tracey

Maybe it's just me and my neighbourhood then?! It's been a struggle for me since day one to find a club or a group of people to fly with. In my early days of flying I would continuously call people and ask them when and where they were meeting, and I would never get a callback or an indication of where the next meet was. And nowadays, unless you trawl endlessly through forums to find out where a meet is happeneing, you don't know about it. This is an honest-held perception guys, but perhaps it's just being inside the M25 and not close to an established flying site that makes it difficult!

Hi guys... when's the next meeting? Tracey xo

Hope this link works?! http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en- ... 9e04264ed0

I saw the video of the Burke and Wills story years ago... but it left a real impression on me! Seems the dvd is now very hard to find... but for anyone interested in buying what seems to be the last copy in existance (lol)... http://www.amazon.com/Burke-Wills-Jack- ... 371&sr=8-9 Tracey

Definitely, yes! Are you boys all flying on Sunday?!! I'd love to come along Please let me know! Tracey

Thanks guys I'll get in touch with Mags! For anyone who might be interested in a short update... this has been a steep learning curve for me, which has been well worthwhile, simply to find out the technicalities of organising something which sounds relatively simple! My initial idea was to just be the first woman to fly across the channel in a paramotor. Nice and simple. Perhaps a photo to record the moment of triumph, and a new article in Paramotor Mag. What it has developed into, is something much more complicated. I am now looking at getting a radio license, and making sure that I will be able to send an SOS if I need to. I've been in touch with Heathrow and the CAA several times and have discovered that I will have to register / licence my wing, so they know how to identify me if I ditch in the water. It's not sure if I can launch from the beach, or will have to start from Lille. And I'm still struggling to find a sponsor in this recession climate. I've bought a lot of equipment, such as immersion suit, hook knife and life jacket, and have had very generous offers from all you lovely guys for odds and ends... which has given me a lot of warm and fuzzies! Thanks to everyone for all your good wishes and support so far. I'll write a decent report on this when it's all done. Hope to bump into some of you at SPLASH. Tracey

Hi guys, Would anyone know a paint I could use to put my logo / registration on my wing. I know the Loft print logos, but I'm hoping to save some expsense and do it DIY. If no-one can suggest a paint... can anyone point me in the right direction of some self-adhesive ripstop material? I've found a source on the internet, but just wondered if anyone's got some insider information? Thanks guys, Tracey

I have to add my voice to those who want to do this in winter! For those who haven't been out to Australia, the heat is unbearable in the summer - I'm not being dramatic, and I'm not scared of the thermals, and I'm not being a girl about this. Remember - I was born and raised in Africa... and I found the Aussie heat too intense. As someone who's been there in summer and experienced it (I'm not sure who else has been there), I can honestly say it is not going to be at all pleasant. Even winter is shorts and t-shirt weather! We'd be giving ourselves a better chance of completing the trip if we did it in the cooler months - surely we'll have enough to contend with without battling with the heat!? Sorry to sound like a kiljoy... I just really want to stress that this is actually a major issue. Maybe we can add this to the agenda next time? Tracey

Sorry guys... I can't be there for the next meeting / Christmas Doo... I'll be sunning myself in South Africa! Tracey

Hi guys, I'm all excited about a new route, and have been looking into some options that I thought I'd post here for people to think about before the next meeting... Option 1 - West to East This is going to be more of an endurance route. Without a doubt it's the longest route, and I would imagine we would start in Brisbane, pass directly over Ayers Rock which is almost dead in the middle of the country, and then fly on to the most western tip of Oz. The journey should get big kudos for taking on such a long route, but I do believe that it'll be a matter of getting up each morning, flying, sleeping, and then a repeat the next day. I don't think there's going to be much variety along the route - beyond physical endurance. Option 2 - Burke and Wills Here are a couple of links for you to look at: http://www.burkeandwills.net.au/Expedit ... racing.htm http://www.davidreilly.com/australian_e ... robert.htm Their story is well known in Australia as being both heroic and tragic and there's a lot of emotion attached to it. Their route extends from Melbourne in the south, up to the "lowest" area of the big U shaped bay in the north at Flinders River. Perhaps a good idea for the trip would be to start from the port of Darwin, and then cut across to Flinders River where we "pick up the trail" of Burke and Wills. This will add the excitement of following an historic route, and it will add some gps navigation skills to follow their tracks. We would then fly down to Melbourne and the trip could be finished by a flight along the Great Ocean Road and a "sign off" viewing the 12 Apostles - some of Oz's more famous sights! So I'm sure you can tell which option I like more. Tracey

Hi Simon, I'll be there! What sort of time? 7pm-ish? Looking forward to catching up... and finding out who you're going to be training in June (though I think I have an idea who it might be... how exciting!) Tracey

Hi again everyone!! Slim... Ah, it's a shame your "You go girl" message didn't come through! A girl's always on the lookout for messages like that! But thank you for your new message... and for all the offers! Dry bags... tick, SPOT... tick, Radios... tick, Webcam... tick if someone can sort that out... what a fab idea!! See you on the 14th and we'll have a catch up!! Dragon... Yes, the guy that I've got the quote from is one of the regular guys who does the quirky crossings with people (like Clarkson and Top Gear). When I spoke to him he said that he would be able to sort all the finniky stuff out and so yes, I suppose that where he makes his money - he's able to sort all the authorities stuff out. Hmmm... I hadn't really though about the fact that people can't just blast their way across the channel without going through the authorities. I keep forgetting that it's France and I'll have to take my passport with me when I go! Simon... Looking forward to what the guys had to say! And yes, everyone on here has been so supportive... really warms my cockels Tracey

I'm afraid I won't be needing any lard or goose fat, thanks Togsie... though a massage would have been lovely before the start! How about you help me to get out of my rubber immersion suit in Dover? I'll be all sweaty, so you might have to peel it off me!

