Airparamo Newsletter, September 2003, Issue 2

In This Issue: Welcome! Check It Out Mark Calendar New Products Used Corner Flight Reports Safety Tips Equipment Review More Info: Newsletter Archive Airparamo AZPPG, where Arizona paramotor pilots hang out. AZPPG Photo Album The engine is the heart of an aeroplane, but the pilot is its soul. - Sir Walter Raleigh Most gulls don't bother to learn more than the simplest facts of flight -- how to get from shore to food and back again. For most gulls, it is not flying that matters, but eating. For this gull, though, it was not eating that mattered, but flight. More than anything else, Jonathan Livingston Seagull loved to fly. - Richard Bach, 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' As soon as we left the ground I knew I myself had to fly! — Amelia Earhart, after her first flight in an airplane, a ten minute sight-seeing trip over Los Angeles, 1920. Aviation is proof, that given the will, we have the capacity to achieve the impossible. — Eddie Rickenbacker "There's no sensation to compare with this, suspended animation, a state of bliss" — exerpt from "Learning to Fly" by Pink Floyd		Welcome to Our Second Newsletter! It's nice to quickly share exciting and timely information with you about paramotoring in Arizona. In this edition, we have lots of great new products and information to share with you, including recent pilot outings, upcoming fly-ins, first solo flights, equipment reviews, industry highlights, new products, used equipment for sale, safety tips, visiting pilots, and lots more. Passing Zone Dennis & Bill R. out at McCartney If you would like to see any information in these newsletters, including a small write-up, articles, information or photos, please email them to us. To unsubscibe from this newsletter, follow the easy instuctions at the bottom of the page. See you in the air! Mo Sheldon Certified ASC Basic Flight Instructor 602-692-7995 Check It Out We're in the news. Check out this cool article in the Arizona Republic. Also, Bill Rowe has put up a nice reprint with pictures. Also, take a look at an article that appeared last month in the East Valley Tribune. Mark Your Calendar September 5-7 - Arizona Outdoor Recreation Expo in the Phoenix Civic Plaza. I will be displaying a 10' x 20' booth showing equipment, photos, and videos. I have some free passes that will be going on a first come basis. Lots of big fly-in's are coming up. October 2-5 - 2003 4th Annual Balloon Fiesta PPG Fly-in October 9-12 - 2003 COPPERSTATE Regional EAA Fly-In To find where local pilots will be flying, check out the AZPPG Bulletin Board. Also be sure to visit the AZPPG Calendar for more on big fly-ins. New Products Fly Products Power Flash Fly Products Power Flash The newest motor unit from Fly Products, the Power Flash is a beauty uses a new engine designed from the ground up specifically from our use. It has everything you want in a motor unit -- quiet light, reliable and powerful. Also new is the cage assembly that breaks down much smaller without loosing strength. And the new throttle assembly is stunning. The Power Flash recently won the prestigious Best Type Powered Paraglider at Sun 'n' Fun USA award. Dwyer Wind Meter Dwyer Wind Meter Inexpensive, accurate, lightweight, durable, and portable are words to describe this finely detailed wind meter. Make direct readings by holding the meter at eye level with the back of unit to wind. A small white ball in tube indicates wind speed. Meter has two scales for maximum accuracy and easy reading - low, 2-10 and high, 4-66 m.p.h. range. Be sure to visit the Airparamo Online Shopping for current pricing and product information. Used Corner La Mouette Sky-Bike SR 210 GL I've got some really clean, pre-owned equipment for sale at great prices. Here's just a sample... La Mouette Sky-Bike SR 210 GL motor unit Barely broken in, less than one hour on it. In brand new condition. Has both electric start and pull start. It retails new at over $5200. Moved to sell at an incredible price of $2900. Nervures 26 and 28 wings Both have about 30 hours on them and are in great shape. They retail new for over $2600. Asking $1600 for each. I have a bunch more pre-owned gear, including two more motor units and several other wings. Please contact me if you are interested. Flight Reports Sunday Flying report: Simonini on Steroids By John W., on September 3, 2003 Sunday morning, as hot as it was (the only place hotter, I’m certain, was Iraq ... in every respect), held a bit of magic and a bit of wisdom … if you were out there to brave the elements in order to obtain the benefits. Happily, I’d brought a couple of gallons of water with me. My friends and I were fortunate to witness a number of people fly their wonderful machines. And since no one went cross-country, all the action was there nearby to be seen and appreciated. More... Saturday at McCartney By Slim D, on August 23, 2003 Dennis, Bill R and myself took a chance on the weather and it paid off! A gentle breeze showed up just as Bill R was ready to launch... moments before Bill launched Dennis was airborne and I soon