dean_barker

Airsports Insurance Bureau (http://www.bhpa.co.uk/airsports.php) They know what they're dealing with and were happy to cover me whilst I was training in Portugal.

I think I may actually have been watching you two from a distance. I recall seeing the yellow reaction in formation. You're right about the thermic "bumps" off the ploughed fields. Full fast trim on my synth, engine idling, climbing at 800ft/min Needless to say it was a fun day.

Well I made it to within three miles (horizontally) and 2000 ft (vertically) of the flagpole That'll have to do for now.

Thanks again Pete. A last minute change of plan means I either won't make it or I'll fly in instead of drive in

Thanks for extending a hand Pete. Much appreciated. I shall try and make my way there tomorrow. It sounds like 'the flagpole' is where all the flying happens? I trust it's not to difficult to find/reach? Unfortunately I don't drive a 4x4 I've seen the os reference in the sticky at the top of this branch of the forum and I'll head for that. Regards Dean B

Have wing, have motor but have nowhere to go! I'm desperate to find a field to fly from and get my first UK flight under my belt. I'm based near Woking in Surrey and hold a BHPA Pilot (Power) rating but finding a local flying field is proving quite challenging. Simon, can anyone fly from your field or is it only for students/ex-students? Is some form of club membership required? Kind Regards Dean Barker

I’m not trying to be negative with this post (except for a little bit right at the end) but I'm rather surprised to learn that "...the first substantive..." flight has happened whilst the expedition is actually underway. Since it is the SkyCar expedition I think it's safe to say (although it is of course open to debate) that the most significant aspect of this expedition is the fact that the car can actually fly. I know there are many other facets to its design and to the expedition as a whole but in my mind what really sets it apart from other buggies modified to run on bio-fuels (nothing spectacular) is the fact that it has a prop and you can attach an airfoil and fly. Given that flight is such a fundamental part of this expedition I think it's pretty damned ballsy of these guys to embark on the expedition without having performed any "substantive" flight testing. Personally I would like to see the flight envelope a little more well-defined before I strap myself in. To each his own I guess. The point I’m trying to make is actually that I think a fair deal of confusion and debate could have been avoided (most of this thread for example) if they refrained from calling this an “expedition” and instead referred to it as the SkyCar “flight test program”… which is what it seems to be. If they had done this the lack of classification or CoA or registration would probably not have come into question at all since I think most people would accept that they have specifically left UK airspace to test the craft in a more relaxed regulatory environment. [negativity] But, I guess that wouldn't have garnered much publicity... [/negativity]

Thanks for that; it's a very useful doc.

Sup'Air ''Light' (Large - MTOW 135kg). http://www.baileyaviation.com/Accessories.htm http://shop.flybubble.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=378

Thanks. PM'ed

Can anyone tell me who the guy is at the end of the "fly another day" DVD trailer that says: "...now I think we should all go to the pub." I would like to ask some questions about his helmet and headset combo. Thanks Dean B.

It's worth pointing out to the group that the majority of those flights commenced with near perfect nil wind forward launches... See you at the show.

Great advice Francis. For the same reasons as Dragonphotographic I recently bought, admittidely for a miniscule price, what was designated as a ground handling glider. Unfortunately the purchase was made sight-unseen and with no questions from my side. Obviously I should therefore not have been surprised with what I found after laying out the glider for the first time. It was a 1989 ITV Saphir. This is a glider with what I guess should be described as an experimental delta-wing design and a weight-shift only harness (the risers are actually sewn into the seat of the harness) with the breaks providing only pitch control. I've had a little fun weight-shift kiting it but I suspect it hasn't taught me particularly much and consequently regret the purchase. Regards Dean B.

Hi Lloyd, I think this question has been pretty well answered before: http://paramotorclub.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1081 What I found very interesting and rather refreshing were the results of this poll: http://paramotorclub.org/forum/viewtopi ... viewresult Regards Dean B.

Hi, Like most first-posters in this section I've been dreaming of PPG for several years. After seeing two guys launch from a beach in South Africa many years ago I became convinced that PPG was going to be the most satisfying possible form of personal flight. I've spent many years trying to figure out how to get involved (finances being the problem) and got a little side-tracked with skydiving but I now finally find myself able to commit to PPG. I was rather conflicted about whether to first complete a CP rating and then convert to power or start from scratch with PPG... I liked the thought of beeing able to freefly when the occasion presents itself. I'm sure that the pure flying skills, airmanship and patience you learn from a CP course are damn near invaluable but I have convinced myself that ab-initio PPG training is a better route for me. The type of flying that I would want to focus on i.e. long XC navs with the freedom to explore means that completing a CP might end up being yet another costly distraction for me. I realize and gladly accept that opinoins will vary on this topic. So... I've made the decision to start ab-initio PPG training and the only remaining question is where and when. I believe it is critically important to train in an active club environment and there seems to be no better place in SE England to do this than at Lambourn. I think this is a great testament to the enthusiasm of the local CFI and club members and this is something that I appreciate and want to be a part of. My question to the forum is whether or not anyone could suggest somewhere other than Lambourn offering a similar PPG focused training environment since I firmly believe in exploring all alternatives. Most of the Sussex based PG schools seem to have very little focus on PPG and appear rather commercialized whilst the midlands and northern schools are simply out of reach for me. As I said, I feel it is important to train in a club environment, so I am looking for a location where I can be exposed to experienced club members (who share my interests) from an early stage. In the mean time I'll start working on a PM to Simon whom I suspect has become a very busy man after the recent airing of mission everest. Obviously my timing is not ideal but let's see what happens. Blue Skies Dean B.