I knew I forgot something... Just thinking about equipment and stuff... I'm just wondering if I could beg, borrow, or steal (well, maybe not beg)... any of the following if someone could part with them for a while... 1. A Dry Bag (if I land in the water, a bag to put all equipment in). 2. Idiot-proof video camera (to go in the dry bag if I water land!). 3. Two radios so I can communicate with the support boat. 4. Life vest (hopefully to be returned un-used). I promise to replace any equipment that's damaged! Tracey

Hi Guys, Thanks for your emails of support!! Just to respond to some of your queries... Mike... I'll be flying my miniplane. It's been a super little engine for me since I first started, and hasn't ever given any real problems... so I'm hoping it'll behave and get me across the water! I'll also be flying with my Dudek Reaction Wing... nice and fast! Norman... thanks for the info about Mountbatten. I had wondered where they did all that navy training. I'll look into what's on offer... though if it's going to cost a fortune to take a course I'll just have to skip it! I am looking into buying a very sexy and flattering orange rubber immersion suit though. Mmmmm! Regarding reading all the info about immigration... er... I'll do my best to get a copy of Poolies and read up on it... but I might also try to see if someone could just quickly tell me things... it goes in easier that way! If you're at SPLASH Norman, I'll have a chat to you there! Dave... I can't tell you how lovely your offer is to cheer me home!!! Honestly... it would mean the world if there were some folks waiting for me in Dover! I might have to delegate you as my friendly landing windsock-buddy!!? Dragon...Oh... you've hit on a huge hurdle for me! The major cost of the attempt is the support boat... which at the moment I have as £950! If you have a mate who would be keen to get involved it would be terrific! Please let me know. And yes... you're right about moving a bit away from the ferry terminals... I'll keep that in mind! Paul... I'll send you a PM! Thanks guys... Tracey

Hi All, Thanks Simon!! As you mentioned... a bit scary... um, actually, a LOT scary... it's a loooong stretch of water, that's going to be very, very cold if I "land" in it... but hey... what could go wrong?! I really appreciate the offer of help and support from you and the Paramotor Club, so any assistance anyone is able to offer will be most welcome. To give a bit of background about this attempt... Bascially, I realise the Channel is only about 26 miles across, which is something we all fly on a routine basis. But for me, the difference between just flying 26 miles locally, and flying across the Channel, is that it's an adventure, it's well out of my comfort zone, and it sounds like a great challenge to get across that water. I know some blokes have done it "unassisted" in the past (and it would be great if they are on this forum and could contact me), so I wouldn't be the first "person" to do it - but I would be the first woman, and I'm keen to have this little record. I'm aiming to do this sometime during the last two weeks in January next year (any day that the weather's good during this time I'll make the attempt). And Dan, in response to your earlier question, I'll be doing it for Guidedogs for the Blind (however, you're also correct in thinking that it will be for personal gratification!) I've got a whole list of points that I need help with, so perhaps that will be a good place to start... 1. Sponsorship - does anyone have any contacts who might want to take this on? I've got a breakdown of costs that I could email to someone through private messaging. 2. I'm going to fly from France to England (both beacuse it will be nice to fly back "home", and because someone told me the prevailing winds are generally from France). Could someone advise... 2a. How can I get my engine across? Will there be problems with fuel, etc? 2b. Launch site in France? 2c. Accommodation near the launch site? 2d. Will I have to get insurance/a licence to fly in France? 2e. Will I have to get permission from someone to launch? 3. Any Met advice? I've heard the winds start to do funny things mid-way across the channel. Can someone let me know what it is and what I've got to look out for? 4. CAA permission to fly across the channel and land in Dover? 5. What are peoples' views on the right altitude to fly at? I'll leave it at that for now. If anyone would like to email me by private messaging, please feel free. Oh... and I'll be at SPLASH to chat with people there too! Thanks guys! Tracey

Glad to hear it's all still on... although that was never really in doubt in my opinion! I look forward to the next meeting... and being assigned a task! Tracey PS... Simon... have you checked your private messages lately?!

Hi Simon and the Team!! 2010 seems oh, so far away... my mind is already churning out all sorts of things to do and get organised and I can't wait for the next meet! Until then, I'll just hope that the weather clears enough to get an hour or two's decent flying under my belt! Happy dreams guys! Tracey PS. Getting to your neck of the woods was no trouble at all.

Ah! Your number is indeed correct. I, on the other hand, have handed in my notice at work today, and am consequently a little bit tipsy (ie. a bit smashed) and cannot seem to read numbers straight. So... my fault Look forward to meeting eveyone tomorrow night Txo. (*hic*)

Hi Simon, I'll be there! I've tried to text you, but your mobile doesn't seem to be working. Can you let me know if you number is still vaild? Ta, Tracey

Hi Simon, Is that Ashbury near Swindon? I've just been onto Streetmap and there about a dozen Ashbury's in the UK! Ta, Tracey

Sounds like a blast. I'd love to join you! What can I bring?... boobs and a ukulele. Will that do?