flyingdoc

It was a great weekend and significant acts of blatant aviation were committed on all three of the days I was able to be there. Had four good flights myself but the last one on sunday was the most interesting. The wind was getting very blustery by the time I was coming round to land. When set for my usual landing trim I was making hardly any progress at all so went round again and landed on full fast. Surprisingly easy landing but my arms were way up on the brakes for most of the approach. Rick was concerned that I had my brakes set up wrong. It was however a conscious decision due to the large trim range of the speedster risers. Probably the wrong decision with hindsight. Anyhow a great weekend. Lots of airtime and lots of chat with more knowledgeable pilots. What's not to like? Well done Mark. Till next time TTFN

Count me in I would like one for my polini thor 110. Cheers Was great to see you all at the Cheshire Fly In.

Simon, Where has my signature gone and why can't I add one?? P

Count me in and + one for also willing to help with organising if you want?? May or may not be camping as I only live round the corner but will defo stay late... Sounds like a good 'un.

Hi Dave, That was spooky. I almost thought you had been watching me as I did exactly that. Will do it no longer... I'm about 80 kg naked. with the usual gubbins in flight, reserve, wing etc it makes 135kg ish...

Great flight last night. Weather was peachy in Cheshire. Or should I say great three flights. Laid out the wing set up the motor. Warmed up the motor. Wind was excellent for a simple super smooth reverse. Climbed to 120 feet and noticed that the left brake was a little stiff. Looked up to see it wrapped around the c lines. Tried to jiggle and shake and push it loose. To no avail. Brought it back in for landing knowing that it would really only easily travel in the down direction so only one chance at the flare. Fortunately the wind was still excellent so really a very easy if frustrating landing. Untangled the brake, laid out the wing again, again nice easy reverse from a single lift. Turned to take off and at around 70 feet looked down into my cockpit to see an empty space where my iPhone should be. S**t! and I had just taken off from a recently cut hay field so what's the chance of finding the phone again? Whipped back round with a quick 80 feet circuit. Landing roughly where I have taken off with no sign of the phone visible from the air! Once the wing is down and I'm starting to unclip a little voice in my head makes me decide to fully unzip the lid of my cockpit and yes I find the phone had just slid across to the other side. Third time lucky, airborne again for the remainder of 90+ minutes of really smooth air and a nice sunset. Moral of the story? Flight checks really are important. Just because the brakes are parked properly doesn't mean they are not tangled further up. Secure EVERYTHING in the cockpit. Don't rush! The air is lovely and there will be plenty of time. On the plus side, despite 12 ltrs of fuel in the bulldog, the speedster was just so easy to get off the floor that I don't really mind the three takeoffs. And even fairly fully loaded the bulldog didn't seem that heavy. Maybe tomorrow I'll do it again just for fun. The takeoffs, not the brake handle wrap thing... TTFN

Hi all, I am about to go on holiday to the lakes and wondered about taking my kit up to catch some air time. Are there any special rules in that area with regards to RAF flying etc? Where can people regularly fly? Best places to avoid? Etc, etc. Any help or ideas gratefully accepted.

Richard, Being as I very rarely switch my motor off (too much panic about whether it will start again) it may take me a while to get these for you, however it is of interest to me too and so I just might.... Christian, The minplane is 5 kg lighter and this is very noticeable. I was a little concerned whether it would not have enough power to get me off the floor (80kg naked) but in fact it did so very well indeed. Putting paid to the myth that you "need more power captain..." On my back and in flight I think the climb rate was not as good as subsequently on the bulldog. The minplane certainly started easily in mid flight(switched it off by accident when way too low but managed to get it back on very promptly...) The bulldog too starts very easily on my back but since getting home I haven't had the balls to switch it off mid flight yet??? As far as construction goes I think putting the miniplane together is a little more fiddly than the bulldog. Clive has thought a great deal about the structural integrity and the assembly process to make it very easy indeed. I believe Clive suggests that the bulldog frame is sturdy enough for a power launch although there was some talk at the nats about some lines getting touched at one stage. I don't know the details of that incident and I don't know how to do a power launch so the point is moot to me. Having tried to flex both outer rings I would suggest that the Bulldog is slightly stronger and thus hopefully propstrikes are less likely. Note I don't say impossible as if you are brutal enough with any frame you will touch a prop.( apart from the fabled flat top???) One thing worthy of note, my Bulldog was technically only 2kg lighter than my airfer but it feels a whole lot lighter on my back. i am not sure why, you'll have to ask Clive, but it certainly makes more palpable difference between the bulldog and the airfer, than between the bulldog and the miniplane. Yes I know the numbers don't indicate that. All I can say is put a bulldog on your back before you make your mind up. Just my 2p

