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A Rookies First Year

by Mike Cannella

Feb 18, 2002

My flying addiction started at an early age. When I was 16 years old, A friend and I were fishing on the Rock River. We started hearing this high pitched whining sound, and as it got louder we finally saw the source. It was a scale model of a sailplane, circling to gain altitude. 

I just had to see this thing up close. We drove across the bridge to find there was a RC field that neither of us new of. We got out to see this older gentleman landing from the previous flight. As we approached him the glider was actually scale down to the pilot that pivoted from left to right, almost as if he were looking out the window during turns. We asked if he would fly it again and he graciously fueled it up and was off with a gentle toss. You could not have sunk a hook deeper in a large mouth bass, than the thri

Twenty seven years later I have finally made it to the big time. Paramotoring to me was the ultimate, achievable form of flight.

I remember seeing an ad several years ago showing the motor and cage, but was unable to afford the investment at the time. Never loosing sight of my goal, I changed careers from a machinist to a Tattoo Artist / Body Piercer. Yea I know, what a change. In fact it has been the most rewarding occupation I have ever had. And it afforded me the opportunity to purchase my freedom. Freedom in the form of an adventure F3 with an Ozone Electron XL wing. I went from employee to shop owner, to Paramotor pilot in around seven years. My first year has been the most spectacular year in my life. I did some research, and spoke with Dixon White in the beginning, but as time went on I found that it wasn't easy to schedule and have good cheap accommodations, and things weren't working out to go see Dixon.

After careful planning and talking to the owner of Hill Country Paragliding, Nancy Stanford, I scheduled my time and airfare to go. With 3 months to wait, She was wonderful in keeping my anticipation up. She sent me a couple videos, and the workbook for obtaining my P2 rating and I began studying. As time grew closer, the anticipation grew extremely large. Almost too much to handle. 

I arrived in Texas to find that the Flying Armadillo Ranch was a perfect spot to learn this sport. The accommodations were perfect for kiting anytime of the day, to cooking out on the grill. The lessons began the next day, with a book lesson and then off to the hill. We kited for most of the early afternoon, and were doing forward launches off the 100' hill by evening. The thrill was finally setting in as I settled down in the ranch house for the night. Who would think that a person could sleep after that? I couldn't. 

The next few days went pretty good until I got lifted doing a reverse inflation. The wind had kicked up a little, and as I spun to launch the wind picked me up and carried me about 12 feet in the air, and back a few feet. The natural instinct was to pull brake, the very thing that was stressed to me not to do. It was very difficult not too, and as I executed a PLF on the road, fortunately the only damage was a small scrape, and the time it took to pick the lines out of the ever present prickly pear cactus, and mesquite trees. A few feet farther and it changed to rock and the afore mentioned hazards. I felt lucky. And at the same time developed a total respect for the wing, and what it could do with a little help from the wind.

The days went by and the flights got longer and longer, until the last day, it was almost time for me to go, I still had not soloed with the motor. That afternoon the winds came up to about 5 miles per hour, and we headed out to the pasture. I still remember not being scared at all as I buckled up the harness and stood for the first time ready to launch.

My heart was not beating fast, and I wasn't nervous, due to the extensive training I had received from Nancy and her partner Marie. The first inflation came up to the left and I aborted. The second inflation was picture perfect and the long fast run into the air began.
I took off in about 30 yards or so and was breathing really hard as I settled back into the harness. Listening to her every word and applying the input to the brake toggles exactly as she prescribed I climbed out to about 400 feet AGL. I flew the solo flight for about 10 minutes and set up for the landing. It was all on video and I didn't get a chance to look at it before I took off for a 40-minute flight. Man was it the most exciting thing I had ever accomplished. We celebrated that night over dinner and a few beers. I felt it was the least I could do for a tip. Nancy and Marie are the best.

Unfortunately the next paragraph holds a few things that might make some people stop and think about whether they really want to try this. I got home and a week later I traveled to a small airport in Wisconsin, camp lake airport. My wife was anticipating seeing all the rave I had spoke endlessly about for what seemed like forever. To her I could feel, this better be good I imagined her thinking. The worst possible performance was to follow. While I did everything right, I never left the ground except to do what I deemed the Superman Slide on my stomach twice as the glider got ahead of me and pulled me off my feet. All I could think of was I had allot of money invested in this machine and I wasn't going to trash it in the first flights. After meeting a wonderful friend, Jeff Goin, I had two more similar tries where I fell on my knees trying to launch.

The next week Jeff invited my to his friend Nick Scholtes farm to meet some of the other guys. I again did not have any luck with 3 attempts, while I didn't fall; I also did not get off the ground. In the previous weeks I had developed a slight pain in my stomach and did not know what it was. I suspected it was from the Superman slides.

The next few days were even worse when the pain became unbearable. I found myself in the hospital with what the doctor told me was a Reticulated Appendix. I was in surgery the next day. My summer was shot, so I thought. I spoke to Nancy again trying to see if buying the trike attachment would help me and she agreed. The doctor also agreed I should not be trying to foot launch the Paramotor anytime soon. I ordered the trike.

