than far east. You could try asking. Phil

Or have a look on the ParamotorsUK web site for others in your area. Phil

Sorry Simon, got to disagree with you. We've been down this road and I'm sure everyone knows my position. Phil