Its gone quiet on our bit of the forum and I know the weather has been crap lately but yesterday was a passable evening and unfortunately my local flying field is knee deep in long grass. I tried phoning arclid and they were less than enthusiastic. I know there are several wings flying in the near by area so where do you lot fly from? Would love to get together with like minded looneys to spend some time in the air looking at another wing rather than just the ground..... Anyway just my 2p, where are you all flying from at the mo?

Yes that was me. The wind on the ground was fairly consistent but up in the air it was a little bumpy, I think I got off lightly because i got down just before the rain set in so I think the air wasn't quite so rough when I was up there. It was nice to be up though and the wing handled really well. As someone said on the other forum I am not sure how much of the differences I felt were due to the different wing and how much was due to the change in size. I would have thought if I was too heavy on the wing it might struggle to get me off the ground and it certainly never struggled. Good fun.

I have recently been across to Larange with Paul Mahoney primarily to get an official flying ticket having being flying on and off since 1979. Paragliders 1993. Paramotors since 2009. Anyway thanks to Paul's excellent training and a great deal of patience(plus a new miniplane prop;-( ) I am now officially Pilot rated for power and hill. Thanks Paul you have the patience of a saint. More of interest to pmc I also had the opportunity to test fly the new ozone speedster 26. Coming from my own 29 Dudek synthesis the differences were enormous. For the record I am 80kg in the buff and fly a Bulldog spririt. The speedster is a whole kilogram lighter which certainly felt different to carry. It kited very easily and came up reliably central for a forward launch. At first I felt a bit delicate and it probably was a little more "bumpy" in the air but that might have been that I was noticing everything on the new wing or just the change in size... It was certainly very much more dynamic and turned very easily on the brakes with slow trim. On fast trim I did have a bit of trouble reaching the tip steering from a high hang point on the miniplane (I am only 5' 4") but apparently the new risers have two positions to cope with this. But when I reached them the response was dramatic. I had the original TST system on the synth and I liked this for changing direction in fast flight on a xc. But it could hardly be called dynamic. The tip steering on the 26 speedster was very progressive with a very long pull and when you wanted to you could turn on a sixpence. In fact I said to Paul that I bet you could do wingovers with the tip steering alone.(not that I tried) The other obvious difference is the glide. In fact on my first few approaches I regularly over shot as it just didn't want to come down. Paul suggested that I always should land on full slow and at this setting I could glide for ages and ages. Plenty of time to chose where to land in an emergency situation, and loads of time to correct my approach on a normal landing. The flare on the wing at the settings I used was just great. My landings quickly became very reasonable and predictable. My take offs remained a little fraught but not because of anything to do with the wing and everything to do with bad habits I had developed over the years. (repeat after me, I must not jump into the seat, I must not jump into the seat....... Sorry Paul. ) When my bad habits were corrected the wing became a joy to take off with. Seemingly waiting patiently above my head for me to decide if it was ok to go and squeeze the throttle. All in all you may have guessed that I bought one. In fact I had it with me at the Nats on Saturday and it did get a brief airing in the lull between the rain. It was the blue and grey one for the more eagle eyed among you. Anyway having only flown three wings in a Paramotor ever, ozone electron to start, synthesis next and now the speedster I don't feel qualified to give you any technical details but here are my personal opinions. It is not a beginners wing nor should it be. It comes up very easily and climbs and glides very efficiently. Even with my minimal use since coming home it is definitely less thirsty than the synth. It is great fun to fly and I felt very safe with my usual method of take off, gain height and then push the trimmers full out. Poodle around, have fun. The tip steering is wonderful, it'll be even better when I can reach it comfortably. The most important lesson from this is try the wing before you buy it. Preferably try several. One thing I didn't do was try a nucleon before trying the speedster and part of me says it would have been an interesting comparison. The other part of me said this is a great wing, take it home. Just my 2p

