hammertime

Slapper, I'm from Warrington. Always looking for new areas to fly so let me know when you are next about. Regards Chris

Where are you based Slapper?

I'll bring a few tinnies down and watch if that's ok. Going to be out of action for a few weeks!

You can be my wing man any day Doc!!!!! Well, why don't we try and organise an XC. We can start off with a small one initially. Unfortunatley I'm out of action for a few weeks but that can give us time to put our heads together. How about we meet up for a pint one evening? Meds, Doc, Arcus and anyone else fancy an internet date??!!

Point taken Meds, but there was just something appealing about doing this solo and unassisted. It made it more of a challenge. Having the freedom to go where I wanted to go and make my own decisions was great although may be a little selfish. Someone mentioned on this forum last week about doing an unassisted Lands End to J O G. It's something I'd like to have a go at next year once I have a few more hours. But if you are up for some long distance flying then I would gladly go with you. May be a trip from Winsford through North Wales when there is a nice easterly breeze! Chris

Hi Dave, 95kg in the buff! Chris

This is a long post so I hope it doesn't bore you! The trip is something I had been wanting to do for a while but time and weather had got in the way until this Saturday. The plan was to fly from my farm on the outskirts of Manchester to a mates farm at Shobdon in Hereford, approx 100 miles away. It would be my longest XC to date. The forecast for the Saturday was great although the wind was coming from the South. Not wanting to fly all this way in to a head wind I decided I would get the train down to hereford on the Friday night with all my kit, stay at my mates, get up early and take advantage of the tail wind all the way home. This was a great plan until Virgin trains refused to let me board a train with a petrol engine! So it was back to the drawing board! I decided that if I was to set off early from home, I may have a chance of penetrating the head wind before it got too strong. I therefore got my kit ready the night before and went to bed. I woke up at 5am and at 5.30 I was performing a forward launch in to a very gentle breeze with my Bailey 175 and Synthesis 34. I was away! I received 2 text messages from friends in my local village saying I had woken them up! I cruised through the low level route between Manchester and Liverpool airspace at 500 ft hoping to avoid any other air traffic through this narrow path but I didn't spot anything, it was far too early! The sun rise was amazing. On exiting the low level route I increased height to 2000ft and carried on. It was silky smooth and I spotted 3 hot air balloons in the distance. As it was the weekend, I took advantage of cutting straight through the MATZ around Shawbury airbase, saving some valuable time. I was averaging just over 20mph and as I was flying over Shrewsbury I was approaching the 3 hour mark. On previous flights, my average fuel consumption is 3 - 3.5 litres per hour. This difference of 0.5 of a litre can make a huge impact on a long distance with a 10 litre tank. (Work out the maths). I had spotted 2 fuel stations but fortunately I have another farmer friend who lives just south of Shrewsbury, so I decided to land at his place for a refuel. It was 8.30 and I had already covered 75 miles. After a coffee, refuel and a chat it was now 10am. I took off again and had to gain some good height for the next leg as I was flying over the hills around the Long Mynd. The wind had picked up and my ground speed had dropped to 16mph in places. It was also starting to get bumpy but I pressed on. The last leg took an hour and a half but it was an awesome feeling to see my mate stood in the middle of his field waving at me. Set the trimmers for landing and cruised in. I had made it! I was so chuffed!!!! We went for lunch and then the wind really picked up. My idea was to leave my kit at my mates and get the train back. I could collect my kit another day. But at 4pm, the wind dropped, and I decided that I could take off and use the tail wind to my advantage. I could be home in 3 hours without refueling and this would complete a 200 mile journey! I was off! The GPS said I was doing 55mph in places and I was bombing along! It was a little bumpy but I was comfortable. However, after 40 mins it got really bumpy and I didn't feel comfortable so without hesitating I decided to land. It was 5pm, I had no phone signal where I was, so I sat under a tree listening to the ipod waiting for the wind to drop. At 7pm, the wind had dropped and I decided to crack on. I had a 2 hour window to get home. I would probably run out of light but I could make it close enough for an acceptable retrieve off the mrs. I strapped on the motor and performed my usual pre flight warm up. This consists of running the engine whilst strapped in but not attached to the wing. I then killed the engine, clipped in to the wing and started it up. I then gave the engine a full power test when suddenly all the C & D lines in my right hand got sucked in through the front of the cage netting and wrapped around the prop!!! Arrrrgghhhhhh! Now I was pissed off. On inspection, it had shattered the carbon prop, destroyed one of the cage quarters and cut through various lines. Now I was in the sh1t. With no phone signal and being 75 miles from home I started to wonder what I would do. Suddenly a lady from the nearby farm came across the field on a quad bike to see if I was alright. After explaining, I left all the entangled kit in the field and went back to her farm where I had tea and chocolate cake! I then called for a taxi, but it was Saturday night and nothing was available. My mate from Shrewsbury had gone out for the night and I was well and truely stuck. Fortunatley, the farmers wife took pity on me and gave me a lift to Shrewsbury train station where I managed to get a train to Warrington. I finally got home at midnight! I then had to go back yesterday by car to retrieve my kit and give the farmers wife a bottle for all her help! This is the first real incident I have had whilst paramotoring. I only have 40 hours under my belt and have never broken a prop until Saturday when I ended up being 75 miles from home with no phone signal! Would I do a solo trip like this again? Absolutely! I can't wait to get the kit repaired and plan another trip! And that is my story I would like to share with you. Even though I have caused some expensive damage to my kit, in a strange way, I really really enjoyed this experience. It was a real challenge. Something I had wanted to do for ages. I may have failed on the return leg but it is a trip that I will never forget. I hope you didn't find it too boring!

