|
|
Powered
Paragliding Stories
Our experiences can add not just to our own life but to others as well.
Thanks to these folks who have shared theirs. If you have an interesting story or a unique telling of a familiar one,
please share it with us by sending it to
theUSPPA@gmail.com .
Pictures always add much interest.
Sharing
the Joy
11/21/2005
H.A. Saunders recently discovered the
joy of personal flight and offered to share it with us. He says: "just a new pilot having some fun in Canoochee
Georgia. Only 25 hours under my belt but loving every minute of this new sport."
Linda Saunders took the photos.
|
  |
Jim's
Summer Home
10/09/2005
Jim Frees sent us this shot from his
PPG with the caption: "I took this photo today while flying along the southern shore of Newport,
RI. Not a bad little beach house!" Agreed.
Launch would be a challenge but at
least the winds should be steady.
|
 |
Inheriting
Our Freedom
Trevor Cole is
following his father's footsteps - but only a few of them. Then he's
getting airborne! These pictures are from his training and subsequent
first flight. A great present for his 16th birthda
Trevor and father David
appeared on the April 18th Powered Paraglider Radio show which can be listened
to on the Archives (www.WorldTalkRadio.com).
Far left is initial tow training. The next two are Trevor's first motor solo.
|
 
|
Life
Motivation
Nov 27, 2003
Ron Dixon has longed for flight his
whole life. A recent diagnosis of cancer motivated him to realize that dream and
he took to the sky in a PPG Trike under the tutelage of Kurt Fister.
It was en emotional event for
instructor and student both who shared in seeing a dream come true.
The full story will be in a future
UltraFlight magazine.
|
 |
New Paramotor?
Apr, 2003
As
shown in the April issue of Hang Gliding and Paragliding, this new unit
takes thrust to new heights. Sporting a very strong cage and titanium
blades, it is sure to make easy work of those challenging no-wind
forwards. The CFM powerplant is very thrusty, claiming over 20,000
pounds depending on carburetor jetting.
Weight is a factor and so the pneumatic start is
optional. Lighter pilots are cautioned not to fill up the 3 gallon tank
so as to make ground handling more managable. The normal 2.3 minute
endurance will be reduced but several pounds can be saved.
Artwork courtesy of Tim Meehan.
|
 |
Cold
Hands Warm...
Oct 26, 2002
by James Hall
A light breeze and full overcast last evening left the temperature about 55 degrees. A little chilly but the last of the heat we're probably going to get here in Caledonia, OH. I took off from the freshly plowed field across the street from my house without my usual extras (no camera, altimeter or radio) thinking I'd get up there and freeze to death. I figured I'd circle around my house and land.
As soon as I was up I for a minute or so I forgot about the cold... then the overcast started to break up on the western horizon. The sun was setting just below the blanket of clouds creating my favorite kind of sunset: "orange/purple inverted waves" caused by the bumps in the clouds exposed to the light on one side and not the other.
Every time I turned back east to go home I wanted to see the sunset again so I just turned around and followed it. My short flight with no equipment turned into an hour and 20 or so flying to Marion (6 miles out, with no way home).
I watched the sun go down and as I landed in the fully lit Marion Airport. THAT WAS COOL! After landing, the local EAA club was having their meeting and had to see what this "parachute guy" flew in on. They were all very friendly and helped me pack up when my ride arrived.
It turns out there's hardly any if none of us at all involved in the EAA clubs around here. It would do our sport good if we became more involved in this almost entirely fixed wing association. At least locally.
To make a long story short... if I could've remembered any of my stuff to take up on this last and amazing flight of the summer... it would've been my camera. But then I suppose I wouldn't have been able to absorb the scenery the way I did. WOW! Thanks Bruce for teaching me to do this and thank you God for this gift of flight!
Time to buy a snowsuit and heated gloves!
|
 |
|