Thanks for the feedback Richard, can you point me in the right direction? Do you have a link?

Hi Guys, There has been some discussion in the past about after deploying a reserve you might need to cut away the wing. I have sought out several types of webbing cutter but they all seemed too big and clumsy. However I just found this which is intended for scuba divers but is very small and neat and comes with a sheath to easily attach it to anywhere on your harness. http://www.divelife.co.uk/scuba-manufacturers/Eezycut/4852/Eezycut-Trilobite Cuts up to 8mm thick easily. Think that would be enough? Check it out if you're interested. A little bit like insurance, you never want to have to make a claim, much like a reserve really, hope I never have to pull it, but.... Let's all get plenty of air time.

Well done on all you have achieved so far Alan, and best of luck with your further efforts. Paul

Anyone got one of these? http://www.airconception.com/paramoteurs/ultra-130.html Looks really good. Titanium. Ultra Light. Electric start. Lipo battery. Miniplane 'style'??? Feedback appreciated

The motor was delivered some time in May. It was one of the first Poilini Thor models but it has had all the factory upgrades in design in terms of head cover etc. It also has the regulator fitted which is not standard but a very good factory option. It has the standard Airfer low hang point weight shift attachment points making it very easy to control in the air with the brakes parked. PM me for more details if you like.

Always open to a reasonable offer. Depends on your definition of reasonable?? I know what the motor alone is worth to me. Just looking for some value for the frame and harness. Also your quoted polini price doesn't include the regulator and power outlet etc. Merry Christmas.

Yep, just my stupidity, didn't keep an eye on the clutch oil level and was putting a lot of miles on it in a very short time. Will know better next time. Everything relevant has been replaced with brand new so no worries there. As I said I am very happy with the engine and would happily swap it over to the new frame but Clive suggested that the old frame would be worth more with an engine in it. Also when fixing the clutch I took the opportunity to swap all the latest modifications from the factory too. New head cover with extra venting. New pull starter crank with different ratio, etc. Also added the regulator for a 12v output. All excellently done by Clive not me..... Very happy for anyone to check it over.

Yep, Must by my OCD leeking out. Paul

Dear All, Just to get the following noticed. This is the machine I attempted to fly around the UK for charity. It has done less than 20 hours logged from new. (August was a crap flying month.) But still managed to do 808 miles in 9 flying days with a 29m2 Synthesis and a 75kg pilot at an average of 5 litres per hour. Why am I selling it. Well I am moving from a low hang point machine to the new mid hang point Bulldog Spirit from Clive Bunce. It also has a Polini Thor engine so I thought I would just keep mine and sell the frame, but Clive said the frame would sell better with the Polini Engine in it. New right now available from Andy at Flyschool for £4150. Yours for £2897 as the outer cage bars have a few dings. Motor recently serviced by Clive with new centrifugal clutch etc. Steel frame. Nice smooth motor. Got me off the ground safely in conditions I am sure you wouldn't want to try, Oh yes and back down again too! There is a pic on Andy's website with the actual motor that I flew on the front page. See classified. Thanks

Yeas it is but I've got one and it was most reassuring on the 808 mile marathon I did. Just my 2p Paul

Most definitely "Falling with Style!!" Wow.

That looks "Ace" Clive. Looking forward to mine.... delivery soon I hope

Thank you my friend , Consider it duly "doffed" back.

Sounds great Alan, Another good one under the belt. Many more to come....