norbertflyer

I use a qr code on my business card to save giving them all away and to save people time. In 12 months I've seen it scanned 20 times but only ever had one returned afterwards. Of the 20 scans, I reckon 17 had to download qr reading software. Early days..... Richard.

Appears to be flying drunk. Hope not. Catalogue of errors. Why pull so much left hand brake? Could've easily stalled or spun that slow pg wing. Richard.

He's more of an engineer than a flyer Alan. He absolutely loves building the things, but it a rare site to see him in the air wih one. Would love to have a 2 hour xc with Jock next year. Hope to be in the air again in a month or so following my bicep reattachment to my elbow. Richard

Gradient Aspen 2 30 under power (Certified EN Class C (below 130kg)). Old photo from 5 years ago (ish). Wing Still flown 3 or 4 times a year, tested last year OK for porosity after 410+ hours. Very comfortable ride.

Mate of mine (Rob) used to fly with a Golden 2 30 at 140kg under power. He loved it. Not fast but hassle free flying with easy launch & land. I flew the Gradient sister (Aspen 2) for quite a while with power at the same size & weight. Basically the same as the Golden 2 but a little faster top end and more efficient at the half to full bar setting. Golden might be better at catching thermal lift. We both flew the wings paragliding and still have the wings as they were so good. Richard

Clocked up 1,000 gps flying hours earlier in March on these flappy devices. viewtopic.php?f=51&t=6054&hilit=800 Took me since PPG deregulation to do that though. Shame the original engine only lasted 996 hours.... Richard

http://www.ozee.co.uk/shop#!/~/category ... ort=normal Never been cold in my Ozee millennium, paragliding on the Welsh hills in the middle of winter. No good for summer months. Ordered a custom all black version for the last one. Well made. Richard

Seems to work quite well on a Note2. Bit more map resolution might be available on the paid version. Good to get an approved foc airspace app. Richard.

My cruise speed on a modern ENC PG wing is 40kph at 2,700 revs and I average 3.75l/hour. My top speed on full bar is 54kph at 3,200 revs and I average 6.25 l/hour. (Top engine revs is 3800). A cubed increase in consumption relative to revs. This is significant when you consider some of the older more inefficient PPG wings. Richard

A paramotor (say) AUW of 150kg and at (say) 50kg of thrust at full revs, will struggle with the older PPG wings. Full fast trims and full speed bar (with an upright pilot and a big fan/cage) will probably have an L/D glide ratio worse than 3:1 (Drag of 50kg) and therefore not keep level flight in this mode. (simplistic aero theory, but a good approximation for our relatively slow flying aircraft). Richard

Normal to get this. Trade off all the while. I still fly the the engine I flew in the 90's and could never maintain level flight on full trims on a mid 2000's Reflex wing. But the wing felt very stable on full chat. The modern ppg wings are better, but so are the modern PG wings. Richard

Way too gusty here. Went to field and was recording 6 - 22mph at 6pm. Out of my comfort zone. Richard.

A couple of PG pilots also reported sudden turbulent conditions at a mid Wales site around the same time and landed immediately. Richard

Anyone else have problems in the Worcester branch area this evening? Ended up having to land out near Upton Warren after going backwards and up, as I turned back to go home...... Such a great evening bloat before that, surfing the front edge of the cloud bank on tickover for 15km. Happened to me about 8 years ago, virtually identical flight. Safe route out with bar and ears to the ground. Had to run towards the wing and grab it before it took off again after releasing the Cs. Richard

Bones recovered enough for a couple of very nice flights yesterday, if a little bumpy (unusable thermals) at first. I'll be out again Friday afternoon subject to a bit of wind (Can't make tomorrow). Forecast is very light winds for the 12th and I can't run fast to launch these days, so I might be forced to stay on the ground. Richard

Fantastic news Jock, In all the years I've known you, I can't remember you having a PPG flight of 45 minutes. That's really great stuff!! well done. I'll be out in the afternoons this coming week, if it's not too blowy. Richard

Yes, another cracking afternoon of thermals. Not out tomorrow, due to knee swelling. Will have to give it a rest. Might catch you one evening next week. Richard.

Cracking day in the air. Was over Ombersley on last flight, but no further south than that. Hope you managed some airtime Jock. Will be out again this afternoon. Richard

OK, I've found Trench Wood SE of Droitwich, guessing it must be there somewhere. I did do a round Droitwich flight last Wednesday, but didn't venture that far south for the Wood. The poor quality picture makes it impossible to see what glider it is. Certainly not one of mine anyway. If you do manage to let us know what paper it was in, I could try to find it on the net. Richard

I will also be out if it's flyable. The last 9 Powick outings have been solus, so I might as well do that locally. If a pilot quorum can be gathered with some sort of guarantee and timings, I'll venture down, or fly in. Good to know Powick grass is cut. Richard

Jock, if you're referring to me, I have been out a fair amount over the last 6 weeks in quite a few locations, but I would have to traverse my GPS tracks to tell you where exactly I've been. A few questions: 1 Where is Trench Common, it doesn't Google easily? 2 What Local Rag? 3 What date is the Rag? 4 What does the article say? 5 Picture quality just about depicts a Paraglider (I think). Richard

Powered only recently. No chance of me walking up the Malverns with my kit - knees are completely shot. I can't launch in nil wind any more with the engine. Enjoying the thermals on the motor though, but travelling any serious distance is always thwarted by the drag of the cage, compared with a PG setup. Richard

Went past Powick today to have a look at the grass. More than knee height, so will have to wait for it to be cut before we can fly there. Richard.

Any flying with that machine yet Jock? (Some good recent flying on my new Konig engine, thanks to the weather for a change) Richard.

Yes, a day full of highs and lows due to the conditions. Vario 'off the scale' for 10-15 seconds at a time. Averager (30 secs) max was 4.7m/s on one flight, 4.2 on two others. One flight lasted just 8 minutes because it was too rough. 7 of those minutes was off power and I landed in a different field to the one I took off in! Gusts on the ground were 0 to as high as 24mph recorded, may well have been higher than that. Take off timing was critical, but there were reasonable steady wind periods. Could not get to base due to airspace above and to the NE. Some of my PG friends made personal XC bests on Saturday. Richard