AndyB

Brill idea and wish had elbow equivalents last year. I've had one bad landing (apart from usual learning stuff) that involved me landing on my left elbow. I could just have easily been on my knees!!!!! It took a general anaesthetic to get all the bits out of the elbow. It is the only time I have ever flown from a gravel car park! Grass and sand are nice.

Hi, Same question as above really. I only fitted speedbar 2 flights ago and have now had 2 flights with it. With me at 95 kg it is too much for more than about 20, 30 mins tops. Feet go to sleep! Has anyone ever used a non-return device, such as a simple friction grip used in sailing? Then it would stay put without weight on feet, but easily released just by flicking lines out of the cleats. There is a small mini-cleat that could readily be attached somewhere along the speedbar cord path. I can't attach picture cos the site won't let me. Can someone remind of the file attach specs? This is the simplest, no moving parts, cleat... https://theriggingco.com/2014/04/30/cleats/

I was trained to consult the CAA airspace chart (which is displayed under the "members map" on this site) and then check NOTAMS for the local area. All pilots are also supposed to carry the relevant airspace map with them. I live inside the DTV ATZ and have to travel 4 miles to Huton Rudby to be clear of it. I then have 3 other local airports, including the Cattrick Garrison field, all of which I need to keep clear of.I have an AirWare electronic airspace 'satnav' that allows me to be absolutely certain of not straying into controlled airspace or the local fields. Also, I did my paramotor training on a small grass airfield in Spain, where we had to learn to share with fixed wings!

Would love to arrange a paramotor hol down here lol! My favourite take off site is here... https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Chiringuito+Aldea+Beach/@36.3343117,-5.2396925,788m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0xd0cd5adf14f49ef:0x403d278a576e580!2sEstepona,+Málaga,+Spain!3b1!8m2!3d36.4781254!4d-5.1223608!3m4!1s0x0:0x1d7683294cbfa7fd!8m2!3d36.334911!4d-5.238204 ps. Simon, it would not embed?

Ah yes, thank you, not thought about that. That could explain why my run is longer in Spain than in UK. It was 14 deg when I left UK and 26 here today. It is always virtually no wind here as well. I haven't done a single reverse launch in 12 months........although I do tend to still do forward even when a reverse might be possible. On the point of forward or reverse - due to back issues I am a bit wobbly when I turn round (especially if I have to be going backwards as well to keep the wing up), so reverse no good for me unless there is plenty of wind, then I can kite on the spot and then turn carefully. Is there any reason why not to do forward if I can? Today I could kite the wing when stationary most of the time (I put harness on for a play first), but I still did a forward launch! ps. I have no flying mates to watch and learn from! Anyone want to fly near MIddlesbrough from a huge grassed field, or off the beach in Spain? Here is a vid of forward launch into about 6 to 10 mph wind.

By "negative rake" are you meaning the vertical axis of the hub leaning forward?

Raked front wheel is primarily for stability. In a straight up position the wheel will try and vibrate around its axis. With the castor angle, the touch point of the wheel is vertically below the centre, but behind the imaginary touch point of a line drawn through the hinge point ie it trails. Because the force is applied trailing (behind) the pivot point, it is stable and self-centring. I think trike steering by pilot is better at take-off because it allows the pilot to drive the trike under the wing centre, thus allowing better recovery and cross-wind take-off.

I could try some on for you! I am going looking for boots when back in the UK end of June.

Fool proof method.....go to shop, try them on. Order online at much cheaper price.

The return with great view over the Costa Del Sol.....

Gain height and out to Casares....

Oops, forgot to add it. Take off....

I just flew a 20 mile cross country from a Costa Del Sol beach to the Crystalina Mountains and the town of Casares. I will post the video later. The mountains go to 4500 feet and Casares is at 2000. I took off at 7.45 (6.45 your time) and after getting to 1000 feet I set a straight course for Casares and headed inland. It was still very thermal and bumpy. As I head towards Casares, the terrain gets very rough, with few good landing sites.......so I go higher to 2000 feet. Better air, but still bumpy. I think even the cam looks like it got roller coastered. However, the wing never even so much as dipped at edge - I sat looking up filming the wing as I got thrown around! I went to 3000 over Casares to maintain safe height and keep glide options open near the mountains. I flew round the back of the town, then headed back for the coast. There are amazing views this evening. Puerto Banus and Marbella to the left and to the right, Gibraltar with the north coast of Africa behind it.