followed. We decided on a XC to PRA so off we went. The flight was great, took about 20-25 minutes as we wandered to and fro on the way there. See more photos A quick buzz of the grass area showed signs of construction getting ready for the Copperstate Fly-in in October. On the return flight we passed that monstrous mine to the East of PRA and then proceeded to the South to avoid Casa Grande airport. Bill R. headed back to the LZ as he was getting low on fuel, Dennis stayed and played by the mountains before heading back to land while I strayed over to the outskirts of Casa Grande. A quick tool over by the Cracker Barrel restaurant and then along I-10 up to our LZ where I landed into 3-4mph winds from the south-east. SB was there packing up his R/C helicopter (did you get any flights in Bill?). Bill R. showed me his fuel tank and it was as dry as I have ever seen it after a flight... you should have seen the grin on his face! (Priceless!) We chatted about the great flying conditions while we packed up. I had a meeting in Casa Grande and I believe the rest went for breakfast. Simply a great, great way to spend a morning. If you would like to submit a flight report for this newsletter, with a small write-up or photos, please email them to us. Safety Tips Smooth Landing Touch Down By Mo Sheldon In this issue, we discuss the smooth landing. Here's a helpful tidbit from the 20 rules of Paramotor Flight: "11. There are three simple rules for making a smooth landing. Unfortunately no one knows what they are." All kidding aside, the key to smooth landings is a well timed and executed flare. Optimally, you should be coming in full speed (hands completely up) with your landing gear down. At 3-5 feet above the ground, slowly begin the flare, and slowly pull the brakes down to your butt in a full 2-4 seconds. Believe me, 2 seconds seems like a short time. But when you're coming in and the ground is rushing at you, those 2 seconds seem to last for 30. The idea is to round out the descent and slow the forward speed to a walking pace (or slower). Smooth landings are not a skill that come naturally to many people. And they are not a skill most people can completely learn from a reading or instruction. Books and instructors will guide you with helpful pointers, lower the probability that you damage your gear (including the landing gear that is permanently attached), and get you to learn the skill much faster without bad habits. But in the end, a smooth landing is a skill that comes with lots and lots of practice. One of the nice things about PPG's is that you can easily land with power off. In fact it is so safe, this is the recommended way to land as a complete beginner. A huge advantage is it lets you put your total focus on flying the wing. In addition, with power off, if you trip or fall on your butt after you touch down, you rarely do any equipment damage. But count on falling at least three times. That is why I highly recommend knee pads, ankle protecting shoes, a helmet, and gloves as basic safety gear for a beginner. Smooth Landing A good exercise is doing lots of touch and goes. On a calm day, in winds between 2 to 12, on an open field, practice take-off's and landings over and over. This is the best practice you can do to improve your smooth landings. And as a bonus, you can practice your smooth take-off's at the same time! More advanced techniques of smooth landings involve using power to slow the descent rate and the speed way down. This is accomplished by adjusting the throttle and breaks simultaneously. Another technique is to start the flare about 15-20 feet above the ground, creating a bit of a pendulum, and then using the increased downward and forward energy to turn into a more potent flare close to the ground. I have also witnessed other smooth landings involving flapping the breaks about once every half second starting at 10 feet. This gives a faster and steeper downward descent that, if timed properly, can result in a smooth touchdown. I have also done turning flares (pulling one break much more than the other) that work well, but they are more demanding of pilot skill and are recommended for higher winds. When it comes to turbulent conditions, all bets are off when it comes to a smooth landing. As the air gets more turbulent, it becomes that much more difficult to anticipate the correct timing on the flare. In the end, to get good at smooth landings, you just need to go out and do it. Here is a good article on smooth landings. Equipment Review Windsock Mac Wing Stuff Sack Made of the highest quality materials in a 5 foot diameter. A draw string brings the entire assembly together in a ball in a few seconds. A very useful time saving device that doubles as a wing tarp. Comes with several handy carry straps. $95. Makes a great gift! Order yours today!
Airparamo does not trade, sell or give any of your information to anybody! We also value our privacy. If you would like to submit information for this newsletter, please email your request to us. 602-692-7995    info@airparamo.com ©2003 Airparamo

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