dantheman

Don't be cheeky - I am offering constructive criticism, you saw me pull your cage apart with one finger as it's the velcro that really holds it together but in this case it was just flapping in the prop. The thin elastic bungee thing is not strong enough on it's own. Definately worth getting Pete to cover pre flight checks on your motor so you can get into a routine before you fly again, we only want to make you a safe pilot so you can concentrate on having fun !

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Andy, stop posting videos of the week and browse the Meterology forum on here, you should know that's a Metcheck link

I'm with t_andrews on this one, a dehumidifier is an excellent way of drying your wing out, I fluffed mine up after Saturdays flight, bunged it in the porch with the dehumidifier and it was bone dry the next morning. Also works well on the washing if it's pissing down outside (apparently).

Definitely keep then horizontal, keeps them balanced if there is any moisture on them.

Can also take Paypal & post special delivery (uk) at no extra cost.

I often fly around the AIAA of Spadeadam & Otterburn ranges on the Borders, THIS operational timetable is useful, you are in the LFA 7(T) area. Generally weekends are dead so this time of year you should be fine as it's dark in the evenings ! Had a close call with a Tornado once, unfortunately it ended up spread over the field next to my house (I was not flying I hasten to add)

I hope you can remember how to bollock people ? use a big stick to remind gaffa that the velcro is there to hold his cage together !

Just found this pic from the flagpole earlier this year (ignore the crap quality) there were approx 11 sailplanes sharing a thermal directly above us. By the time I found the camera they were moving to the next free lift, looked a bit busy at times .

I'm getting the hang of taking photos while flying stuff, they seem to like a good breeze, once the kites land due to lack of wind it's time to get the paramotor out, better than a windmeter I reckon

Met Richard (aka gaffa) at the flagpole with his MZ creation, no-one else up there and a bit breezy so we nipped to Simons to get the new PMC power kites and had some fun until the wind dropped off and a peachy sunset flying window appeared. I suspect that's the last warm flying day this year, better get the thermals out.

yeah baby, almost as much fun as real flying may have to post a pic in the non members area too......

Google throws up a couple of hits for training for £1195. If they still have your money, could you still bite the bullet and get the training from them, don't burn your bridges just yet, perhaps you got your wires crossed ??? !!

Check the video in this link to see the spring change procedure http://flyparamania.com/index.php?optio ... 19〈=en From memory the replacement springs were .065" thick (bigger than the weaker springs) so you could try measuring yours.

What wing are you on ? The early Revos had weak springs so Paramania sent out stronger replacements FOC to anyone who needed them, you could put stronger springs in yours ?. In the meantime I suggest you squeeze the cam with your fingers to ensure it locks into place, thats what we used to do with the weak springs.

Paul, you need to have a beer with Pete Searle to listen to his channel crossing story the channel ferry was his lifeboat until it turned sharp left towards Holland !! Anyway Paul Mahony did it and has written a fantastic blog here: http://www.paramotorsuk.co.uk/articles/article_34.asp

It's a shame the air is getting colder, next time you should plan to drop in at Sara and Chris’s house for a brew !! Like your (Normans) compass idea, may steal that one

"any landing you can walk away from is a good one" - could have sworn I heard that somewhere before

It's been done, it's just a long way over water and unless you have a boat shadowing you then your chance of survival are between nill and zero should you have an engine out.

Paul, Dave's post is bang on regarding where you should be spending your cash. Best place to start is talk to your instructor, see what kit is being used at your school and what spares backup is available. If you see a second hand motor most instructors are cool about giving it a once over for a beer ! Read other peoples training blogs to see where/how they picked up their kit, and avoid those cheap ebay deals on really old kit....

I always thought that footy field would make a cool landing spot, and you have proved me right. Was superb weather this weekend for a nice long fly pity my boss decided I had to work overtime instead

Good luck mate, for me the beauty of paramotoring is the freedom from bureaucracy and the ability to just turn up at a field and fly. The PMC course offers a similar structured approach to the one you mentioned but it's not mandatory.

I like the NOTAM button in the toolbar at the top, well done guys very impressive.

Have seen quite a few posts about how a lot of PPG folk enjoy sticking to the first/last three hours in the day during summer to avoid the thermic stuff. Also how winter flying apart from being a bit chilly is really smooth, here is why....... During the height of summer, at midday in London the sun rises to its maximum "solar elevation" roughly 62 degrees above the horizon At 6:20, three hours before sunset the sun has dropped to 16 degrees above the horizon. During most of December and early January the sun never gets higher than 16 degrees, so the maximum energy from the sun at midday in winter is only as strong as those summer evenings. Cambodia mentioned that he flies after 4pm in the summer, here your solar elevation has a height of 37 degrees, meaning from Oct-Apr the sun is no stronger at midday than a 4pm summer flight, giving him six months of all day flying windows during the colder months. I realise that other factors influence bumpy flights like airmass/ground temps, cloud cover etc etc but its still a very good guide to working out where your thermic comfort window extends to. http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/astronomy.html

You are probably better off with an unlimited training offer which should be well under a grand, that way you can progress at your own speed, I expect that would include use of school kit too. Looking at the weather you should have put your name down somewhere this week and taken time off work as it looks very flyable.