rob_jones

IMG]http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/r0bjones/Flight2017.jpg[/img]

So the rain finally stopped and I decided to go further a field from my first recce. I did a top to bottom first thing this morning from Col Forclaz, such a nice launch with its new astro turf carpet, I wanted to have a test against which to compare the Fusion while only paragliding. So from top to bottom (about 3000ft) I flew the Karma and looked at my glide and speed, nice n slow with 2 down showing consistenly on the vario. You forget how relaxing a simple top to bottom can be with nothing to think about but the view and the wind whistling through the lines. Tomorrow I will do the same on the Fusion and just see if there is any difference. So I decided to leave earlier today and was down my very own special launch field for 1700hrs, perfect 4 mph breeze coming along the field. Set up and usual pre flight checks (I have found I have been getting pretty thirsty once I get going so I bought a camelbak for "in flight" refreshements). Wing n engine all fine forward launch and away I go (this time on my own as family have now had there fill of watching me). I am taking off less than 800m from the official PG launch so I do some circles of the landing field and wave to the PGs on finals (I notice I microlight down below which I figure might give me hassle) Full tank of fuel so I head of towards Albertville where there is a massive mountain that I drive by and think how cool would it be to see it from above. I suppose it must be about 15 miles away and I gun the engine in the hope by the time I arrive I should be on top of it looking on top. GPS showing I am cruising at 30mph trimmers full on, the ride is very smooth and I play spot the emergency landing field should it all go pete tong!! I arrive looking half way up the mountain and I can clearly see the ravines where water rushes down and the occasional mountain hut tucked away. I eventually go over the top of it @ about 6000ft and as I am crossing I have a sudden realisation that I bet the wind is whistling up the slope and will be rough in about 2 seconds, 2 1 whooaahha up n down I go as I run through either rotor or the thermals kicking off the top (Morgy still nothing compared to the 10 ups over Guildford) of course as I am on my own and am now far away from my car this does make for an ass twitching time. Also 6000 ft is great but when the peak looks about a stones throw below you again that 6k counts for jack. So I have a little whizz around and decide to head for home (flying for over an hour now) another hour back to the lake and I am still on top of most of the surrounding mountains. I kill the engine and drop down to about 1000ft and then fly along the lake watching the boats below. Time to land, looking down I can see the microlight is still there which I bet spells trouble for me (only room in this town for one powered aviator) few spirals and I am down into my hidden field, only to see a jeep driving up and down clearly looking for someone or something. He stops sees me and comes across my field. Lots of french "blah blah police blah blah house ............." I get the message bid my apologies and pack my gear up. So launch one is now closed, Tomorrow I find launch #2

Well the predicted storms have arrived and its pretty much rained all day and night. Not to be outdone I convinced the crew (3 kids and a bored chick) that we should explore the Chamonix valley and its surrounding fields in the shadow of the might Mt Blanc. Some things I learned from what was cleary a recce. Chamoix is in a very deep and narrow valley and not a field suitable for launch can be found 2 miles either side of it. Second thing - Mt BLanc is very bloody big. I did spy a few potential launch sites in Megeve but its quite far from the mountain and in paticular I want to fly over the ice fields which look amazing in the shining sun. I will have to wait and see what tomorrow brings, for now it looks like a shopping trip to Annecy :<

This is a rough track of my first flight

Pretty much yes, I drive around and find the "perfect" launch then just get out and go for it. Last night I was preparing for the Mt Blanc flight and was using Google Earth to look for decent fields but to be honest its not much use and I think when I get to Chamonix/St Gervais I will find a spot. We had storm out here last night and the forecast is not looking to good untill Saturday, although I am standing by the pool right now and it looks fine and dandy to me.

Hopefully these are the first batch of my photo uploads Filename/link incorrect.

Maybe someone could give me some instructions as to how to paste images in here

So we set off from Lyon this morning for the short (ish) drive into the alps, as I crossed into the ever growing hills I noticed the familiar site of wings floating in the sky, itching in my seat to get there and get up there. Of course first things first, unload the car, the boat (little 2.8m Dinghy 5hp) that we use more as a toy trailer than anything else. Then it was to take the kids swimming for the compulsary 1 hour dip, all the while the clock is ticking and I see the sun dip behind the looming mountains around me. Enough is enough and I pack the kids and chick into the car with orders to take pictures and film me. I had recced a field earlier in the day and had a potential launch site in mind, it is about 500m to the side of the standard PG landing site but shielded by trees, nice short grass and zero breeze, I had to constant stream of PG floating over my head. Set up - normal pre flight checks, dug out my new HDD camcorder that I planned to use to film the event. Forward launch was required as not a breath of wind. 3,2,1 and run run run - could feel my ass scrape the ground but climb I did, turning above my new found launch site and passing the PG on the way to landing. So this was nothing more than a discovery flight, averging 3 up climb rate and very smooth (not a patch on UK boomin thermals of late) I flew up to Col De Forclaz launch site and waced to the white faces looking up, I then flew out along the lake to the castle things now @ 4500ft I decided to kill the engine and glide silently back to launch and the kids running round. Was touching 4 down on my vario and nice and silent, landing was without incident. Tomorrow I plan a 2 hour explore

