slim

I hope some of them haven't been put off

You beat me to it For those of you thinking "wow that's a fantastic idea, I must get one!" we need to let you know that we're just finalising a deal with the manufacturer that means that for any units purchased through Tip to Tip, they will donate 100% of the up-front purchase price to Tip to Tip. Please wait until The deal is finalised and the link is on the web site Spot have lent us units for each of the pilots for the mission. First rate company but please buy through the website to maximise the benefit to the charities. Thanks, Stuart.

I'm deeply jealous but spouse maintenance was necessary Planning to take a day off this week though. Stuart

Always brings a smile to my face. Also, an excellent demonstration of wing tip vortices - except on a Hercules from RAF Lyneham they'll be bigger, stronger, longer and hang around for ages - don't fly through this Stuart

Hi Guys, Is anyone interested in going to "Aero Expo 2008 London"? It's on 13-15 June 2008 at Wycombe Air Park and you can get free entry at http://www.expo.aero/london/default.asp. Once you've registered on their site you can also book a fly in slot. It asks you what you'll be flying and although it had everything from Catalina Flying Boats to Boeing 777s I couldn't find the "Rad Javelin" option so I guess I'll have to go by car See y'all soon, Stuart

Stickers for me too please. Looks like I'm going to be away again whilst there is some fabulous flying weather. Never mind. Time to save up for a e-pac especially for business trips Stuart

You're hooked mate Welcome to the club and the sport. Don't worry about the thermals whipping you off your feet. The first time that motor spits you off the ground you'll realise that there is nothing quite like it. The other thing that happens is you spend all day looking at the sky working out if it is flyable or not. My wife keeps telling me to look at the b****y road not the clouds See you on the field some time soon. Stuart

I've been out of action with family holidays and then a business trip for a couple of weeks and the weather looks crap just as I get back tomorrow. Ho Hum That 1000 hits are purely on people spotting it by accident. There is no particular search engine optimisation done on it so it is pretty good. Talk soon, Stuart

So I've been away for a couple of weeks and it's been flyable. I'm back next week and the weather looks awful I'm getting withdrawal symptoms! See ya'll soon. Only 2 more cities and 6500 miles to go.

Hi Mike, I too live in Reading. I'm trying to pluck up the courage to ask Oracle if we can fly from the fields down at Thames Valley Park (my office is there so flying at lunch time would be possible ) Get in touch. Stuart

Just adding my vote of thanks for an excellent day. I'm not sure who learnt most, the RAF or us!

Can I have a blue one please?

eeek! That means subtract 30 minutes from the original plan. See you at 07:15 boys - you know who you are. Stuart

TV editing is such a biased art form. I was talking to Gilo about the program at the club Christmas dinner last year (great bash Simon - thanks) and we discussed the "extreme turbulence" that caused Bear's cravat. The only thing in the sky at the time was the camera crew's helicopter. They flew over Bear far too close and the down draught collapsed half the wing. The edit made dramatic telly but the simple truth was a chopper pilot flying far too close to another aircraft - Bear's paramotor. I loved the program. Yes they made mistakes and yes the editing was hyping the situations to make a more dramatic presentation. I've had loads of people ask me about the sport since they saw the program. All of them were impressed. Our response should be to make note of the mistakes and make sure that we don't repeat them not just criticise. I for one will use it as inspiration to make sure that my small contribution to Tip-to-Tip is well tested before hand. Stuart

I'm happy to give a lift to anyone who lives between Reading and Lyneham. Anyone who lives East of Reading and wants to come here and share a ride from here is welcome. Drop me a PM. Stuart

It is a problem I'm hoping to give you guys a solution to before the Tip to Tip. We've got some throat mikes to try. The real problem with Tip to Tip will be air to ground comms as you get up into the border areas and then the Highlands when the ground crews won't have line of sight and mobile phones will be largely useless. No challenge there then Stuart.

I have both US & UK versions and yes they are noticeably different. If you missed it and would like an electronic copy just let me know. Stuart

I'm in. We could make it a Tip to Tip across Berkshire (North to South)

This is all fascinating reading, especially as I convinced my wife that paramotoring is the safest form of private flying Surely the real comparisons between sports can only be made in terms of accidents per hour flown (or ridden) not in terms of the number of people participating. Also, there is always a huge difference between those who engage in the riskier end of a sport (close to the ground aerobatics) and those who just pootle around. And finally, as some wise pilot once said "the only bad altitude is the bit above you." At least with more height you have more time to take action before the briefly painful impact with the ground. 2000 feet is about 12 seconds of free fall. Plenty of time to deploy a reserve. 50 feet is a little under 2 seconds. Just enough time to say "oh f***" Happy flying - see you all when the wind drops! Stuart

I've put it in the diary!

I'll be spending a couple of days near Inverness and then driving down to Gleneagles and Edinburgh in early May. If people would like me to do any recon just let me know.

Thanks for reminding me of the land of my childhood. Why did I ever come sarf?

Hi Francis et al, In the spirit of musing... In any other branch of aviation the prop is significantly better protected from contact with the ground, either by virtue of being mounted higher on the aircraft or simply by being attached to ... oh yes ... an aircraft, something with bits that tend not to compress beyond well defined limits upon a normal impact with the ground. For most of us the prop is sticking down below the most rigid part of the fuselage (the pilot's spine and backside) so any landing that results in a failure of the undercarriage (legs) will almost certainly result in the prop coming to to contact with the ground. Given that human legs and hillsides everywhere are always going to result in stumbles and trips I think it is inevitable that unexpected foldups of the undercarriage will happen. Continuing the musing and looking at the the other elements... I was taught that I should cut the engine well before getting close enough to the ground for the prop to come in to contact with it. That way the chances of a less than perfect landing resulting in bits of carbon fibre or wood being distributed liberally are much reduced. Choosing a landing site that is relatively smooth will certainly help in the "not tripping up" stakes. Practice makes perfect - or at least less imperfect. So to bring my musings to a close... * I think broken bits of hardware are inevitable in a mode of flying that is so reliant on the human body as a structural part of the takeoff and landing airframe. * Good technique can minimise the damage when it does happen (I know I haven't flown as much as most of you but I'm still on my first prop since I started learning (just you watch, I'll trash it next time now I've said that )) * Any mishap is an opportunity for trainer and trainee to improve their technique. Finally, anyone got a crystal ball to see far enough ahead to when the next bit of flyable weather will be Happy flying.

I shall check it out. But nobody has sent me any pics yet so I'm assuming there isn't any demand

Geek stuff. It's what I do.