The next few weeks were haunting, as I anticipated the time when I would be released from the doctor to fly again. Six weeks later on the fourth of July, after 15 inflation attempts, I was airborne once again. I got to see the best fire works from about 6 different cities around the Joliet area. It was awesome. 

My wife finally got to see me fly this contraption. She was truly impressed. I received a hailing of applause from the group, who as a matter of fact have turned out to be the best group of guys I have ever had the pleasure to be friends with. They are truly phenomenal people every one of them. Nickster, Jeffy Jeff, Fearless Freddie, Wally wally bumble bee, Jeff Baumgartner, Alex Varv, Yaro and Richard, and Don Jordan They have all had a significant part in my coming of age in this sport. We had the first annual Paradrome fly in and it was a success beyond our wildest dreams. 

From a 20 mile XC with Don and Nickster, to getting my first Bean King award for running out of gas and landing in the soy bean field next to the farm. My time with these pilots has been so informing and educating. Like a Bunch of mother hens, looking out for the one lone chick. They have nurtured me and been so helpful.

The Ohio fly in put on by Bruce Brown, was a six-hour drive for a 3-minute flight, as I hurried to get help before everyone had gotten airborne. The photo to the right is just after assembly (photo by Alex Varv).

The motor was too lean and I seized the piston. Thus achieving my second Bean field landing award and being dubbed the new Bean King. I had to over come this award. I had to make a name for myself. Hence Mikseter the Trikester has become my name, as since the Ohio fly in and the rebuilding of the solo 210 right at the field. Thanks to Mother Alex for the rings and the R&R. the motor started on the 8th pull and I was airborne the next night. I shot touch and goes twice at this event. And since then I am now able to taxi upon touch down, and everyone is giving me 10's on style points for my first or second inflation launches. It is an incredible feeling belonging to such a great group of guys and all I can say is, hurray to them for their unselfish help in getting me to the point I am at.

To finish off the first year in flight, we all went to the West Coast to attend the Ocotillo Wells fly in. Hosted by Bob Armond. We arrived in San Diego on Thursday, and within 2 hours I was flying tandem ridge soaring, at the country club of ridges, Torrey Pines Glider port. With the infamous Alan Chuculate. The air was cool and the lesson I received was more than I had ever imagined. Wing overs, Porpoising, Big ears, trimmers in and trimmers out. I really got a good education as to how to ridge soar. The hospitality of Alan and Mary was outstanding. I felt like I had known them for years. They treated me just like one of their best friends.

The next day we drove out into the desert for more flying, and eating and putting faces to names from the big message board. I met and flew with the likes of Scott Johnson, Check, Eric Dufour, and many more outstanding pilots. It was a dust bowl and I hated to put the Octane thru the mess. The motor ran beautiful, and aside from a little dirt, it was a great time. We ended the trip to the desert with a drive back to San Diego, a good shower, and a good night's rest back at Alan and Mary's. 

The next day we were off to La Salina, Mexico,  on the Baja peninsula. As I found out early upon arrival, the sand was too soft for the trike, but with a little help, I was towed into the air by two ground handlers. Of course two of my best buddies, Nickster and Wally Wally. 

We had the most error free trip I have ever been on. I was the first to spot two gray whales and many dolphins in the Mexican surf. It was and incredible time. That night we all sat around the table listening to stories of conquests that Scott Johnson had been through in his flying career. We left after dinner and made the trek back over the border to find a sub division to park the RV for the night. The next day we looked up and down Otay Mountain for a good glider launch, to no avail. The wind was coming the wrong way, and we made haste back to Alan's house. One of Alan's flying buddies suggested we try Blossom, and away we went.

The climb could have killed me being a smoker, but after a long 400 foot ascent the rest of the way to the top. I rested and was ready. I watched as Jeff cut the empty air with his graceful style, and then Nick followed. It was my turn, and after one blown forward inflation, I was airborne off a hill ten times higher than I had ever launched before. The flight was perfect, and the landing was great. I hit the LZ right in the middle. I was so stoked to finish off the trip with a 7-minute sled ride. The whole trip was like a dream come true, and for any of you thinking about participating next year. Just do it. You will not regret it. 

We finished off the last day getting the gear packed and the RV cleaned and loading up the skid for the 18 wheel trek it was about to undertake. Our flying machines had served us well as we said good by to them and to Alan and Mary. Winter is going to last way too long here in the Midwest, but if it weren't for the efforts of my buddies, it would have been a lot longer. The video I shot will have to do until spring.

In closing I want to make sure I do not forget the most important reason why I have been able to live out my dreams. It simply because I have a wonderful wife who has put up with the endless ranting and raving about this sport. She has spent time with me and without me because of this sport. Without her, I would not be where I am today.

And I also want to take a moment to recognize Stacey Scholtes for her never ending hospitality, and cooking and putting up with all of us. She is indeed and incredible person, and the main reason why we all have so much fun during our times at the Paradrome.

Thanks Stacey, and Nickster. And thank all of you who have advised me, given tips and tricks to launching the trikes. Thanks to God for giving me such Wonderful friends.

I am truly a very fortunate man.

Mike Cannella