Well guys I dont claim to be an inspiring author or even that good at spelling but I thought some of you might appreciate my tales from France. I am currently 1/2 through a 2 week holiday camping round France, when I say "round" I pretty much mean anywhere I can fly. I spent last week in Pyla le Dune on the Atlantic coast, for any PG enthusiasts its somewhat of a mecca for mucking around with wings. I have a car packed with three wings (Fusion, Apco Karma & Gin Nano Speedwing). Sadly what I didnt realise is that the whole region is nothing but forests and launching my Bailey 175 off the Dune is a no no. I was planning on soaring my Fusion but if anyone whom has flown in sandy conditions will tell you the bloody stuff gets everywhere and its a nightmare to get out, although by then end of my week having watched the locals whom ground handle and turn the wing upside down, I can now pretty much get the sand from the cells without the painstaking task of tipping each cell. So phase one of the holiday consisted of free flying along the 100m sane dune in my flip flops and no motoring........yet!! Today I drove from Pyla to Lake Annecy, well the plan was to get to Annecy but after 8 hours in the car the three kids had enough and forced a break in the drive, we are now @ a motel in Lyon and about 2 hour drive from the Alps. My Plan..........well I love the free flying and will be launching from the Col de la Forclaz which sits above the lake. I will do a combo of Fusion (just to see how good its reputation as a dual wing stands up to my Karma). I am also planning a morning assualt on Mt Blanc and will launch from St Gervais (not sure where yet) I have no idea how far up I will make it but the plan is to just gun the engine for as long as my fuel lasts and see how high I get. I have a pretty decent cam corder now instead of my dodgy Action AKT 4 one so should get some good footage. Will post anything I can as I go along

This is the other video and its a better reflection of speed riding but its un edited and a tad boring till it gets going

Easy fellas, yeah yeah the idea is to swoop the slopes and the pop out when you like. Bear in mind though I only started it this year and that vid is maybe my 4th flight so I was a tad nervous. I do have some more on Youtube which I do more skiing and less flying. The harness is fine for any type of flying, I have used mine with my Fusion for some free flying and its fine. The rush with speed riding is feeling the wing sit above you whilst you ski along all you then do is pick a cliff or something and just go off the edge. It turns like a rocket so you can swoop and whizz around to you hearts content. On the downside its all over in a flash, literally 2 mins and you have done 1000m.

I speed ride and can point you in the right directions, to be honest though its so new not many companies teach it and even less people in the alps even have a clue what it is. I ride a Gin Nano 14m Heres a taster vid I made last winter

sounds like people were having fun all round, Mark (Morgy) and I completed a 35 mile triangle from Guildford up to the M25, round to Box Hill and then West back into Guildford (Barry's Field) Conditions were probably the most thermic I have experienced and as I was tailing Mark I could see his collapses knowing I was next. The flight was amazing though and very exciting with plenty of bumps along the way. We took 2 hours and think we got through 6l of fuel each (Bailey 174 & 200) Off to Annecy on Friday for some Big Air (Simon the Mt Blanc Challenge is still on)

Yeah Morgy it was a bloody good flight and top fun. I had attempted to film most of you but it became apparent the footage of you looked to far away, although reality is I was close enough to see you to waving. Was pretty immense getting up to cloud base and watching you dive in and around that cloud, you looked so tiny in comparison to the walls of cloud that surrounded you. And of course Simon you were right about cruising along the top of a cloud and suddenly watch it vanish from under your feet and nothing but 1000's of feet to the green below. Cant wait for next weekend for some more fun

It is indeed he ATC camera and to be honest I find it a bit rubbish but it is worth turning on just to see what it captures. I use the supplied rubber straps and have threaded it through the air vents on my helmet. The other footage is from a point and shoot on movie mode held on a little mono pod. Nothing special but it did capture the day quite well

cheers

Morgy and I decided to touch the clouds If someone could embed this youtube vid for me much appreciated Admin wrote, done! All you have to do is hightlight the link and then hit the You Tube button below youtube.com/watch?v=o-m3Aqo-7f4

It is a fake for real, it was part of an advertising campaign in the US for a drink or something.

I am BHPA and if the weather is good I will be down, get some free flight and maybe some speed riding in

Pete, so what is the summary of your injuries? Broken Tib & Fib in the left leg? What about burns to your arms - or are they ok?

Well as long as your here to tell the tale then everything is just down to the experience. Any time you want to loan my Fusion and Bailey all you have to do is ask. Rob