Richard1910 Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Hi all, I thought i'd do a poll. I was just thinking about buying a ground handling harness to use to practise my launches instead of doing them with my motor, i was wondering how many people use one, how many people practise using there motor and how many don't practise at all. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Need another option. I usually kite by holding the risers without a harness. A's and B's in one hand (around the the location of the upper pulley) and the other hand holding the C's and D's. I control the wing using lateral movements of the C/D hand and can adjust the trim of the wing crudely by pulling one hand slightly in while letting the other one out. I find this method really lets me feel what the air is doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 I love the ground stuff, Crap on a flat field but if you get in and around some contours you can hop and moon jump over them and have some great fun! Good to do if you feel like your not quite ready to launch. Have a hop about. SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantheman Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 (edited) There is an element of danger attached to kiting without a harness, it's fine if you remember to let go but it is possible to hang on by accident and get yourself enough air to get hurt, ok for the experienced but I'd say the investment in a harness is worth every penny. The following is from a paragliding site... Kiting Wing Unattached to Body. You may have seen someone kiting his wing by the risers, unattached to his body through the harness, just held by hands. There is no need for this. Many people have died after being pulled up and dropped. Fatality examples : Portugal in May 2004, Tirol in 1999, Slovenia in 1991. Edited February 5, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 As you know Dan,, I won't let anyone learning to Paramotor with me ground handle a wind without a harness, I can see no reason at all for it. Not a dig VN32. I know loads of people do, just not my bag. SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Just an observation.... i often see people ground handling (with or without a harness) but without a helmet. It seems to me that this is the one situation where you are actually the most likely to need a helmet as you are close to the hard bit and are pushing your abilities, probably in a wind. Your noddle is very soft and even a bump on the grass can result in concussive damage. Oh dear I sound like my mother............ same goes for kite flying, buggies, wheel boards etc etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_b Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Ground handling without a harness is ok for experienced pilots to see what the wind is like, but you would not gain anything from it as far as training goes. Pete b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard1910 Posted February 4, 2008 Author Share Posted February 4, 2008 Well i don't think you can really practice ground handling without some sort of harness, i have kited my wing without a harness but this is just to get the wing in the air to check there's no tangled lines etc. before i put it away (that's if it's ended up in a big heap) without a harness you can't practice forward and reverse launches properly which is why i posted this poll to see if it's worth buying a practice harness, i must have the heaviest Paramotor on the planet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Exactly. I never said I was practising launches just kiting it. I like to feel the air (I personally find I get more feedback this way than through the harness) and use the chance to make sure the lines are not crossed. Obviously I wouldn't do this if the conditions made it risky but I like the fact that if anything takes you by surprise you can just let go. There are no real rights or wrongs, just what works for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_b Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 Bet you dont 33 kilos dry weight Pete b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard1910 Posted February 5, 2008 Author Share Posted February 5, 2008 [quote, i must have the heaviest Paramotor on the planet!Bet you dont 33 kilos dry weight Pete b 33!? Do you have an anchor aboard just incase it gets too windy! Mines 30K dry "I must have the 2nd heaviest Paramotor on the planet!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete_b Posted February 5, 2008 Share Posted February 5, 2008 [quote, i must have the heaviest Paramotor on the planet!Bet you dont 33 kilos dry weight Pete b 33!? Do you have an anchor aboard just incase it gets too windy! Mines 30K dry "I must have the 2nd heaviest Paramotor on the planet!" And then theres fuel,Reserve,and all the other little bits Pete b Ps ancher only weighs 500grams its aluminium Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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