23/09/2008 by admin.

Sorry its abit late writing the post, pie and peas event yet again and then again its nearly here again. Set off again fully loaded kids and caravan on tow.

I was still buzzing from my flight yesterday so it was all good. First problem we had as soon as we got up there and entering the place i got the van and the car stuck in mud.

All the usual candidates were there all set up, engines reving and wind socks flitting in the wind.

It was a bit windy when we got there and a bit out of my comfort zone, so no rush set the van up and went for a chat and assess tomorrows weather.

I got up early Sunday morning, and people were already getting setup to fly, I pre flight checked all my equipment as i do before every flight wether or not it was the day before I flew everything needs to be checked.

I watched a few lads go on there new dudek wings and thinking its my birthday soon and thats what im going to buy a new wing Mel said she would give me some money towards its, Gabes got one so has Paul Kilburn…gota keep up.

Well all setup and ready to go, first reverse launch and i was off down the valley. The flight was great 1hr 30mins it was a bit bumpy but as soon as you got above the glider ridge thinks seem to smooth out, just under 3 litres of fuel used and the motor just sounded great. We came home early monday as an event for the walkers arrived and seem to take over the whole of the ridge.

A great weekend i feel a dudek synth on the way….

Posted in Paul Flight Log | No Comments »

19/09/2008 by admin.

At last after all these months of rain, winds and doubt, I was up there with the seagulls at Rossall Beach.

I was down our field last night and attemted two launches but the first i nearly ended up on my face cause i tripped and the second and wing just fell to one side….not enough effort…maybe.

Its been quite hard these last few months cause ive renewed fuel pipes, filter and stripped my carb down and done a bit of a mod to improve idle.

So i think this time its been quite hard to get back into it, with all these little nigling things of tinkering with the engine and douting myself that its going to conk out as soon as i took off, and the obvious thought of do i really want to do this.

Well it didnt and it sounded great, the wind was a bit of a problem because it was nearly nil and varible, i ended up with 2 failed launches, 1st one due to the wind the second because i was getting hot and sweaty and not enough effort but both times my wing just went over to one side. 3rd time lucky i was up, i think because of my angle of attack during take off as soon as my legs were up i seemed to sit straight down on my seat, a good thing a bad thing im not sure maybe im pulling my leg straps too hard.

I dont really care cause i flew and im buzzing 15mins, 2 hours who gives a f***

Pie and peas tomorrow a long weekend away in Yorkshire with lots of flying. By all accounts according to all sources its going to be a corker. 

Ill report back soon…….

Posted in Paul Flight Log | 1 Comment »

12/06/2008 by admin.

Well… ive been thinking hard and about the mistake or misjudgment i made about flying that night. I just cannot rattle my brains and think about what i saw and why it was a misjudgment.

I have spoke to a BHPA instructor the last few days and hopefully within the next few months go and get my BHPA paramotoring rating. I explained the event to Paul at Paraventure and at first we both agreed cloud suck, until i mentioned our location……oh its not cloud suck its sea breeze convergence or also known as a sea breeze front.

All the things seem to add up for this type of front, 180 degrees change in wind direction, 300ft per minute lift and we are about 3 miles inland at Singleton so we must be in the zone for this type of convergence. Paul’s advised me to read about it because it will happen again and there are tell tale signs, a cumulus marks the front as the air rises and joins the inland air flow and where the offshore breeze meets, this is where the lift is as it flows upward to produce a cumulus cloud.

I also spoke to a paragliding pilot and when I explained what happened to me he  replied wow…..thats some good lift……yes right maybe for you tree huggers but not for us boys, the only lift i want is if i land out and need a lift home…..

Posted in Paul Flight Log | No Comments »

06/06/2008 by admin.

I have had a good day today to try and have a think about what was going on, I sent a few emails to Mike Brown a good friend and Commercial Pilot for numerous years. When I climbed out and got to 900ft and found I was entering low cloud, we both now think I could of been quite close to some roll cloud. Mike had a look at last nights radar and saw the small storm/downpour we had at about 7pm and said he could see it was quite active in this area. Problem is I didnt go to the field and think should I or shouldnt I, so what did I miss. How did the first ten minutes into the flight become so active, I think next time instead of locking my throttle off and taking pictures and climbing out i should have a better look around.

