Dragonphotographic

The company I work for have several very large sectional steel buildings they need to move from Cornwall to Devon and other places. We are looking for folks to dismantle them at one end and then re-erect them at the other end.

If you are interested, or know someone who might be, give me a shout

One of the things I've been doing since I had the internet is tracking the ISS (International Space Station) A few times a year this has allowed me to watch as the station streaks overhead at something like 17,000kms. My goal has been to get a photo of it.

No joy yet, but it really is something to see as it whizzes silently overhead.

However, there must be, somewhere on the face of the Earth, a point at which Mars and the moon will appear side by side. To then have the ISS streaking across in a big arc at the same time would probably the best photo of all time.

To get Mars and the Moon in the same shot would be something, to get all three would be like getting the winners of all the cup finals and all the national winners for the last sixty years, PLUS an accumulator on the next ten rolld into one.

Any boffins out there who can predict where this will be?

If this outrage has touched some nerves, just imagine if the Telegraph got hold of Euro MP's expenses claims.

I bet it would make this lot look like a shower of fiddling, bumbling amateurs, which of course they are.

I've been saying for years that there has only ever been one bloke who went to parliament with the right idea. They burnt him.

You can't vote here if you are a child, a criminal or a lunatic. You can only vote FOR them

Don't forget the gift aid folks.

Because I am a UK taxpayer, the leaches at the tax office have to give back the tax I've paid on what they have already bled from me. Therefore, my tenner now becomes £12.80

I would rather the charity gets it than Gordon's parasites huh?

Well it's funny you should mention it, but I have been working on a few sites south of Exeter. After the first cut of hay in the next couple of weeks things should start to get interesting

I had a fizzy, but my mum said it was too fast so she made me sell it. What I didn't tell her was I used the money to buy a Honda CB125 which I kept at a mate's house until I got stopped riding it one night while still only 16

I can relate to watching the big birds soaring and wishing I could do that. A bit short of Eagles here in Devon, but plenty of gulls.

Inch by inch I'm getting closer to being able to do what they do. only this morning I stole ice creams from two toddlers and mugged an old lady for her chips

I have a pair of I-Boy gloves brand new still in the packet. Size large if of any help? Let me know where to send them

leoibb, this should help. I know it's not a Walkerjet, but some of the things in there you should have in the boot of your car. Be sure to show the vid to your passengers first too so they know what to do

I seem to remember a video on Youtube where a Paraglider launches from a Hot air balloon? The pilot cradled the wing on the way up.

To deploy it like a parachute I suppose you would have to pack it a certain way and have some sort of drogue chute so it deployed properly

It's probably gonna be a while before I am airborne, but I'll happily volunteer as ground crew for this

Interested to know what wing you were flying, what trim you had it on if any etc?

The Voice-over on this makes it hilarious

erm, is it just me? or does anyone else need an interpreter?

A friend of mine provides outside bar facilities, real ale and everything. Anyone interested drop me a line

I do know of a Parajet Macro sat in a garage with just 3 hours of running time, including 20 minutes flying. Also a Parajet macro Ti which has just been rebuilt with latest upgrades.

Two Walkerjets and even a Flat Top are available too. Pick them up tomorrow if you like?

Should we get this thing going?

LOL, bloody typical, after making the trip two days in a row, I miss everything on the third day!

Never mind, summer is definately on it's way. I'll be back

I think the shared ownership idea is excellent. I know for a fact that if money were no object Simon and others would always have a selection of motors and wings for hire, and hopefully that is something for the future.

However, until that time a group of say 5 could look at buying a second hand motor and wing. We know the regular costs so they can be budgeted for in say a monthly sub. (Reserve checking/repacking annually, wing checking annually, motor servicing etc) could all be taken care of.

A 'sinking fund' could also be built up to cover any other eventualities such as a busted prop. Yes it should be down to the individual who busted it, but how many folks have done this and then had to wait ages until they have the money? If you've already paid your share, no problem and more importantly the group members can continue to fly.

