Powered Paragliding: One Man's Dusty Journey--Part 2

[gwailo27]

Ok Trevor, Spill the beans.... what happened with the first take off that we couldn't see!!?

[smithborne]

I wish I had a good story...but it was a pretty uneventful takeoff (much to my wife's surprise...).

I've had much more "exciting" takeoffs since. ;)

[maxwell679]

I have been a LICENSED PILOT over 22 years. Dell is an aircraft operator, NOT a pilot. Being a great pilot is about using sound JUDGEMENT. I have seen Dell do amazing stunts. His EGO and his excessive attitude is what gets in his way and cloud his judgement.

Mo is one of the most competent PILOTS out there in PPG. His superior JUDGEMENT is what makes him better. I have seen it close up first hand.

Given a choice to fly tandem with Mo or Dell, I will take Mo one thousand percent of the time.

[sigmedical]

Nice videos,

I noticed that your PPG was "squeaking." Mine was doing that during training too. If you wanted to know, its the belt, and you can tighten it by taking your prop off and loosening the little bolt above and behind the top pulley, then tightening the hex shaped hole behind the pulley. Just FYI

[Airparamo]

The sound of a loose belt on this engine has a very different type of "squeaking" noise. I personally checked the belt and it was at the correct tension. I thought the motor sounded and ran exceptionally well.

The "squeaking" you hear in the video is quite normal on this motor at idle. It could probably be fixed by adjusting the engine timing. But this would mess with the mid and upper range, which are running perfectly.

[imasuper0308]

That oscillation is not normal for a first flight. It means you have not been taught how to fly, only how to launch. You are not actually flying the glider, you are just a passenger. I would recommend you get with an instructor that will teach you how to fly instead of just how to launch. You probably didn't have a reserve either... Hmm...

[born2fly666]

imasuperDOUCHEBAG

PIO really is very common in the early stages of flight training. As you get more experience you'll learn to control it. I'm impressed with your instructor in Part 1! On the front of the cart while you taxi?

Being a "super" pilot is 10% skill/90% judgment. Oscillate into the ground and you'll bust up your equipment; buzz a cruise ship or a busy highway and you'll kill the whole sport. What Dell needs is two reserve chutes, one for his mouth and one for his ego. Hmm...

[Airparamo]

As an experienced PPG instructor (including the one in this video), teaching over 250 people to fly PPG's, I find that oscillations are very normal for the first few flights under a paraglider. A competent instructor talking to the student on a radio can ease a student through this, but it usually takes a few flights for a student to get the feel of active piloting the paraglider.

[imasuper0308]

Actually it is not normal. Pilot induced oscillations can happen when pilots are taught to launch before they are taught to fly but that isn't the case here, the glider is doing it on its own. The reason you have the problem is because you sell macpara. Get a better glider and you won't see this as a normal thing. Also reserves save lives, it isn't a choice, have a problem and die or have a problem and have a backup.  Hmm, tuff one huh.

[Airparamo]

Name me ONE example of a paramotor pilot that died from lack having a reserve flying in calm conditions.

For your info, one of the reasons I tell my students about why NOT to use a reserve is that is creates a false sense of safety that can mess with a pilot's ego and judgement. In my experience I have noticed that pilots with especially large egos (like you, Dell) tend to fly much more agressively in more difficult conditions with a reserve. The end result is they are not safer at all.

[imasuper0308]

There have been about 6 deaths in the last few months. How about we raise them from the dead and ask them if they wish they would have had a reserve because none of them did. Quite a few have thrown reserves and speak very highly of them since all of them are still alive. You simply won't see any competent pilots flying without reserves. It is just ignorant.

[Airparamo]

Dell, there have been no fatalities in the US in the last six months involving a PPG that I am aware of. Maybe this was PG, skydiving, etc. I wonder how many of those pilots you mention died wearing or using reserves?

"You simply won't see any competent pilots flying without reserves." I PPG without a reserve on most occasions. Are you saying I am not a competent pilot? Besides, I judge a pilot not by competence, but how they exercise their judgment.

[Airparamo]

As for reserves, very few motor pilots use them, probably between 1% to 5%. As an instructor, I explain the pro's and con's of using reserves before any of my students take to the air by themselves. Ultimately this decision is their own, where as pilots in command they weigh risk vs. safety.

[imasuper0308]

That is only with self taught people claiming to be instructors fine sir. Amongst actual USHPA certified pilots 99% carry reserves. Hang glider pilots 99%, paraglider pilots 99%, Skydivers 99%. That's why I'm shocked to see you launching someone without one. It just makes no sense. As you gain experience you will start to understand. Had you received training from an instructor you would realize it isn't an option. Just have one.

[murrayhay]

From the so called 'truth' group... "I think it is time for more people to just

start telling the truth and quit calling people names & getting angry

if the truth doesn't happen to be in their favor. That is just lame." Any one else think it is time Dell started actualy STICKING to the truth.. or has he told so many lies he no longer knows the diffrence?

[flyhghgy]

Good videos!