This picture was in front of me when I climbed out facing south…….At first I thought the lift was from a thermal, but if I was in the core I would of been roughly in the same postion in relation to the groud instead of traveling 3k in one direction going up, so judging by the photo this cloud was also forming and increasing in height and taking me up with it. So was it really cloud suck from a roll cloud, suppose ill never know but i did learn something that day i was f..king glad to be down.

Posted in Paul Flight Log | No Comments »

06/06/2008 by admin.

Fright number 8…….more like shite myself number 8. Went down to the field tonight Thursday 05/06/08, perfect 4mph NNE wind. So I began to setup my gear give Mel a ring and told here the cows had gone and it was safe to come down to the field. A bit of tinkering with the throttle idle and ready to go……now nil wind but still NNE take off. Perfect forward straight up and full throttle down the field, straight and kept climbing, got nice and compy in my seat and made a right turn and started to climb out now heading south westly. I locked the throttle off, hands of and took some photos, by the time i put the camera away I was at 1700 ft and felt the wind in my face as i turned more westly……erm strange made a turn to the east and felt the wind behind me and i was drifting. I was now moving quite fast and was on idle but wasnt making any desent. I looked to my left and right and i was at cloud base 1805 ft, going with the clouds and the same height…..cloud suck shit, i looked behind and between these two clouds was a gap. I was seriously scared, I just had an image of just going higher and higher, so i made a turn into the wind and clouds passed me no bump still with the throttle of and at idle I started to desend very slowly, i bet i was 2 miles from the field and i got back on idle and landed in the field. This has been the worst situation I have been in, im going to have a look at my gps data and see what was going on.

But perfect landing and perfect take off, I even walked my wing back to the car as it was still inflated as i landed.

Think I need to seriously have a look at what was going on, there were some quite cum nim about 15miles away but i think my cloud suck came form these two that were level with me. Bit of a bump when i was coming into land but that was nothing, it was the sight of the field getting bigger that was interesting me and what a great sight it was…..times like this im thinking what the fuck am i doing.

Posted in Paul Flight Log | 1 Comment »

06/06/2008 by admin.

UK National Paramotor Championships Group Photo

Wow wow and wow, this must be the best event I have ever been to. I don’t really know how to put the 3 days of tasks into words.

The organisation of the event the people it was just fantastic, eveyone was there for one reason to support paramotoring and for the love of the sport.

Traveled up Friday morning set off at 7.30am and arrived a little after 2pm, set up with the awning and went for a wonder, Gabe, PK, and Mark arrived later in the afternoon after taking one of Marks short cuts……glad I went my own way now. Friday night saw the first pilots and Marshal’s briefing, I was quite excited being so close to the action, pilots from around the world supporting there country were in there small groups talking over the tasks ahead.

Saturday morning saw the first of the early starts, up at 6am and ready for the Marshals meeting. I was on take offs, controling the pilots taking off with red and green flags, 41 pilots on the flight deck all in different stages of getting ready. The first task was a nav task with a spot landing at the end of the task. All pilots in the air safely and time for a brew and an hour or two to spare, as the pilots started to return I was on spot landing duty, and my task was to keep the centre spot which was about 9″ in diameter covered with flour to give that dusty effect upon landing…..(oh did I say, I landing 1 foot short of the centre spot when i landed after my free flight and even got flour on my gloves…..framed I think so).

These was various other tasks during the next few days, and my duties varied from controling the take offs from the flight deck to recording the scores for the spot landings.

Gabe attached a wing to his wheelchair, and PK pushed the chair to get the wing up and flying….and they did do it, it was so funny. Eveyone was in high spirts and we were all ther for one reason to support the game we play even if sometimes it can be a rough one.

I had a short and bumpy flight, perfect forward launch straight down the runway, insight of all the spectators and anyone else mulling around, felt great up again.

All in all a great time had by all, the drive was more than worth it. I hope Norman or Mike Brown do sort out smaller events during the year with similar tasks just to give that confidence a nice little boost.

Posted in Paul Flight Log | 1 Comment »

18/05/2008 by admin.

