AndyB

All 2 strokes can be run lean, get hot and burn holes. However, I have never needed to adjust my Nitro/Tornado mixture settings from where I originally set them. The Parajets always needed tweaking. Each tweak had the potential to get it wrong.

Most of the issues I have heard with the Nitro/Tornado are not machine issues, but operator issues. The blow priming is new to most people and getting it wrong means the machine will not start. Once you know how to do it, it starts first time, every time. Mine both start first time, on old fuel, after over 2 months with out being used.

Parajet stopped doing Polini - because it was so unreliable. Now they have Moster, with lots of broken exhausts.

Also, do you sell one of those Paramotor makes, or do special deals...with just one company? 

On 30/08/2019 at 05:03, Sarrfox said:

Thank you Andy!  It just seems so strange to have a machine get soo much hype and then nothing!  I thought people would be jumping at the opportunity to share their experiences and whether they matched the hype!  And to discuss it's reliability.  I've lost my enthusiasm about it and am looking at Parajets and the Moster 185 now.  I really wanted to know how well the Tornado is doing and wanted to be excited about flying one. 

Just seen your post. I flew 4 Parajets before the AC machines. Hated Parajet. Unreliable, staff too busy/couldn't get stuff right and machines VERY heavy. AC super lightweight and very reliable!...I am at 140 hours with no failures now.

I trained with Skyschool 3.5 years ago and flew with the whole Skyschool team in various locations in France this summer for a week. They are a really good. I've done 140 hours and 170 flights now, but was still great having Alex's feedback on what to do better!

Been in the UK 4 weeks now and flown once! 

It is a guy in the US who has been kind and brave enough to share his misfortune as a warning to others. He started on the ground while holding it.

Another unfortunate accident, but the guy has shared the details on FB.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156747402720878&set=gm.2508431579209845&type=3&theater&ifg=1

To help prevent the wing lines going into the prop at take-off - although you can still get it wrong. I have also seen a guy fly without the cage sections on as he forgot to bring them with him!

Unfortunately, fast moving jets close up on us virtually stationary flyers very quickly. There was recently a an air-miss between two Hawk jets and 3 paragliders.......exactly where I fly. The first hawk saw a paraglider directly in front (slightly to the right), so pulled up and left...his wing man followed. This new path took them directly between 2 more paragliders who were circling upwards. 

I always call the the RAF ATC prior to flying, so they know where I will be and when.

The above incident is on the agenda for discussion at the next pilots working group (hosted by RAF).

Perfect 10 mph sea breeze over Redcar today. 12 degrees. Anyone else manage a flight today?

Well done. Did Zeb have to shout at you?

I have had 5 spinal fusions and 2 discectomies (3 emergencies to relieve paralasys). I am fused from thoracic to pelvis and have a 30 degree froward bend. I now cannot walk more than a few meters unaided. I still foot launch because it is fun and more convenient than trying to get a trike out. 

21 hours ago, richjones said:

I just insured with Axa last week. No checks. 

Have you been insured with them before? and if so, since when. I think they only introduced checks a few years ago and then when you renew they do not re-check as your rating is for life.

My last flight before returning to the UK tomorrow. On the beach 26 deg, at 5500 feet - warmer!

This was the first time I have made it over the top of Reales mountain. Because it is a stand-alone mountain, whichever way the wind blows it is very turbulent around most of the mountain! Today, 7 mph, blowing with me as I climbed. I followed the the largest ridge on the way up, gaining lots of extra lift. Above the top, engine off and just kept climbing. The mountain is 4800 and I was taken up to 5500 by it. Took 25 minutes of engine off back to the beach, where I was still at 2100 feet.

Two photos on the way up and 3 from the top.

OK, point taken re Brad. AXA would not let me take out cover without first sending the training cert! Have you had yours for some time - before they started doing checks?

From personal experience of trying to fly with a guy trained by him, plus lots of feedback on other forums about his bad training. It's just most people never like to say anything bad. I do, because someone died last year who was not flying to a good standard. I saw it. Month later, dead.

Who is your insurance with? I could not get insured without providing one of the above training certs. PMC do their own insurance? Do they check your training before giving you insurance?  Is the PMC insurance accepted everywhere?

Be careful which instructor you chose. Make sure they are registered (trained) to provide a recognised syllabus/training programme that an insurance company will accept eg BHPA or APPI registered. I think the above guy is neither.

Any engine is suitable for weight. However, it depends on your experience and level of fitness as to whether you will be able to fly.

Smaller engine = longer, faster run.

Heavier pilot = longer, faster run.

Smaller wing = longer faster run.

Inexperienced pilot = more chance/time for error.

I know 95 kg pilots with Atom 80, and me at the same weight with Tornado. I like the extra power because it pushes me into the air very quickly (I can't walk very well!). I use Tornado on beaches because running in sand is more difficult. I use a Nitro in the UK on grass.

Fuel use is very dependant on wing and pilot weight. Big wing, slower, more drag, more fuel. Big pilot, fly faster to stay level, more fuel. The following is with a 28 m Roadster and 95 kg pilot......

Nitro fuel 4.25 l/hr

Tornado, thrust 88 kg, fuel 5 l/hr

That looks good, but this does really well....

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/572639/pn/010-01772-00

My experience is that some of the engines I have had (AC Nitro and Tornado) need virtually no tuning. Others needed, Polini (a lot) and Moster (a little). 

All AC  elec machines fly with a Lipo. It is kept in a small fire-proof bag. They only ever go up in flames when charging (incorrectly) or sudden short circuit - although the latter often results in a resounding nothing. I have driven nails through old packs to ensure they are dead....and never managed to get a decent fire, just a few small flames twice. You CANNOT charge them in flight, but they last so long, you never need to. I use a small 1000 mah pack (weighs nothing!) and it lasts me more than 10 flights, with multiple starts in flight.

On 10/09/2019 at 00:34, HangTen said:

Often times pilots are busy with charts, setting instruments or chatting with co-pilots.    Sometimes no one in the approaching plane is watching.   Considering a closing speed of perhaps 250 - 400 knots, it only takes only a moment to a few seconds or so to get from where they first appear to where you are.  it happens.  

Stay alert.  Learn how to judge whether a plane is nearly at your altitude, climbing towards you, or descending away from you.

I agree. It is quite likely that whatever you do to be visible, may simply go unseen. It does depend on your altitude and the type of aircraft. A few personal examples:

Yorkshire. Two RAF Typoon jets decided to do 100 foot maneuvers over where I fly. They got quite close, more than 1/4 mile, less than half, but were going so fast was hard to tell. I was the same height. They did not see me. Discussed it with RAF and I now call their ATC before flying.

Costa del sol. 300 feet above the beach, 300 feet out to sea. Military transport plane flies by at the same height, 1/4 mile out to sea from me. I was heading towards them.....and waved. I believe they had come to see who I was in case I was drug smuggling from Africa! They saw BECAUSE they were looking for me.

Depending how quickly you want to get going, don't bother with pg!

On my mid engined kit car I made an all stainless, 2" big bore, 3 into 2 into 1, hard mounted exhaust with no flex joints and no soft mounts. All mounts were directly to the engine. Did 60k miles with no issues.

You might argue that it didn't vibrate as much as a 2 stroke, however, it was full race engine that idled at 2800 rpm. I can assure you it vibrated like crap.

The farmer who lets me use a field has horses in the field next to where I fly. He says they are fine and will not be bothered. They sometimes used to dash to one end of their field, but now they seem to have got used to me. However, his cows like me and make setting up really difficult as they want to be petted on their noses!