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Life’s too short !
Enjoy every flying day and ride the sky with that freakin’ gear !
Gear : Kangook Classic 146.
Wing : Paramania GTR 22.
Throttle handle : AEF Caméléon.
Plane : SF 25
The Alan Titchmarsh Show talks to Bear Grylls about his new book and adventures in his life, including Mission Everest.
On display during the show amongst other items was a Parajet Zenith Moster Paramotor and a Paramania GTR.
The Alan Titchmarsh Show 3pm, 8th November 2012, ITV
Sometimes flying a paramotor we appreciate a cruise control / throttle lock option. A long XC flight or taking photos while flying are just two examples.
My favorite throttle at the moment is the Polini, it’s small, light & comfortable to use. But alas does not include a cruise control option. This is where the DIYer steps in and adapts his equipment to suit their needs.
Here is a simple video demonstrating how it works.
The simple throttle lock is a 5mm threaded thumb screw. DIY bit… remove existing Allen Head bolt and drill through throttle with a 4.5mm drill. Screw the thumb knob in as to create a thread in the plastic as it goes. Screw in until lever locks. Then back off until the lever works again, add extra half a turn out. Fit safety lock nut to remaining thread. You can now lock the thumb screw open or closed and lock the throttle lever open or closed.
Flying over water with a paramotor always presents us with a risk of drowning from a possible engine failure, wing malfunction or simply a pilot mistake.
There are specific water rescue systems than can be bought and added to your paramotor. There is also the wear a self inflating life jacket / vest not under, but along with your harness.
Obvious pros and cons of the purpose made design:
+ The frame fitted rescue system is neat and easy to leave in place.
– it’s added weight and I don’t always fly over water.
+ it’s made specifically for this purpose.
– it’s expensive.
Obvious pros and cons of the life vest option:
– I have to wear it with my harness and put it on correctly.
+ it’s not part of my machine so I only take it when I’m going to fly over water.
– it’s not made specifically for our sport.
+ it’s cheaper, typically being well under £100
Now the not so obvious pros and cons:
+ the vest can just keep your head clear of water.
+ the vest will keep you afloat once you release your motor harness.
– the built in system does not work so well with an empty fuel tank and you could end up face down in the water.
– the life vest must be worn correctly with you paramotor harness, in order for it to be effective.
+ the built in system has more overall buoyancy.
How do you wear the life vest and then your motor harness, it is important for the inflating part of your vest to be visible and showing outside your motor harness. See the video below.
Watch these video demonstrations from separate manufacturers testing Paramotors in water.
PAP testing in water with and without the Pilot life vest. Note how they wear the Life Vest.
PAP testing in Water
EC-Extreme testing various methods of keeping afloat, not all good ones either.
Water Rescue System PPG Testing
Nirvana demonstrating the AGAMA water rescue system.
AGAMA water rescue system
Footflyer test of the Agama system
Footflyer test of Agama water system
Agama system used in real water landing accident.
Real headcam footage of water landing.
The AGAMA water rescue system
A Life Vest (Plastimo Pilot)
Which ever system you choose, it seems clear that any of them would be better than none. Not flying over water at all is the safest option or only flying over water that is extremely shallow.
The Paramania GTX the bivouac generation is now here.
Under pressure, many prototypes later and several years on, the unsatisfied MCJ has finally become satisfied. His project to create the perfect wing for the “X”- country paramotor pilot and bivouac flying as well as the average club pilot out to travel is now finished.
As its cousin the GTR was specifically made to carve sharp turns, in slalom fun. The GTX is designed for comfortable, fast cruising over long distances. While also flying through rough air with minimum need for pilot input.
The GTX is ridiculously easy to launch, even on those wet mornings while loaded up with fuel and all the gear. It simply gets you off the ground quickly and efficiently every time.
The risers and trimmer system give a wide range of speed, but still maintain precise, light and progressive handling throughout. The GTX can be comfortably slowed for thermal efficiency with flatter turns.
Both the GTR and GTX are sharing the latest laminar flow MCJ reflex wing sections. Which include an integrated drag reduction system; made of carefully placed holes that equalize pressure at the trailing edge. The result is leading edge technology which has proven to be quite astounding. Therefore minimal power differences between the fast and slow speeds, a flat polar curve and increased efficiency.
The Paramania GTX 22m is made for the most popular pilot/motor weight combo.
The Gin manufactured Paramania build and engineering quality is of the highest standard. The wing comes with all the usual Paramania trimmings.
Parabatix skyracers gets the Devin Supertramp treatment. Devin has made a name for himself travelling around the world showcasing many different sports and talents bringing the top skills of a few individuals to be seen by the world via youtube. This time it was the turn of the Parabatix Skyracers. A flying competition dreamt up by Pascal from Paramania Powergliders, the manufacturer of the GTR featured in the video with many other wings and paramotors. Devin captures the control and freedom flying a paramotor brings plus the exciting colourful side of competition. Check out his video, click like and share to your facebook walls for all to see.
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If you are new to this and want to learn to fly, there are flying schools and a huge range of equipment available from all around the world.
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The latest movie from Pascal (http://www.Paramania.com) is an epic video filmed in the Everglades, Florida USA. Of a bunch of Paramotor pilots and Jet Ski riders going mad!
Paramania Team pilots get their GTRs out and pull off some pretty cool flying stunts! Walking on water, on the Jet ski and generally doing some pretty cool and extreme stuff! Pascal takes his Parajet Thor200 & GTR for a blast in this beautiful location of soft sandy beaches and flat water. Chilled out video which really show through the Paramania attitude of flying paramotors for fun and enjoying every moment.
LIFT – Apco’s first all round purpose built Sports Class reflex wing for wide segment of pilots.
Conceived from Force, as a direct result of pilot demand and a worthy addition to our classic paramotor wing range. It is not a tuned down version of Force, but all in all a new wing, purpose built and designed to specific needs of wide range of pilots, targeting anyone who would like to fly easy rock solid reflex wing with excellent performance and speed.
LIFT does not sacrifice much on speed range and performance when compared to Force, but offers unmatched foolproof launch, dream-like handling and safety combined with ease of flying and reassuring comfort that will amaze you each time you take off.
LIFT is the perfect choice for every pilot who wants to enjoy flying long distances with no stress or is just playing around.
LIFT is ready in 2 sizes – S and M – covering weight range from 75kg.-165kg. The design brief ofLIFT aims to combine the best aspects of reflex wing with performance, handling and launch APCO is known for – perfectly blended into a well built, robust chute made to last.
Equipped with our unique SRS® system to allow for comfortable slow speed take-off and landing. HIT Valves® (APCO exclusive) incorporated to insure maximum stability and internal wing pressure at any angle of attack. Built-in Flexon battens® for perfect profile shape retention and long term consistent performance – maintenance free and great weight saver. We are proud to be the first and original innovators of all the above unique features – today finding their way into other brands designs too.
Performed during this eleven-day trip in Tunisia : flights, motorbike, videos, photos, sun, desert,…. 🙂
Pascal Vallée (paramotor’s french champion) and Fabien Couderc (enduro’s french champion) unified their forces on this project to both promote their activities.
Credit links :
pascalvallee.com/
fabien-couderc.fr/
ParamotorNews 