Powered Paragliding Ontario - Paramotor PPG lessons - ground school course

Training with Joe, Ray, John, Adam, Mete, Serge  - Apr 24/04  

Day started with 4 hours of ground school. Serge and Joe were quick to learn and before we knew it we were off to the field for some hands on. The weather was favorable - sunny, winds up to 10 KT. So we learned how to hook up, hold brake toggles, lines and started to practice ground inflations of the gliders.

Joe who has his own equipment that he has purchased on his recent trip to Hungary.

Ray who has done some PPG flying in India. There was no guidance from instructor and Ray just wanted to make sure that all is up to Canadian standard.

This is Serge who also purchased his own equipment before the course. When I saw Serge's glider I have noticed immediately the high aspect ratio that signalizes either performance or competition glider. (aspect ratio is the length of canopy divided by width) I checked on the certification tag and sure enough this was DHV 2 glider. I tried to inflated it and this thing was nearly impossible to keep flying. I have asked Serge "Did you ask anyone before buying this equipment?" "No! The guy who I bought it from said that it is awesome glider and it will be great for me..." Well of course every seller will tell you the same thing.... Now you have a glider that is not very safe and what is worst, nearly impossible to inflate....

This is to all of you out there trying to get into this, planning to buy used stuff. There is a lot of "not so good" equipment out there and you do need someone to tell you what is good and what is not. Do not rely on advice form seller or you will end up like Serge!

Mete fueling up his new Simon RR and John watching. 

John's son Adam showed up. Ready to fly. We were doing some hand tows to practice glider steering and handling in flight. Both Serge and Joe were able to gain 20 to 30 ft AGL and hover. I tried to do the same thing with Adam but his brand new DHV 1 glider was  quite old design and was not providing enough lift for Adam to get airborne under my hand tow. We have tried about 3 times and I finally said. "Look Adam, this is not going to work out, your glider simply does not enough performance to take you up! Why do not borrow one of mine Lifts and that will fix the problem." "Sure" said Adam. We switched the gliders and Adam was now easily gaining up to 30 ft practicing steering in flight and landing.

After this I went back to Serge and Joe for another 30 min of ground inflations. The wind came down and Adam and Ray were ready to fly. I told Adam to bring his paramotor and hook things up but he said that he does not know how to do it. I took one look at his used paramotor. The whole thing was a bit of a mess. There were so many weird straps and hook ups that I was not sure where to attach the glider also I was not sure if Adam ever made sure that the machine is properly balanced. Apparently he has never been sitting in his paramotor. I have concluded that trying to use this machine that we are not sure is balanced properly would not be safe thing to do. As we have no means of  hanging paramotors at the field a have suggested that Adam uses my paramotor and my glider as well. I know that everything will work well with my equipment and we can concentrate on the actual take off. 

We got ready, forward inflation, all is good so I say go for it but Adam is fumbling with his right brake. He somehow got it wrapped around his right riser, he let go, I took the brake, untangled it and handed back to Adam. He put it back on the hand with throttle, stabilized the glider and that is when I yelled, "GO, GO. POWER UP!" as Adam applied power he lifted off immediately. I was still holding on his left comfort bar and he was already 4 ft in the air. So I just yelled "Full power and go!" and off he went....

Adam still enjoying his first flight....

Ray got ready. Attempted take off. Lifted about 20 ft and landed back down. This was all happening just after Adam took off on the other side of the field. OK. I did not like this. I do not care is Ray has flown before or not. I have issued the Student Pilot Permit and I am the only Transport Canada certified instructor at the field therefore I am personally responsible for each individual without Pilot Permit. So I do not like when people just decide to take off without my attention or approval. I told this to Ray and he has agreed to follow my orders. 

We have set up. Ray inflated and took off without any difficulties what so ever.

Ray enjoying low pass.  

Adam flew about 45 min and that his hands could not handle the cold anymore and  landed in perfect style. I do not think Adam quite believed he will fly today as he and his father John have been training with various instructors for close to a year now with a questionable results so far. To make a long story short Adam did not put his flight suit and gloves on as he probably thought it will not happen again. Well, not with the best instructor available no no ;-) If you follow my guidance and put sufficient effort into training you will fly! 

Ray

Ray

Ray

Ray and Mete. 

Ray is still in the air while Mete is warming up his engine getting ready for his first flight.

Mete ready to go. Adam and John watching. We have tried several forward assisted inflations but were having problem with paramotor achieving full power. It was not until Mete actually took off climbed to about 4 ft and then engine hesitated and died when I have realized that we have carburetor tuning problem. I have opened the HI screw by about 1/4 turn and that fixed the problem. WE have tried couple of more inflation but Mete was having hard time feeling the glider and we should have stop right there. Well, we did not. We have tried again, had great inflation, I have yelled to add power and as Mete did he started to turn towards me. I have yelled "Steer it!  Steer it! Right brake!" but there was too many things happening for Mete and he did not react properly. He eventually turned full  90 degrees to wind, tripped, fell and lost couple prop blades. He was not happy and neither was I. A bitter feeling in the mouth at the end of otherwise very successful day. ;-(

Well, we will all brake prop and bust some lines at least once through our PPG careers but as Mete said. This was too early. Agreed. Do not worry though, we will fix your paramotor, it will be brand new again and you will fly. Do not let this to discourage you. It is simply unavoidable part of PPG. 

Congrats pilots Ray and Adam on you flights.

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