Yes, the ground rush happens. It just takes a little getting used to. I was taught that in no wind I need to use the whole brake travel from hands fully up to right down. The trick is to adjust the speed at which you pull the brakes, so that you never gain any more height. Start braking just before feet touch the ground (in dangling landing position!) and aim to keep feet just off the ground until brake travel fully used, at which point I pretty much just take 2 steps. I think my bigger wing helps make it easier. I am 92kg and have Roadster 28m. No need for any wraps of brake lines.

It is a shame I get such perfect nearly every day......as only me flies down here. I haven't seen a single other ppg here in the last year! Forecast looking good...... https://www.windfinder.com/forecast/estepona that wind direction is sea breeze until a week on Sunday

Took off in my usual place as today, wind off the sea, away from the car park. An hour later, wind turned......and needed a 360 over the car park to land......

The learning curve

Brilliant. I think that pop off pressure may explain why my new paramotor would not work properly last year. From new it would run but not go to full power....all the symptoms of being too rich. After breaking the plastic safety cap off the high end needle, I started to wind it in. The problem was that I only got full power with the needle just 1 turn from fully in. Guideline is usually about 1 3/4 turns out! I was sent another carb. Nearly the same result, but slightly worse...3/4 of a turn out. I was sent yet another carb. Same result....3/4 of a turn out. Engine went back to Polini. Came back with another carb on. And works. All carbs are identical spec. I have lots of spares now!

Nope. When kiting the wing only has to support it's own weight, less than 10kg (the weight of the wing plus a bit more, to maintain tension in the risers). Try pulling on a riser while kiting, it is dead easy to pull down. Then try with you and a paramotor hanging from it! When kiting, the front of the wing will 'stall' (fold, tuck etc) if the wind speed over the wing is not maintained...as wind drops you have to move forward!

Danny, VFR rules: Below FL100: 5km visibility, 1500m horizontally from cloud, 1000ft vertically from cloud. Above FL100: 8km visibility, 1500m horizontally from cloud, 1000ft vertically from cloud. So, you can be above cloud, if over 1000ft higher, but would have to travel over 5km horizontally away from the edge of the cloud, in order to descend!!!!!! Also, having been through a rather large cloud (accidentally while learning!). I don't want to do it again. It was very wet and very cold (no rain, just the cloud). Had to land and dry out!

Thanks for that (not the face bit!), appreciate it. I will read some more! I like pottering around taking photos as well, but have found flying low over sand is really fun! The point I was trying to make with the Jojo wing was that although the original had been modified and weight increased, then NOT retested, that made NO difference to it's ACTUAL rating. The wing was tested after the death and classed En B with trimmers in. So, if they had had it retested it would have been certified fine for a newbie. Whilst doing the testing, they also tested it with trimmers out.....suitable for advanced only.

So the criticism of the wing may be wrong. Also.....erm...I have no experience of having to (or how to) correct a wing when something happens.....other than "do nothing". How many pilots do have experience of a collapse that required something other "do nothing"?

Si, In that case then does that mean the JoJo wing WAS ok for Paramotor use. If they had had the cert re-done it would have come back as OK (with trimmers in) Andy

Upwind is fine.....well upto a couple of metres from the blades........how close dare you go!

It's not hard, just a little difficult to convey, because of the wind effect. Once you have the wing up overhead, it will only stay there if there is sufficient tension maintained in the risers to counteract the lift being provided by the wing. This lift has to be enough to keep the wing flying! After a while you learn what this tension should be (ie how hard you need to push forwards). In nill wind you will have to push forward and run as per the video of my son doing it. In 10 to 15 mph I can stand still and do virtually nothing except push forward against the risers while standing still. Not quite nothing because the wind is never steady, so you either have to be prepared to walk a step or 2 forwards as wind dips....or pull both brakes a little! As for not using brakes...yes, you don't need them if careful once the wing is up, you can maintain your flying wing by moving your feet! Hope that helps.