Paramotoring Flight 100 dicey down low. Power on comes in handy.

Feb 03, 2018
Placida LZ
Flight 100
Flight time 00:31
PIC 91:01
Allup wt. 281 lbs.
Wx: clear
Wind: 32006 LZ
Wind above the trees 32010g15 shifty w/sink
Temp: 68F

Pilots: Paul Robinson

It doesn't matter whether I kite or fly my paraglider it's all fun. Paul, a low time pilot, and I talked shop for an hour or so then moved over to checkout another location. The wind was coming over the trees causing rotor and a cold front was approaching. The winds were 6-9 or so. The air was chunky with sink, making deck flying interesting. After departure I climbed to 300 ft, where the air was smooth.

While awaiting Paul's departure I tried controless weight shifting of the wing building towards an inversion, which wasn't going to happen. I watched a video by Max Martini, linked below. This was my first time pushing off the risers to increase weight shift. In free flight, this could get interesting.

Paul and I had talked earlier about when something is amiss STOP (if your not moving) ABORT (if moving on the ground) or FOLLOW EMERGENCY PROCEDURES (if airborne). On takeoff you check your wing and decide ABORT or GO. If you GO and become airborne, you best go WFO (dirt bike slang for Wide F-ng Open)

Paul's departure was filled with oscillations. I would hv reduced power to taxi until getting the wing under control or ABORT (stop engine) But the wing banked hard right then hard left and lifted the quad on two wheels. As it came back right he became airborne applying WFO and climbing he then controlled the oscillations banking left to avoid the approaching powerlines. Staying with it. :-)

After climbing to smooth air and to my surprise, Paul decided to head for the deck and I decided to stalk him for video purposes.

After which I headed for the deck to practice in the off road section with shallow water. The air sucked. I gave up and returned to land. Considering flight conditions a power landing with a Go around option was safest.

Onward
Bob-the-Pilot