AndyB

Despite having a BBC TV license the idiots at BBC prevent me from watching this while in Spain!!!!!!!!!

There are a number of helmet 'save's on Youtube. One guy was struck before he took off, by another guy taking off. Huge dent in helmet. The most common injury is when ending by on your side and then getting face planted into the ground. If you ever had to throw a reserve then you could end up any way up and landing anywhere! I fell off my bike years ago on ice and went hard onto my side. Without the helmet I would be dead - the helmet was split and I was knocked out. The problem landing on your side is you can't stop your head hitting the floor. An inquiry into a paragliding accident in the Alps debated whether the pilot would have survived if his helmet had stayed on his head. This is one of those things where the probability of whacking your head is small, but if/when you do, the risk of serious head injury is great.

Hi, I am 90 Kg and 192cm. I learned on a Moster 185cc (Skyschool machines) then flew my own Polini 190 for 18 months and now an AC Nitro 200. So all 3 of those you mention! All these engines have great performance and are definitely great for 90 Kg. I don't think there is much in it between all them. All 2 strokes take a little looking after. Always use top quality oil and be extremely careful when re-fuelling. Use a filter, such as Mister Funnel when adding fuel. After fueling, make sure the funnel, pipe etc are immediately covered as the remaining fuel quickly evaporates off the surfaces and then leaves a nice sticky oil that is perfect for attracting dust. Next time you refuel, the new fuel washes in any dirt!!!!! I can't fault either Parajet or AC for service when something is needed. Good luck, Andy

Unfortunately I am getting my foot operated on on the 7th - I have 2 small bits of broken bone! I found out just before I left for Spain and decided to put it off till I get back. The upside is I can do you free accommodation! We might also be able to meet up with Dan who flies close by as well.

Just half hour form where I live....but I go back to UK on 2nd!!!!!!

lol. Wouldn't work here though......unless of course you fly every day!!!!!

Sand is too big to get past the air filter. Salty air can be a problem anywhere within 10 miles or so of the sea. Best preventive measure is constant use I think. Don't leave it standing.

Sounds like you had an interesting time! Wind was still a bit rough high up this evening. I would have liked to get closer to the mountain but it wasn't nice. I am also still trying to be nice to my new AC Nitro! Weather Thursday onwards looking good again.

Isn't critical illness cover protection from not being able to work? So if you work as a Paramotor instructor then I would assume you have an instructor qualification with BHPA or APPI and are a registered instructor with them.

This evening I went for height. I have been wanting to get to the mountain I can see from my patio - Paraje Natural Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja. It is 4500 feet, so about a mile high. It was 28 deg on the beach and about 19 deg a mile up. Quite nice really! I didn't get too close to the peak as the wind was being blustery. I got 7 miles inland and did a power off glide all the way back to Estepona. There is a storm due in tomorrow and I was getting really odd wind conditions, gusting from nothing to over 8 mph and swinging through more than 90 deg. Just as I decided to land, wind reversed 180 deg.... but then dropped to zero! The video starts from about 3000 feet as I spiral slowly while climbing to 4500. The view over the Costa del Sol was amazing.

I was addicted before I even tried it!

Miniplane Top 80 18.5 Kg. AC Nitro 200, elec start and clutch, 19.4 Kg.

I am here till end Oct

I think that was Sunday 17 Sept, flying from a beach 2 Km NE of Estepona....my favourite place as I can park on the beach! Let me know if you fancy a fly sometime. ps. the beach had no name so I have called it Playa Volador (flying beach!) and got Google to accept it. Search on it and find the best place to fly. pps I also called the beach Turd Beach (as many dog turds). I thought Google had rejected this....but I just got an email saying it has been accepted!!!!!!

"My other helmet is a twin cam"

Most modern servos or esc's use PWM (pulse width modulation). A square wave is sent to the esc and usually if the frequency is 2ms that is full, 1ms zero. A very simple way to operate an esc manually is to use a servo tester. I always use these on first setup to prevent any radio mishaps. Here is the sub $10 Hobbyking one... https://hobbyking.com/es_es/turnigy-servo-tester.html

Yes, but to do it you need to know the esc voltage range for the throttle channel. It is in the specs for it. You need this so that the voltage and resistance you use in the "scalectric" handle can be chosen to match the esc requirements.

Wired link is much easier and MUCH more reliable. First you need the specs for the esc, specifically what the control/input is. Is it anologue? If so what voltage range drives it from zero to full speed across the speed contact. This will currently be the voltage output from the receiver.

Are you using a radio link or wired?

If you want any help re calcs, I could help. the calcs are actually extremely accurate. I have used high power elec systems for over 15 years on RC planes and can design and chose power system components without having to test them! They are very predictable.

When you get going on in Si ....I have lots of elec kit for sale eg 250 amp, 300 amp and 350 amp speed controllers. The 350 has only been used for setup on the ground and never run for mare than 10 seconds!

Sounds good. Post some vid/pics of it when you run. Would be great to see.

Yes, if I remember correctly they use Lithium Ion batteries costing £1600 each.

ps. If you are using a physical switch rather than solid state, make sure it is rated for continuous current. Most DC switches are only rated for full current for a short time. With elec motor power systems they can see the high current for much longer. This is another source of fires!

Lol. Sounds good. Experience of fire proof box/bags is they are only good for a short time. Eject is a good plan! LiPo bags are not up to the task for long so has to be a box. Here is a test on a heavy fire proof box with just one small LiPo. Imagine having 20 or 30 of them all going up.