Logistics would be another area to be careful of. No point for instance in me buying a share of a kit that is going to live in Scotland!

Pilots requirements too are an issue. I'm a lithe 90KG, so a motor that would suit say Colin would be just about enough to dry my hair Same with wing size etc.

These are figures lifted directly from a 1/5 share of a light aircraft I saw recently, scaled down for a paramotor kit

each member contributes 20% towards the purchase price, then £20 per month maintenance account, £5 per moth sinking fund and you provide your own fuel as and when needed. Hopefully it may be possible to insure the kit in the future too.

Each member has the right to 'sell on' their share, after they have offered it to the other members first. The other members have 2 weeks in which to decide, after that it can be sold outside the syndicate.

The rules can be decided among the members, no acro for instance would be a good one to have there?

I think it could work with the right group

oh boy can I relate to this?

For one I have a fairly large family,(6 daughters and a son) and they always come first. You have to feed and clothe the little buggers or else the social services come knocking huh?

Just as I was figuring out how I could at last afford to take to the air again, about this time last year I got made redundant, lost the company car I didn't realise I had been relying on for over 12 years. I almost lost the house as well.

At the same time I was 'adopted' by various PMC members. Norman, Francis, Farmer Dave and Simon were the first. It didn't matter that I had no money, it was the enthusiasm I think that caught their eye. Then, to repay this support I volunteered to scout a few sites for the T2T.

You have to admire the outlook of someone who says to you "You've been made redundant? GREAT! We were looking for a driver for the camera crew on the T2T You're it!"

I later found out that I was second choice to a 19 year old eye candy college student who was actually uninsurable, but what the hell? I was going to Scotland with some of the best people I have ever met.

An afternoon stuck in a field in Scotland because of the weather gave me the chance of negotiating with the bank and saved the house Just! (Gotta love the Nokia batteries huh?

I have to at this point thank Dave from the camera crew for begrudgingly letting me stop by the Royal Preston hospital en-route to Scotland because my Mum had been rushed in. It turned out to be the last time I saw her alive.

Life goes on though, and the dream is still as bright as it's ever been. I was welcomed as a brother again at the tussock field known as the flagpole today.

IF your dream to fly is strong enough, these guys are by far your best bet. Don't let it pass you by.

Indeed an enjoyable afternoon. it was good to float my wing a few times, I'm sure the confidence will come back pretty soon. A welcome coffee with Bill and Sal on the way home made it the perfect day.

Nice to meet the two Daves and colin 2 and be able to add a few more faces to the names..

I still felt the day had ended too early when I saw the parachutists, half a dozen balloons and some microlights still up there as I was on the M5.

Still there's always tomorrow

I once met a former weatrherman who had been fired in the days when they used to stick felt symbols on an actual map instead of working in front of a blue chromakey screen. His crime?

on turning to the map one cold november night, he noticed that something was missing because big letters across the country simply said " OG"

He turned to the camera and said "I'm so sorry about the F in fog"

Another famous line from sports commentattors was aired live from Headingly. The crew had to take a break when the comentator calmy said, "And here goes, at a crucial stage of this test, The batsman's Holding, The bowler's Willie"

But my favourite comes from the 70's when Snooker was fast becoming a huge TV draw. I forget the guy's name now but you sometimes see this repeated in those out-take shows

"And he is looking closely at the difficult shot on the blue. For those of you watching in Black and white, that's the one just behind the Brown"

If this was the project Dan the camera man went onto after the T2T last year, he was probably the pilot. Dan?

I got some memorable images last year, and i'm looking forward to a lot more. This is just one of my favourites

Cracking shot Simon. One of those rare ones where everything comes together for that split second

Looks like a fuel tank. Saw a couple of similar things on the Tip to Tip. When the cam belts got damp they expanded and sheared off. It's all in the DVD