norbertflyer

I nearly flew down to you guys today, but I was having too much fun in the thermals! Hope we can put this xc together soon. My mate was at the Mini Malvern do on the 3 counties showground and saw a few parawaiters on the hill. It was SSW thermals only at Clent most of the day, with a few easterly ones but they were rare. So, I guessed it might be a bit frustrating on the Kettle. You'll like the Aspen, Jock, it has great handling, but don't forget to change those main lines! Richard

Lovely gentle thermals today, especially on the mid afternoon flight, 400-600ft/min ish and gaining 1400ft ish each time. Richard

I'll be out and about, if anyone fancies meeting up? Lightish northish winds, sunnyish, no rainish.... Richard

I spent last weekend as a Premier league cameraman for the first time! Perhaps I shouldn't have told Rooney my Grandma was single and available? ....

www.Paramotorsuk.co.uk have some Mike. Richard

What a great month of flying weather in the UK!, especially the last 11 days. 1hr 37min and 1hr 55min flights today marginally eclipsed my September 2008 monthly flying record. The month’s nearly at an end, but I think that’ll be all the flying for me due to weather changes. The excitement of a flying a superb new wing (especially thermalling) and a few engine mods helped the totals a little! Hope everyone else has had as much flying weather luck as myself this month. Richard

Well done, I couldn't believe how long you stayed over the water after the engine cut out...... Regarding your mate on the blue/yellow wing: Let him know that he either has a knot in one of his brake lines or it's a bad replacement. Doesn't look much of an issue though. Richard

Most PG'ers use 144-6. Some use a frequency just outside that (Long Mynd 143.950), but their radios need to be 'expanded' to be able to transmit on this frequency. The Gliding freq 118.675 needs airband. There are a few on this freq when it's a nice lifty day. I listen to my local airfield (123.000) sometimes, but traffic is very sporadic. Richard

I was thermalling at 2800ft about 330pm (engine off) over the south east area of Belbroughton yesterday. I went to Abberley school on the last flight about 5pm ish. The return journey took me by Belbroughton 630pm ish. I did see a chap in the air south of Stourport, but don't know who he was. Richard

Mike, Globe trotting, or paramotoring?.......... I think you have the edge ............. hope the concerts are going well. Phil, yes, went towards Bridgnorth on the first flight (after a carb fix), it was 'a bit east' and the thermals were drifting westwards. So, I went with the flow.... Second flight was from about 4.45pm to 6.45pm and a bit more of an easterley wind, (thermals dead now) so, I ended up whipping over to Rubery, Cofton Hacket, Barnt Green, Bartley green reservoir etc. etc. I didn't see anyone in the air, but a blast from the past (James Shipley (Romsley)) called me today, says he's game for starting again after a motor refurb. Wing still awesome ..........! I'm running at 1/2 bar quite a lot of the time and getting 45kph ave level flight speeds at only at 2800 revs, which is still lower revs compared to the old Aspen2 at 38kph...... 19.2 GPS hours for March so far ... will be out again tomorrow....! Richard

should anyone fancy joining me in the air for a bloat/flap/float/drift/buzz/pop/zoom/thermal/drag/fly ..... Richard

Spotted about 2km ahead of me at 1,000ft whilst on my way to Abberley about 6pm. Couldn't make out colours, nor make of wing. Misty, but nice smooth flying. Thermals were great on the mid afternoon flight - flew 11km engine off. Richard ps - Marvelous March, better flying than 2009? ....

Another Ozone first?

Anyone around this coming weekend? Light and variable winds, no rain. I'll be out at my normal location, unless anyone fancies a trip to Powick or elsewhere? XC's possible....... Richard ps - Jock, is the motor ready?

Picked up a box of 'twelve' from Race Lubricants, for £9.49 each. http://www.racelubricants.co.uk/VP/cast ... r-116.aspx Should keep me going for 18 months or so...... Richard

From Revo non delivery thread. "Thanks - that is what I thought. The difference between 29m Revo 2 and 34m Nucleon is about 500-600RPM at similar trim settings, which makes a small but significant difference in fuel economy and noise. Landing speed is faster on the Nucleon but with a longer glide. Despite the hype I don't think either of these '3 size solution' gliders are ideal at my top end weight, and there is always going to be a compromise of glide ratio by removing over 5 square metres of wing. Reckon I would have no problem matching the top speed of the Force if I flew the 29m Nucleon (2 sizes down from my 'correct' size)." Clarification:- Economy is a function of the revs cubed. 500rpm has quite a big effect on consumption. A 10% increase in revs, equates to a 33% increase in fuel consumption. Glide on our relatively low speed aircraft is completely unaffected (realistically) by wing size/weight for the same manufacturers wing (if 'zoomed' in design from one size to another (Apco's are not 'zoom' designed, but cells are added for the larger sizes)). Sink rate increases directly in proportion to speed. Sink rate increases for smaller wings, as does speed (sq root of weight changes). Sink rate is all that engine thrust needs to overcome in order to stay in level flight. Sink rate varies for trim and speed bar settings, it would be virtually impossible to directly compare different manufacturers' wings at 'apparent' same trim settings, same weight. same wing size. Richard

Fair estimate - 5kph top speed between wing EN classes: A: B: C: D: Comp. Richard ps - my mate's topless does 75mph ............ pps - Fuel consumption suffers greatly with speed. Cubed relationship to revs....

Force and Revo2 are different EN classes of wing, so not directly comparable, but do you really think there will be that much of a difference in speed at the same weight and same size of wing? I doubt it. Richard

'Blooded' the Delta with an estimated 30-50%er on the second flight. I was engine off, in and out of a gentle 600ft/min thermal at about 2100ft and heard the wing 'rustle' during a couple of seconds. No drama, simple weight shift and a bit of opposite brake, 30deg turn, no dive. Nice to know it behaves itself when you're 'in control' on a C class... Richard (2nd highest March flying hours ever and the month's only a week old...!)

Mike, I finally found the option in the VXA700 TX to switch off the internal mic when an external mic is attached. Should be fine next time we fly. Will be at Clent tomorrow. Richard.

Yes, a great afternoons flying with another 4 hours added to the logbook. Highest thermals went to 2,300ft and just 4.75 litres used on the first 2h11m flight! Great pics Mike, I'll get mine out later in the year when the summer finger wear allows operation of the camera controls .... would be good to see the video? Would be good to see you in the air again Jock, when your engine bits are sorted. Drizzling here today..... Richard

Ah, I see. I've always called it 'flapping' since I started flying these contraptions in 1996. (Powered or unpowered). Only speak about 'flapping' with friends & family. Never seem to use any other term. I'm planning to be there from 1230 ish. Richard ps - I'm sure that 50 acre field at Powick has a 2ft rise in the centre, we can soar that ......

Don't understand those comments, but looking like 5mph NE and not raining, so should ok, subject to the visability..... Richard.

I can squeeze out a free afternoon on Friday, if anyone else is out and about flapping? I'll stay local if no one can make it. Richard

Probably overdue for replacement. Looking forward to their speed claims of mach3 loaded at 1,200kgs ..... Richard