I want one !

Glad to see you flying again Benry.

Thx, me too!
Hopeing for some nice weather this weekend, but they say rain:(

Sounds a lot like Oregon. Fly safe friend.

Henry, I have been following this guy Dell Schanze for years, I love the powered parachute and one day I will try it out myself. I subscribed to his YouTube years ago. He’s a GoPro guy like me. He has done and been to some incredible places. I have watched all his videos more than once. All though I have never meet him, he’s like family to me..

Arfly, Dell Schanze is the Dennis Fetter of the paramotor world.
He has racked up a sizeable death toll and kicked an owl out of the sky to name a few notable things. Yes his videos are great, but trust me if you decide to try it stear clear of his products and training! Also dont listen to that guy named Kurt Fister......
Great at marketing,dishonest,no consience,in trouble with the law....sound like anyone you know?
Hope your getting dryer weather where you are.
HB.

THANKS Benry for that heads-up about Dell S .... I have only sipped a sampler of the paramotor world ... mostly via PSF Mag ... but was VERY AWARE of what a total dropkick idiot Dell is in his "world"!

It was disturbing to read our good buddy John was a misguided "fan" ... admiring his antics ... at least some pretty gopro vids!!!

Thanks for setting the record straight on another grade A arsehole! ( or two!... as in Kurt F.)

Hey you coming to Bdays this year???? ..... AR a lot closer than AZ

Hadnt planned on it, dont get much in the way of breaks once the contracts start. And my youngest is graduating high school in may, so may have to use up my favors for a long weekend.
Would love to show though!

Henry, I have never looked him up or followed him personally. Glad you filled me in about him, I Have never seen him kick an Owl, but I don’t have any use of anyone who mistreats animals. I have unsubscribed to his You Tube channel now. What a shame, his videos were very good but not that good. If you’re a hunter than that’s different, we eat what we kill. Don’t mention squirrels here!!!! The weather here has sucked. Last Saturday was the only good day we have had in well over a month. We just had winds here at 59 mph, and when I took the picture it was still blowing 31 mph. It even moved my trailer about 10 feet.. UNBELIEVABLE!! And it’s not over yet for tonight. Rain is also forecasted for all next week as well. Yes thanks for the heads up on Dell.

Just coming to the cold front now. Tornadoes in Texas, but all we got was a few brief periods of harsh rain.
Im glad. Were in a toy hauler.
And if you do watch his owl video, it will piss you off, it wasnt a chance meeting, he chased it.down over 15 minuets and tired it.out!

I think that we had about 4 days in March when the sun came out....overcast here now and rain forcasted all next week.....

Terrific flight last night!
Slipped on some long grass that was wet and ended up sitting.down, but it wasnt bad for me or machine.
Practicing my turns and had.way less pio.
Eventually just like a gyro I will subconscious ly correct for it. The pio im dealing with is side.to side swinging not fore and aft.
Take off was a two fer, first time I didnt apply enough brake and the wing overshot me and stalled out. So reset wing, sit down for a breather and try again. Second take off was just fine, and my take off run is getting shorter. Wifey says this one was 50-75 feet.
The chute has a whole lot more nuance to it. But this time I xactually flew around and explored a bit. It is very comfy and the view is spectacular. Your going slow enough to really look at stuff. I like it. Im working on straight and level so I can work my way down to flying about 25 feet off ground. Mostly Im at 3-500 feet now, just cause I have a reserve and why have it if you cant use it....
No tangles or knots this time, so im pleased on that one. And I timed stuff out this time. Looks like im burning about 1 litre per 20 minutes of flight time, but thats not exact. If full up at 9 plus that would give me two hours of flight time!
Forward speed? So far about 20 mph, but ibstill havent played with the runners yet....one thing at a time,right?
I want to be locked in on straight and level before I screw with the runners....(reduces drag by tucking front of wing or releasing tail and increases speed considerably)
Anyway I now have 9 flights with no injuries or problems.
Oh and it just so happens that yesterday was exactly one year since my training in Pensacola and first flight!

Oh and you older guys, if you ever long for the skies again, i have met a lot of seniors who are doing this with the little wheeled carts at the fly ins. Much much easier on the body, no physical apptitude needed. Also the training curve on the carts is about half that of foot launch. My training buddy just told me he is becoming an instructor and his dad (70 something) loves flying around on his cart.
The carts for those interested are NOT the big Rotax two seaters im talking about.
It is just a little seat you sit on and your engine straps to the cart.
They break down for packing into another bag just like the motor and chute.
The nirvana one is even made of carbon fiber!

That's great Henry.... no more face plants

At Wondai at easter, we were discussing these things, one of the guys bought a cart type one, but his is a PPG (powered para glider) not a PPC (powered parachute) He explained the difference.... like nothing really shape and size of the chute from what I gather.... but evidently here in AUS, the PPG id registered and run by the Hang Glider Federation, and PPC is controlled by RA Aus.... and they both have different rules and regulations

Evidently RAAus (which is ultralights, was SAAA) you have to do 20 hours training, whereas the Hang glider folks, you only have to do training until you have the hang of it

Seems there is a problem now they are truing to sort out, if you have a foot launch PPG and you are in the Hang glider federation..... but you put a kart on it, you have to instead join the RAA (different rules) So, if you do a foot launch you are fine, if you bolt your kart on, you are illegal unless you are in the RAA as well as HFA Evidently if you take off on wheels instead of foot, it is no longer a PPG.... or something like that.....

Is yours a PPC or a PPG?

We do not have that distinction here in the U.S. Muz, so I am flying foot launch now, but if I felt a need, i can just hook into a cart and go. My rig is set up for either interchangeably.
I am in love with the portability and flexibility of the platform.
Not so in love with the weight of the pack on back when ground handling. I can easily see me carting as I get older.
The performance degradation im told is not that bad, as you arent going fast enough for the drag to really bother you. Climb rate is about the same, fuel burn is more of course but forward speed is only maybe 2-3 mph less, and really if your looking for speed, this is totally the wrong platform!
Take offs in the cart are more specific...on foot I can adjust easily for a change in wind direction, the cart is more plane like...Just set up into the wind and your fine. It does take longer to take off.
If I go somewhere with a steady breeze and cliffs, i can even leave the engine behind and just paraglide till Im tired!

Keep going Bowman .
I'm hanging on every word .
I really think this would fit my needs .

.

I am like Gary , I hang on every word Benry .... I suppose a guy could do some pre-training by running the 100 yard dash , and maybe strap some weight on their back too ,

Hell , if I could do that I would start chasing wild women again

.

Arnie, Gary et al....You guys are the ones im talking about the carts to!
The foot launch IS physically demanding...the carts? Not at all.
Price difference is maybe a couple of grand for a high end one.
Now the only thing I would look at between em is three or four wheels. I think the 4 whellers are safer from a tip over point of view, but your not talking deadly accident speed anyway, in a 5 mph headwind you will take off at a fast walking pace wether foot launch or cart.
Im not trying to convert anyone from gyros, but.ive lost more friends in gyroplanes than I have to EOD!
These critters have.no mass....ie much safer. Plus you canhave.a.Reserve! Plus no runway no hangar. If your only.goingt o fly a single seat gyro low and slow for fun, these are actually a better choice in my opinion.
As for turning and burning, look at some of Ryan Shaws videos of what you can do aerobaticlly in a ppg. I doubt ill ever want to pull of a wingover or barrel roll or loop, but i like knowing the rig could!

I can see a few missing shopping carts in your local area. An open parking lot and go!

Foot launch is what I'm looking at .
No cart for me .