Due to the restricted airspace around the Falls all aircraft must climb to 3500 ASL ft prior to entering the circuit. The circuit can be entered from SW (50) or NW (100) directions. The boundaries of this restricted space start at the Welland river on the south side and at the QEW highway so if you are flying in the area make sure that you have 3500 ft ASL before you cross these landmarks.
Fair amount of wind at the field. Sergei ground handled small training canopy then Fides 2 EVO XS. Darren worked with Cima K2 M. Wind was getting smoother but at 6:45 we still had some strong thermal gusts and since Darren had to leave by 7 – no flights for him. Sergei switched to forward inflations with motor on his back. No problem he has got it and is ready to fly!
Graham – 2 more flights and Todd flight number 1. Congrats.
Todd in simulator – this time with lighter engine
Feeling the power of Black Devil engine
Powered runs
Way up there…
From Graham’s log book:
Powered training – Gear used: Fides 2 XS and small miniplane. 2 flights. First sat too early but OK – got off the round. Flight good. Some minor swinging. Landing – hard and turtle due to pulling brakes too early and not having energy for final flare. Second take off – good run but did not control directions of take off – flight great – landing ok with small stumble.
VIDEO: Graham first solo flight
Turtle landing after flight 2
VIDEO: Chat with Graham during flight 2
Worked on reverse inflations – they are coming along nicely.
My new wind sock pole.
Graham
Herman, thanks for you order. I appreciate the business.
I just purchased the black GoPro 3 so my old one is up for grabs.
COST: $ 100 includes the SD card, and cover
This is one of the busiest springs I have ever had. I have lots of students in progress. Please schedule your training days well in advance to avoid me telling you, that I have other students booked already and there is no room for you.
I will post who is booked for training and when here:
http://www.poweredparaglidingontario.ca/who-is-booked-for-training/
If you see “no room available” do not bother to call me to try to book you in on that particular day
Please do not call me to ask if we are going to train if the weather forecast is bad. Here is a simple way to be able to figure out if the weather will be suitable for PPG training.
Download free app called “AeroWeather” – 4th from top on the right side.
Once you download it, under STATION tap the + button.
Go to ICAO and enter KIAG, select the Niagara Falls International Airport then “add selected” in the bottom right corner.
Update the forecast info by hitting the left bottom refresh icon. Then go to settings – bottom right
Go to Units
Go to Wind
Select km/h
Add your own airport if you wish. I look at KIAG – Niagara Falls International Airport and/or CYSN – St. Catharines regional Airport
To get forecast, tap the desired airport. You will first get METAR. METARs typically come from airports or permanent weather observation stations. Reports are generated once an hour. If you scroll down you will see TAF – a terminal area forecast
Scroll down and you will see TAF time periods – ignore the first one – it is an average for the next 24 hrs.
We were planning to get together at 5 pm but the wind was still gusting to 37 km/h. We decided to wait and by 6:30 conditions were OK to start kiting. There was large cumulonimbus near by but since we were not planing to fly – just ground handle – that was ok. We started with Fides XS and a small gust front came through so we went to my very small training glider then back to Fides. After couple of hours Graham was able to forward inflate and do wicked 400 yards runs up and down the field with great canopy control. He will fly soon.
Graham disappearing towards highway…
