rob_jones

Like the Pics Mark, your skills are defo better then mine. Check this out though [youtubevideo] [/youtubevideo]

yeah I am in the blue Rab Jacket. Bearing in mind though I was on Skis and the other lad was on a board. Also I ski for about 3 weeks of every year so its pretty straight forward for me. Bit gutted though that Youtube cut off the audio, you need to picture that vid to Red Hot Chilly Peppers.

Decided enough is enough and it was time for a flight over the snowy ice covered plateau formally known as Great Britain. Plan being to launch from the local park with a pair of skis, to cover my odds I also took a kite. [youtubevideo] [/youtubevideo]

Nah I cant remember, I have a few vivid memories in 09 of the flagpole they all kinda merge into one. I remember a low airtime pilot doing a few circuits before attempting to land in the take off area, the wind was rattling and I for one did not fancy his chances of landing on such a small area (the crops were high) he did make it only to be met with Simons suggestion of "why not use that massive field to the right" Or my flight up to 6000ft (well maybe a tad higher) or I suppose my all time fav, Mark (Morgy) and I going to sit on the clouds that was a beauty. Now we move into winter mode and mountaineering skiing and oh did I mention I am off on boxing day for a week of speedriding. Little 14m wing and a pair of skis. Yipeeee

If you look closely you will see my car behind you, that was also my first powered flight. If I remember three of us got off that day.

Cheers Buddy, getting a dab hand at the iMovie editor. I know its not quiet paramotoring, but on the cold dark winter days at least its something.

Weather was far to windy to fly, in fact it rained from start to finish. Climbing session one completed. Next stop we are off to Scotland in Feb for a winter skills course. Then we will be ready for Mt Blanc [youtubevideo] [/youtubevideo]

I have an Apco Karma (2 years old) no more than 30 hours on it. I had it serviced by "the loft" in July (before I took the wing paragliding in the Alps) That cost £150 and it got an excellent rating. Its more of suited to Paragliding and I have never flown it with the engine. But I do see that Apco market them as dual wings. Its also a super safe DHV1 If your interested PM me

well you are correct, not sure if you followed my French exploits this summer (its on here somewhere) I actually took my Bailey to Chamonix valley to do that very thing, I was only halted by the lift police for taking a petrol engine on the Gondola to launch & 6000ft. Looking across at Mt Blanc I decided it would be fun to climb it. Sadly I know nothing about climbing so I have now found a mountain guide whom will teach us. New Year new skills to learn, cant wait.

funnily enough I am running an expedition to paraglide from the summit of Mt Blanc next year. We have our first mountain course starting Dec 5th in Snowdonia. I was planning a quick flight to the top pending weather just because I can. Will get some photos from the run up if you like

I am gutted for you, nothing worse than watching your hard earned cash getting spunked away by someone else. I am a self taught paraglide and paramotor - but to be honest I would not reccomend it, much better to have fun with a good instructor and ensure you feel at ease everytime you go up.

Yeah it was rather cold, but wrap up enough and you can get through it

2 x Cold Pilots Look Closely and you can spot the skid marks :>

Some photos of the day This is the footy land out field

Morgy and I conducted my first (his second) XC today, and even stopped for petrol. The day started with an 0700hrs rise and a check of the weather down on the coast. Plan was to fly from West Wittering to Devils Dyke. Stop for fuel and a return. 1st things first we needed somewhere to launch, Mark has just moved to the coast and luckily there are more flat fields than you can shake a stick at. Mark spotted a perfect stubble field but not a land owner to be seen, quick chat with a chap whom owned a house over looking the field and that was enough permission for us. Winds on take off were zero, not a breath of air to inflate our 2 Paramania Fusions. My engine has not been run since my trip to the alps and would you have guessed I had a flat battery, again luck was on our side as Mark also has a Bailey, so quick battery share and my 175 is spinning happily. I took off first without incident other than having to run like the clappers, Mark followed soon after. WE set off out over the sea to buzz his Mum walking along the beach, I had agreed to stay on his right for the trip to save him constantly scanning the sky looking for me, but as he was over the sea me sitting on his right put me right out into the blue. So I fell in behind. Quite amazing from 1000ft how small the slither of sand is, wouldnt fancy an engine off a dunking so we set off towards Bognor Regis flying over an estuary which had I not been concentrating on flying would have made an awesome photo of Mark against the dark green on the english channel. The air at this point was smooth as ice and an average 3 up @ full power, we then moved inland towards the South Downs. Bearing in mind this is cold autumn I was surprised by the amount of thermals throwing us around. I was seeing 10 up bombs throwing me up, on the whole though it was about 5 up. In the distance I spied Devils Dyke and the half moon wings laid on the floor, many times I have been that person on the Dyke waiting patiently for the right wind to give me 3 mins of flight. And here I am flying over them @ 1000ft looking at the white faces looking back up. We had been flying for about 2 hours now but as I forgot to turn my vario chrono on I actually had no idea how long we had flown, I also have no idea how much fuel I have so all I can think about is turning back, but Mark keeps pushing east bound and we pass down to the M23/A27 Junction which I guess is where he is heading. If you know the area from above there is a rather large field just to the North of the roundabout, but Mark turns away and starts to make his descent into the football pitches right next to the BP, Mark is on his finals before I make a turn and get ready to follow him in, from above he made it look easy. I fly over the astro turf where a team are warming up, line myself up between the numerous goal posts and even scarier Rugby Posts, Brakes up lift my ass from the seat kill the engine (all my usual procedures) but something is wrong and I am tanking it in at a speed I could never run off, ok this should be fun. under carriage down and its time to field skid in whilst bleeding off with the brakes, down on my knees and still skidding before the wing keeps going and lands in front - guess that was a downwind landing. Mark is clapping on the side and the burger van has 2 guys whom cant understand what they have just witnessed. Quick brew and a trek to the petrol station and we are ready for the return leg, wind has picked up nicely and we both have a text book 3 step take off, with a little wave to the still watching burger van. On the return flight we cruised along the convergence from the sea which enabled the engine to just tick over and maintained height. We shared a thermal or two with sailplanes and witnessed a horse racing event from 1000ft. Landing was uneventful and we both slapped each other on the back for a good flight, we did about 70 miles and flew for around 4 hours. 10l of fuel used. All in all a great way to spend a Sunday

