May 13/13 – Todd started to go through his accelerated course.
Todd knows how to fly PPG – just need to get his license. I am fast tracking him through all the requirements.
May 9/13 – Pat, Paul and Bob PPG course – day 6 – pm – Paul will go with A assist.
After Bob and Pat left it was just me and Paul. We got to the field at 6 pm and re-assessed Paul’s chances. Due to his “frozen” shoulders and lack of strength in his arms we have concluded that continuing the course using the gear I have provided would not increase his chance to fly. The only system would be trike fited with A assist system. This pulls up the glider for pilot and no pushing or tensioning A lines is required. Paul is currently looking into a trike that will have this system installed. One he has it, we will resume training.
May 9/13 – Pat, Paul and Bob PPG course – day 6 – am – Pat and Bob are finished!
The weather this morning was bit foggy and hazy but we had a slight breeze.
Both Bob and Pat were planning to complete the rest of the flights. Bob had 7 to go and Pat 3 more to go. In no time Pat managed 4 flights and Bob 8 flights. They both ended up with 31 flights and they are finished. Paul was still working on improving his trike taxi skills.
This is a track of Pat’s flying this morning.
Paul trying to take off on trike
Grass was quite wet so we had to hang up the two gliders Paul was using for triking
Pat is a master carpenter – he made me an mazing cutting board for our kitchen. Note the PPG pilot in the right top corner…Thanks Pat!
Congrats Pat and Bob on completing the course requirements!
May 8/13 – Pat, Paul and Bob PPG course – day 5 – pm – No flying tonight!
It is raining and wind is coming directly from E. Direct E is always acssociated with crappy weather and badly turbulent. The evening flying was cancelled.
It looks good for tomorrow am.
May 8/13 – Pat, Paul and Bob PPG course – day 5 – am – Paul first flight!
Started again at 7 am. Very good conditions. Bob took off first – he has got it down! Pat struggled a bit in no wind conditions till I have explained to him the “create your own wind” technique. After this, the take off was no longer a problem. Paul was ready to fly on trike. We have tried about 10 inflations till he finally locked the glider in and took off in very controlled fashion. Good flight but bit rough landing. Congrats Paul on your first solo! Bob managed 7 flights this am and Pat 8 flights.
Summary after 5 training days:
- Pat 27 flights
- Bob 23 flights
- Paul 1 flight
Students after morning session
May 7/13 – Pat, Paul and Bob PPG course – day 4 – pm – Flying circus!
At 5 pm conditions were too gusty to fly. Forecast did not look good at all. Decided to go to Tim Hortons for coffee. Back at the field after 6. Wind decreasing very very slowly. Waited till 7:15. I have checked the air twice. First flight nasty, second so so. Students started to fly after another 20 min. Both Pat and Bob focused on touch and goes. In 1 hour Bob got 8 flights and Pat 7 flights. Paul could not trike train as winds were gusting over 10 km/h. Pat has 19 flights and Bob 18 flights. Great work guys!
Various take offs, landings and touch and go’s by Pat and Bob
Pat’s flight pattern
Celebrating successful evening…
May 5/13 – Pat, Paul and Bob PPG course – day 2 – pm – Bob first solo flight!
We were supposed to get together at 4 pm but the forecast was for gusty winds till 7 pm. So we changed the plan and got together at 6 pm. It was still too gusty too fly but OK to ground handle. Bob got it down, Paul is almost there. Pat does not need to round handle, he is 100 % on kiting.
We had few visitors that came to the field to check this out. Eric and Harry + his 2 friends. I went for quick flight to show them but it was very gusty, I had to come down on big ears and I almost landed on my ass. That does not happen often.
We waited till the sun set then Bob flew for the first time. Very nicely done! got off the ground on first try, flew for about 15 min and he landed very well too. Pat also took off, but we are having hard time communicating so not much guidance from me during his flight. He is using his helmet and radios and this may be the problem. We will try my helmet set up tomorrow. Both guys landed when it was almost dark.
Congrats Bob on your first paramotor flight!
May 4/13 – Bob, Paul and Pat start their PPG course – Pat first solo flight!
Ground school completed by 2 pm. Then off to the field. Gusty conditions but ground handles regardless. Pat purchased his own glider while back and practiced kiting on his own so he was pretty much ready to fly. Bob and Paul progressed at normal speed. At 7 pm wind came down. I flew for “air check” and shortly after, Pat took off for his first solo flight. Good take off, good flight and decent landing. Congrats Pat on your first solo flight!
From left to right: Paul, Pat and Bob
Pat in simulator
Bob in simulator
Pat and his new Kangook with Moster engine.
May 1/13 – Mark 2 flights, Darren 4 flights
Started at 4:30 pm. Winds bit gusty. Ground handled for a while. Darren has ground handling down pat. Mark needs some minor tweaking. At 5:30 I jump in for quick flight to make sure air is not too turbulent. It feels OK so Darren gets ready and quickly dispatches 4 flights. He always need to leave at 7 pm so it cuts our window of training opportunity short. Mark is ready too. We try, and on third inflation attempt he is in the air. Unfortunately he does not manage to get into the seat so he just hangs in the harness upright – very uncomfortable – so we kand quickly. After short break he goes up again. This time, we get his lag straps extra tight. Again nice take off, no problem getting into the seat and then he cruises for good 25 min. Both landings were OK. First one, Mark pretty much landed on his knees – it was extremely soft landing so it did not matter – and on the second he ended up on one knee. Well done, Mark, CONGRATS on you first two solo flights!
Mark and Darren kiting
Mark flying
Mark after flight number 2
Darren after 4 flights tonight
Markon flight two – feeling more comfortable
Apr 27/13 – Mark and Aaron 5 flights
Gorgeous day at the field. 19 Celsious and almost no wind. Mark worked on his kiting skills and Aaron came to do more flights.
Mark got very close to flying in fact we have tried several times but wind has died and we have decided that it will be better to wait till next time as taking off for the first time with no wind at all is very tricky. Wiond makes it much easier.
Aaron though proceeded to add 5 more flights to his log book. Well done!
Mark
Aaron