Pie and Peas and Mr Grumpy at the helm, Lord Stones Cafe and the possibility of a huge amount of cash through sales of beer…but the owner decides to go home cause hes got a runny nose……ahh. Hello wake up ! so we all sat round a camp fire which belonged to two lads and there dads.

 Anyway what a great weekend, not much flying due to the weather but plenty of pictures. We decided to travel up Friday night and got there at 9pm two paramotors were just coming into land and we could just make there strobes out as we were 900′ below and beginning to climb up with the caravan in tow……oh cant say too much as my edited report will be featured in issue 7 of the International Paramotor Magazine including some pictures.

Where was I….oh, Gabe was there who got a nice early flight in and Fraser tapping on our window at 5.30am Monday morning, not that we needed waking seen as Paul Haxby flew over the site at about 50ft waking everyone up.

So I had an early start Monday but didn’t start getting my gear ready because i wanted the wind to switch to a southerly so I could take off down the valley. At about 10.30am it was perfect and had a good bumpy 50 minute flight, doing circuits and practicing landing then throttling on and climbing out, all good fun and worth alot.Since the Pie and Peas no flights since but I have been up-to Mark Inghams site today 18/05/2008 but the wind is just too strong and very gusty. Tomorrow is a good forecast so I may pop over in the morning and catch up with work when I get back.

Gabe if your reading this All the best mate hope we are flying soon, maybe they can adapt that wheelchair or even fit skids on the bottom.

 Come on where is this weather, nice evenings, light winds, am I asking too much. Just one week a flight a night, down the prom buzz the ship. We will have to take the flymo down the field soon, ill be lost in ther soon.

Safe flying and lets have some happy days……..

Posted in Paul Flight Log | 1 Comment »

13/01/2008 by admin.

Friday night emails started rolling in from posts written on the forum about a Manchester flyin, so I posted on the forum and asked am I missing a party, shortly afterwards I received an email from Mark Ingham saying he had tried to call me. An invite to Paul Kilburn and Paul Nations flying field, fab don’t want to let this invite down.

Packed my van Friday night for a good early start and its off to Manchester for a Party….sorted

Took a wrong turning into a quarry, but i knew i was close because Mark Ingham had just taken off and was flying by the side of the East Lancs Rd, I asked a couple of guys directions and found out I just missed a turning through an old gate, picked up some work whilst I was there which was a result.

The wind early on was quite strong and gusty so only the brave ventured out, a good chance to take some photos and help Paul with his motor. Gabe arrived at about 1pm complete with a full buffet, what a man fantastic. Gabe showed us his latest film of the Northumberland trip so with sausage roll in hand enjoyed the film, soon to be uploaded on youtube and im on it 3 times, what an impact and contribution I have made to this sport and the forums over the last few months LOL.

So after mulling around most of the day it was time to go, I can always get the hint because whilst Im there watching everything going on Mark always comes and stands next to me to give a gentle shove to get my gear out……good man.

Well its my turn Gabe has just took off, and Im lined up on the 5ft wide runway ready for blast off, 3mph forward launch, but im not going for the Paul Smith launch technique Im going for the text book run of the mill risers over the forearm set up.

Somone sent me an email last week asking if I have speeded up the video of me taking off in Northumberland as they had never seen anyones legs go that fast before.

Anyway Im off down the runway little legs going, I suppose you dont get much choice when you give it full throttle its like a kick up the arse, wings up and im off…..perfect first launch again just like Northumberland.

So im up 500ft the wind gradient must of been quite high because 500ft I was nearly stood still, I started flapping abit because this is the roughest ive been up in, I calmed down a bit and went with the flow. Its quite unnerveing when you are looking relative to the ground and you seem to be flying sideways and not making any forward progression, the conditions were quite blustery and the wing required alot of active piloting. I had a 30 mins flight which i thought was ample, another notch on my flying belt and different conditions that i have never flown in before. Don’t laugh Gabe but I think its the first time I have thought I want to get down.

Landing was fantastic again, I love the feeling as soon as you cut your engine, getting out of my harness just seems nautral now. It was about 100ft engine off and out of my seat seat at 60ft…perfect on my feet and turned to face the wing and brought it down. I would love a day of jumping off a hill face and just gliding down all day, as long as there was a lift.