wow - how clear are those photos, I wonder what lens he uses to take them?

JLC - A lot of people travel out to Lambourne where Simon can give you some top notch training,

Bignos please rant away - this is a forum for that very purpose and I for one do not take any offense. I also have a reflex wing (Fusion) and DHV 1 PG (Apco Karma) having just returned from the Alps flying I tried the Fusion with and without engine in high thermic days, did I pap myself - you bet, but the wing didnt fly any differently on slow trim than my Karma. It went up to Base exactly the same. I did wear a GPS and the only main difference was forward speed although the day I took the Fusion from launch @4000ish it was blowing a bit of a gale and my down wind track was 41 mph which I very much doubt my Karma would do. Sink rate on both wings 2 down on average (which incidentally is also the sink with the engine idling, 4 down with engine off). Even with my Karma although it does scare you the wing does tuck and collapse, but these happen very quickly and are out before you can do anything about it. That day with Mark I watched his right wingtip fold under itself - again the wing was still flying superbly. Flying fullstop is dangerous and in short like you not everytime do I want to land exhausted after thinking any second I am going to have to chuck the reserve and try out the alternate landing method. But I am also aware enough that these wings are designed to take the thermal punishment and if I did not have the engine I would be waiting for the most thermic part of the day before going jumping off a hill, and I wouldnt give it a second thought. Happy Flying and remember its all about the fun factor!!

You might surprise yourself, its actually strange mindset of the paramotorist versus the paraglider pilot and I also find myself victim of falling into the "its too thermic" to fly syndrome when in actual fact its the most perfect time for Paragliding (and there isnt much that separates the two) I think it could be as a powered flyer we are somewhat spoilt and of course a nice smooth flight is just the best. But if you take that into the paragliding world all your doing is top to bottoms and very quickly becomes boring. The reality I think is that the wings we fly are designed to be taken into thermic lift and you just have to sit back and trust that the wing will do its job (just as it does for the countless PG pilots whom are searching out the bumpy air). Morgy and I went out for a 1300hrs flight out of Guildford about 6 weeks ago, the wind sock on the ground was swinging all over the place which is a sure fire indicator its gonna be interesting. I had my vario running and as I was following Mark I could see him rocketing up in front of me which I knew meant in 4 seconds I to would be following him. The Vario that day was showing 10 up (I find a 2/3 up is starting to give you the belly butterflies, 10 up is like being on a roller coaster) But once I got past that fear and just settled down to trust the wing the flight was one of the best I have had. We ended up doing 35 miles over a 2 hour flight. Another really memorable flight was above Lambourne and I was bouncing all over the sky but suddenly popped through inversion at about 4000 ft - from there to 6000ft was silky smooth and another world really.

Get out there @ 1400hrs when the thermals are booming up and enjoy the ride

Well guys it looks like Mt Blanc will have to wait for next year, I set off at 0600hrs this morning with the intention of grabbing the cable car (Brevant) up to 2000m to give me a head start. I was the first in the queue this morning only to be told your not allowed engines in the tele cabin. I had read in Paramotor Mag ref a tandem team whom did a similar flight from the same station so not to be put off I went to the next window and asked again. This time a bit more luck and she thought I could but I should ask the lift dudes to be doubly sure. On the way to ask them I got chatting to a PG Tandem guy whom crealy was working here. He informed me that yes I could take my motor up the lift and others had done, but Mt Blanc is a no fly zone in July and August and I would have to wait till September 1st before attempting it. So I decided to Paraglide it instead and can say its probably one of my best flights (well descent, not much thermal activity @ 0900hrs) Taken just after 2000m Launch Making my way closer to the Big Un You can see the sun starting to push its rays into the Chamonix Valley Driving home tomorrow and the end of my French Adventure :<

This is a rough route that I took

The pic below was taken seconds before I hit the thermals coming off the lip of the trees, this is @ about 5500ft and the main peak is off to my right