Paramotoring Flight 101 Staying around the LZ

Feb 08, 2018
Placida LZ
Flight 101
Flight time 00:25
PIC 91:26
Allup wt. 281 lbs.
Wx: clear
Wind: 32006 LZ
Wind above the trees 32010g15 shifty w/sink
Temp: 75F

Pilots: Paul Robinson

Paul and I talked shop for a bit. Then headed out for some fun and practice. I scoped out an area with shallow water for pushing my limits on swooping (wannabe wingovers). During the maneuver, I was so consumed with timing of the repetitive swooping the exit timing wasn't coming to me. I had to pause in my thinking to think, oh yea, power bank at 6 o'clock if low. I need to sell my wing for a Hadron 20/22.

After getting my 60 year old heart pumping, (I'm gonna die one day either having sex or during maneuvers ;-) , ya got a better way to go out? I returned to the LZ to track Paul a bit. Haven't spent much time using slow flight, tracking and altitude hold abilities other than landing or foot dragging.

If you add/reduce power you rise/descend if you apply one or both control inputs, you slow and descend unless you add power. So trying to hold position above Paul, requires matching speed/altitude/direction. Any of the three inputs affect the others. Formation and inflight photo shoots are examples when an intercom system, like the Sena SMH10 is best, leaving your hands free to fly.

I plan on installing a Sena SMH10-10 on a 3/4 motorcycle helmet, giving me three options to fly with. One headset with either two way comms using Baofeng or Aircraft radio and the other Phone/intercom Sena.

Jeremy and I are going to test the distance on our aircraft and Baofeng next flight. I still think they are best for large groups, air to ground coms and distance. Not closeup work.

After tracking Paul I decided to perform the swoop landing. My spontaneity sometimes surprises me. I performed a brake drop swoop approach. Nice long flare but dumped the brakes at the end, normal for my drop-in touchdowns, this is where my spontaneity surprised me. My touchdown was not acceptable for the intended landing so subconsciously I applied throttle. Not having control of the wing as yet. Because when you land hard the wing unloads and falls back maybe off to one side along with everything on my shoulders becoming heavy. Now I'm thinking can I recover the wing? It's ABORT/GO time. The rest is in the video. All this happens so fast. ABORT/GO. KISS principle (keep it simple stupid).

I came around for another go. Being a little close to Paul and waiting for him to clear, I braked heavy and dropped in for a long swoop. This time, I held the flare level and stepped out into a running stride. Keeping the brakes buried to get ahead of the wing. SWEET

If it ain't broke, FLY it.

Bob-the-Pilot
941.661.2598
paramotoringflorida@gmail.com
@bobthepilot (twitter)