Pat forgot to trim his glider to safe position and got 50 % collapse 50 ft off the ground. Luckily he was flying Cima K 2 and it recovered instantly… he just landed cross wind.
Todd has picked up kiting really quickly.
Todd ground handling in winds up to 35 km/h with our special training glider…
Todd knows how to fly PPG – just need to get his license. I am fast tracking him through all the requirements.
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.
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!
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.
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:
Students after morning session
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…
Incredible and calm morning. Pat managed 4 more flights and is now setting up, taking off and landing on his own. Bob did 3 flights and on the last one his shoe came off mid air. These guys are really trying to entertain. I am just waiting for someone’s pants to fly off… We did more triking practice with Paul – he is getting better. Once finished we went to Peaks to balance the Walkerjet trike for Paul. He may solo soon.
Paul setting up
Bob landing – this is flight number two. I know because he has both shoes on!
The lost shoe…
Nice evening. Pretty much ideal conditions. Pat put up his super tall wind sock and it looked like it was very windy. So we waited. Then I realized that there is hardly any wind on the ground and we started to fly. Pat quickly dispatched 3 flights. He is taking off and landing on his own. Bob on the other hand had very nice first flight and on his second take off run managed to kick his foot back and up and into the cage in such a way that his heal has touched the prop. He must be triple jointed! I have never seen anything like this in 15 years of PPG. Bob’s heel was fine, just bruised up a bit but the prop was cracked – write off. I normally have spare in trailer but not this time so that was it for Bob.
Paul was working on his trike inflations and taxing, this time using the electric start Walkerjet. It is goind slow I must say.
Soo so far we had engine out. 50 % collapse and kick in the prop. I do not know what is going to happen next. Paul did not do anything yet, is it his turn? We will see tomorrow…
This is Pat’s flight pattern