May 6/13 – Pat, Paul and Bob PPG course – day 3 – am – Pat run out of fuel!

Started at 7 am. Good conditions. Pat and Bob both got into the air very quickly meanwhile I was working with Paul who was learning how to trike. It was a morning of technical issues. First, one of the radio helmets stopped working, then the paramotor Paul had on trike started to act up. I had to pull the start cord so many times that my right shoulder is out to lunch now. Bob and Pat were having great time and pretty long flights. Till Pat radioed in that he landed on the very south end of the runway. I was wondering what happened but he simply run out of fuel. Not a big deal in PPG – he made nice and soft landing and I picked him up with my car. Bobs flights were nice and uneventful.

Congrats Bob anf Pat on two more flights.

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We got our gear everywhere…

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I do not see any fuel…

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Paul with trike

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Pat after forced lending

At the end of today’s am session

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 5/13 – Pat, Paul and Bob course – day 2 – am – Pat flight number 2

This morning wind was light and variable. Paul was forward inflating Cima K 2 M and Bob Fides 2 size XS. Pat tried to forward inflate his glider but I could tell it was very difficult nearly impossible. I gave him my Cima L and now it was piece of cake. Pat got another flight in but forgot to trim glider to safe position and in active air near ground got 50 % asymmetrical at about 50 ft off the ground. The Cima K 2 re-inflated instantly and Pat made uneventful landing. Bob will fly soon. Paul hes got a way to go…

I did not take any pics so here is video from my yesterday’s kiting demo.

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Andre – kiting demo

 

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!

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From left to right: Paul, Pat and Bob

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Pat in simulator

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Bob in simulator

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Pat and his new Kangook with Moster engine.

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Practice powered runs…

Students getting ready to practice powered runs.

Pat flight number 1

Pat flight number 1 – landing

May 3/13 – This is way too cool…

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May 1/13 – Andre needs some time off too…

I have added this page:

http://www.poweredparaglidingontario.ca/when-i-am-not-available/

I will post days when I will not be available for PPG training. I need some time off once in a while so I can re-energize…

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!

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Mark and Darren kiting

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Mark flying

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Mark after flight number 2

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Darren after 4 flights tonight

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Mark kiting Cima K 2 size M

 Darren after 4 flights

Mark after flight 1

Mark on flight number two

Markon flight two – feeling more comfortable

Mark after flight 2

 

Apr 29/13 – I do know how to fly…

OK. So you see all these videos of students flying and ground handling and you may wonder, does the instructor even know how to fly?

Here is a short video of one of the many demonstrations and “air checks” I do for students. Note the sophisticated paragliding boots… ha ha

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Andre touch and go…

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

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Mark ground handling

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Aaron

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Aaron landing

Apr 26/13 – Andrew, Sergei and Darren 7 flights

Both Sergei and Andrew needed to ground handle so we started at 2 pm. Winds were nice SW 15 to 20 km/h. Sergei was using the very small but fast training glider and Andrew had the Fides 2 size 24. Both did quite well and Sergei is ready to fly.

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Sergei ground handling

Andrew ground handling

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Andrew

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Sergei

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Andrew with his Cima K 2

At 4 pm Darren showed up eager to fly. He ground handled for 1 hour then winds came down.

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All 3 students have it up….chi chi

Darren quickly managed 7 solo flights tonight. Congrats!