Thanks to Paul Kilburn, Paul Nation, Mark Ingham for the invite and Gabe for the sausage rolls…….the bouncing bomb lands again on his feet.

Posted in Paul Flight Log | 1 Comment »

31/12/2007 by admin.

WOW what a weekend.

I set off to Alnwick in Northumberland Saturday dinner after getting a text from Mark Ingham and I arrived late afternoon, found the digs straight away. When I say digs I mean a 1760 old dairy farm which has now been restored and  resembles a mini castle complete with its own courtyard.

So it was off to the pub for some food, beer then next stop to Threashers and back to the communal room to sit and chat in front of the log fire……can it get any better.

Total of five pilots stayed the night where we had candle lit breakfast on a oak table in the morning and Paul Kilburn and Paul Nation traveled up and joined us for breakfast.

After breakfast we all headed to Seahouses which was going to be our take off and landing area on the beach, we met another 5 pilots in the lay-by and all scrambled up the sand dunes to look at the site, clean beach, clean water and seals playing out in the water, the North Sea just looks so clean and out in the distance was the Farne Isles and behind Bamburgh Castle was Pray Island (Lindisfarne).

By the time myself and Gabe were set up everyone had gone and was arriving back, so it gave me the chance to gets Marks attention and help me set up and find out exactly where I could fly. Gabe set off first as I set my wing up behind his, it was my turn just when all the crowds of people who were walking the beach decided to stop and watch, not to good for the confidence. Mark quoted on the radio when I was airborne “a text book take off”, fantastic, climbed out over the dunes to 500′ and circled the take off site and headed to Bamburgh Castle I flew around the castle a few times and then other pilots were refueling and taking off, soon I had Paul Kilburn right behind me with his video, so we ended up flying towards each other and breaking right as Paul took a video, then soaring above the dunes Mr Ingham is flying to my right taking pictures , so not one to give up on a oppotunity I put on my best smile.

The weather, scenery and company was fantastic, what a flight to remember. I had now been up for 90 mins and started to get cold so I decided its time to land have a brew and refuel.

So landing did a nail it, I had to circle a few times to loose height because I had climbed to 1300′ half way through my flight and there was quite a few people mingling around. My first nil wind landing, 200′ i was out of my harness, the sand was still wet in places and also had to watch out for any rotor coming off the dunes, as I was 50′ I thought wow I’m coming in fast and I was I had no head wind to help me, a last minute flare and skidded on my heels and landed sat down. Not a bad landing just next time ill know to flare more on landing, not a problem as they say every days a schools day.

I downloaded all my GPS data and flew for 90mins, I used 2 litres of fuel. My max speed was 24mph with an average speed of 14.6mph and in this time I covered 21 miles over some of the most fantastic scenery. The take off site for some reason even being on the beach was -22′ and I climbed to a max of 1274 which is the highest I have climbed out to.

After this flight its brought my confidence back and also I think my umbilical cord has been broken and I’m free to venture away from our site or anyone elses site.

 A big thank you to Mark Ingham for arranging everything and to all the other pilots which made the day one to remember…………..A yearly thing Mr Ingham………………I think so

Cheers Paul

Posted in Paul Flight Log | No Comments »

16/11/2007 by admin.

Great find mate, the field is perfect we just need to have a word with the test pilot who goes in the Millers Arms to keep clear with his Tornado.

Once again a great flight for me and it was great for us both to be up together, its been a long time coming. The helmet cam worked perfect and some great footage of Fraser flying next to me and above. The one thing that takes the time to get used to is the bumps dips and forward motion of the wing it just feels like its surging forward…..anyway settled in, straight in my seat again on the flight out, when I was flying over Fraser I felt as though I was lob sided in my seat but,  I don’t know whether its to do with my parachute under my seat…. will check it out last thing i wont is that popping out. I was second for landing and filmed the whole thing from downwind to setting up for my approach, just as i was on coming over a wood people were walking into the field next to ours with guns……oh shit its the local shoot and I’m 500′ above the wood, come into land nailed it again, how many more times can i say i nailed it but i did and I’m quite pleased another successful flight, but the difference with this one is we were both up having a play in the sky. 

Posted in Paul Flight Log | No Comments »