Pete, I have a 16ft Ifor Williams tilt bed trailer with sides and a Double Cab Toyota Hilux that could be useful for the France trip if needed. Keep it in mind anyway. Regards Chris

I'm taking off just north of Hereford near Shobdon Aerodrome. My mate has a farm there. I have been wanting to do this for a while but have been cautious of flying near the MATZ at Shawbury. Obviously it won't be in operation tomorrow and the weather looks perfect for it. Fingers crossed!

I'm taking off just north of Hereford near Shobdon Aerodrome. My mate has a farm there. I have been wanting to do this for a while but have been cautious of flying near the MATZ at Shawbury. Obviously it won't be in operation tomorrow and the weather looks perfect for it. Fingers crossed!

Well, I'm planning to get the train down to Hereford today after work with all my kit, stay with a friend tonight and fly back to Manchester tomorrow at 6am!!!! It will be my biggest XC so far at approximately 100 miles but I'm looking forward to it. Chris

All I'll say is make sure you protect your hearing. I used to shoot all the time without wearing ear protection. I got the same ringing shortly afterwards but then it went away. I wasn't that bothered until one day the ringing never went away. I went to see the specialist who told me I have tinnitus and there is no way of curing it. It's basically constant ringing in my left ear and I just have to get used to it. Boy do I wish I protected my ears. Sometimes it can take me hours to get to sleep. You have been warned!

Count me in! Chris

Obviously the racing idea is getting some negative vibes! What about making it a more fun and social event as opposed to a race. I mentioned the points system earlier. If there was a committee that came up with some tasks and awarded points to the teams in each task, this may be an idea to consider. Points could be awarded for anything from 'Best forward launch of the day', 'Best landing of the day', 'Shortest route to waypoint' etc etc. May be get points deducted for failed launches or not landing on 2 feet. I think it would also be good for the ground crews to be more involved so that they could earn points aswell. You could even have silly points awarded for the best fancy dressed pilot! I don't know, may be this is all too childish but it would certainly take the race element away but still leave a competition for people to participate in and hopefully enjoy. Finally, although I would go all out to win £15k, I still think this is way too much. I think people would be happy with: 1st £1,000 2nd £500 3rd £250 If I think of anymore great tasks, I'll let you know!!!! Chris

Sorry about that! Anyway, I'd be well up for this!!

Seriously, If anyone has a few acres here and there suitable for growing oilseed rape, let me know. We can do a deal on fuel? Donations of vegetable oil will be gratefully received once I've got it up and running I'm sure you'll need more than a few acres of OSR to run a vehicle.

I'm doing the Landy Rally next month around Europe for 9 days. Only decided to do it last week. The cost is £760 for a vehicle and 2 people. The rally is an informal and fun competition with points to be collected each day with cash prizes and awards dinner at the end in Calais. None of the competitors know where they are going until each morning when they are given a map book with various tasks to do. The cost includes camping, route plans and map books, T-shirts!! etc etc. I would definitely be up for a similar flying holiday. Type Landy Rally in to google for some ideas.

1. Flying Doc 2. Nirmal 3. ArcusFlyer 4. Meds 5. Hammertime Meds, I'm now living round the corner from you in Cotebrook, Tarporley. Let me now if you want to go for a fly in the evening. As for everyone else, I'm also keen to catch up for a fly, so just let me know and I'll be there.

I should be able to find some suitable fields. I will ask around and let you know.

Well I am keen to meet up but my field is not the best at the moment due to the long grass. It's only another month or so and there should be some stubble fields available. Are you available late afternoons and evenings during the week? My weekends are full for the next month unfortunately.

We even managed to do some aerobatic ground handing last night!!! Very entertaining!!!

I'm Still here! I've managed to get quite a few hours under my belt over the last few weeks. I even managed to get permission to land at Haydock Park on a race day last week! Arcus Flyer and myself went for a fly last night after a couple of hours of parawaiting! I try to fly as much as I can after work during the week. Let me know if you want to come along. Regards Chris

Jon, I asked the same question 2 weeks ago. I ended up buying a Thule Easybase. I'm really pleased with it. It takes 2 mins to attach to the towbar. You can't lock it to the towbar so I normally use a chain and padlock and connect everything to the chassis. It cost me £120 on eBay. Hope this helps. Chris

Dear All, I went down to Abersoch this weekend to stay with some friends. After the wind calmed down late afternoon on Sunday, I decided to go for a 2 hour fly around the Peninsula. I had a lovely smooth flight and landed in my mates garden at 7.30pm. After packing my gear away, we decided to go to the pub and on the way I looked up and spotted a paramotor flying along the coast. I may be wrong but it looked like a yellow Paramania wing. Was this you? You were directly over Abersoch and then headed over to the Warren beach at around 8.30pm. I was wondering if you had taken off hoping that you would join me. I was a bit gutted that I had landed when I saw you! I'm going back to Abersoch at the end of May, so it would be good to catch up for a fly if you are around. Regards Chris Bailey 175 Orange Synthesis 34

I got movement!