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Thursday, April 26, 2012

Spring Series Colorado Sail and yacht Club


What fun!

  I have wanted to do this for the last ten years and now it is finally happening.  We are combining our GPS tracks and replaying the race digitally. 

It looks like a bunch of mice running around the garage and there are only three of us using the software ... But ... this has great potential.  I can hardly wait for the Fagawie!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

#539 Saint Mary's

I woke before dawn and noticed that the weather prediction of 10 to 12 mp winds was wrong.  It was warm and calm.  I had given up on flying last night and never ...ever ...fly.... unless I go to bed , with the plan to get up and fly.  I wasn't convinced but I went through the motions and pulled on my flying clothing.  20 minutes later I was at Saint Mary's field where it was calm enough to launch in almost any direction.  I set - up facing toward Boulder road and launched the Eden III without any problems.  However this is still not a good LZ.  My climb was slow and I flew over a bunch of lines at Boulder Road that would have grabbed me for sure Had my motor failed.  I'm going to have to be very carefull about flying here.  The air was pretty good ... there was some mixing going on but not too bad.  I wasn't 100% probably since it has been so long since I've flown.  But, it was a nice flight and I GOT MY FIX.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Review of the Falcon 4 stroke paramotor

Don't by a Falcon 4 stroke


Don't buy a Falcon 4 stroke !

I've done some bone headed things but this is the worst.
In 2009 I traded my beautiful little two stroke Trike for one of Terry ’s machines.

I should have known that first day. On the maiden flight, I parablended my favorite cap right there in front of everybody. The 4 stroke was so quiet I didn't think to put on my helmet and plugs. Imagine....A machine so quiet you don't notice your not wearing ear protection... until your cap goes through the prop. That's a dangerous machine! Yeah, I did go to idle the other day to use the cell phone... but so what?

Every day I find another flaw in this crappy machine. I used to love driving out to the Airport for AV Gas. They let me drive on to the tarmac with the GA guys so I could fill my two 5 gallon gas jugs. I'd drive to the back of the line and wait my turn. Sometimes it took awhile to fill those big birds but it gave me some time ro read the latest issue of Powered Sport Flying. I used to get a lot of good thinking done sitting in the truck waiting for gas. Now, I don't even need the jugs, I just stop at the gas station on the way to the field and fill the buggy right there in the truck. Where is the romance in that? And that reminds me of another thing. What am I going to do with those cases of TTS 2 stroke oil in my garage?

And speaking of the garage....my " Man Cave "... I haven't had a good night working on the machine in months. Yeah sure, I can re-rig the foot steering or mount a strobe but mostly I just sit there and gaze at the machine. No changing tension springs on the exhaust or rebuilding the carb. Heck, I'm having a hard time finding a place that needs a little safety wire. It just isn't the same I come in after 3 hours in the garage and I don't even need to wash my hands. It just sucks!
And the flying is different too. Gone is that element of uncertainty, I sit down, buckle the seat belt and turn the key. There is no sense of accomplishment in that. No fooling with the carb or pulling on the starter till I'm bathed in sweat. The other day I flew 15 miles from the LZ and didn't think once about what a drag it would be if I had to land out. Sure, I still keep an eye out for emergency landing sites but it's really just an exercise anymore. I can still remember the thrill of an engine out,… what a rush those were!

So take my advice, if you love the 2 stroke lifestyle, don't by a Falcon 4 stroke.

Seriously, almost 200 flights on Terry ’s machines without a single problem related to the Paramotor or trike. Footlaunch is King, but once you decide to make the transition to wheels, 4 stroke is the only way to go. The Falcon is the most reliable and affordable PPG on the market



Wednesday, April 4, 2012

USVI to Bonaire

 Saint Thomas USVI to Bonaire Dutch Antillies


It was a wonderful passage with Ron and Nancy from St Thomas to Bonaire.  430 nm on a broad reach the whole way.  The boat was wonderful the weather was on our side and the company was great.  Dawn and I arrived at Benner Bay at noon where Ron met us at the dingy dock.  The firsr thing I did after loading our bags into the dingy was to drop my glasses over the side.  I was ready to forget about it until Ron pointed out that we were in 6 inches of water.  Abashed I reached down and retrieved the wayward specs.  We motored out to Always Saturday and the adventure began.   
After stowing our gear and getting a quick boat tour we piled back on the dingy and went ashore where we caught a bus to the mall, we purchased the last of our provisions and wandered to the "Food Court" for a street dinner of ribs and egg rolls.  The ride back was up and around the Island giving us a great view.  On the way in we went by American Bay where we sawMaxi Boats practicing for the Rolex Reggata and on the way back to the boat we got a good look at Red Hook. 
Dawn and I spent the first night on the starboard birth rocked to sleep by the yacht.

Up at 6:00,  pulling our hook at 7:00, we were around the Buck Islands before 8:00 and on our way to Bonaire. 





our mooring
our mooring
the captain

Dawn with Gunner's Boat in backgrond

Landfall at Bonaire at dawn



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