A great couple of hours in the air today. Unfortunately I felt queasy,but I think that was something I ate.

A great couple of hours in the air today. Unfortunately I felt queasy, but I think that was something I ate.

https://www.xcontest.org/australia/flights/detail:hangflyer/13.11.2018/04:13

Serpo in 3 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q446BAffi9E&feature=autoshare

Another good day of flying. A small triangle and a top landing tofinish.

Another good day of flying. A small triangle and a top landing to finish.

https://www.xcontest.org/australia/flights/detail:hangflyer/28.10.2018/06:23

https://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:hangflyer/27.10.2018/06:38

https://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:hangflyer/27.10.2018/06:38

A fun little flight on the Masala 3 XXS today.

70kph+ groundspeed at trim and over 5m/s lift!

I had a nice spring flight at Bakewell a couple of weeks ago. Justdownloaded the photos now.

I had a nice spring flight at Bakewell a couple of weeks ago. Just downloaded the photos now.
Another good Bakewell weekend coming up.

My best attempt to fly back to Aarau this year!

My best attempt to fly back to Aarau this year!

https://ayvri.com/scene/nxkww64yk8/cjn49kynm00012463lmf9bc8w
https://ayvri.com/scene/nxkww64yk8/cjn49kynm00012463lmf9bc8w

Flights in the Jura, Switzerland Summer 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a5sE2HKCvg&feature=autoshare

Paragliding in Brixen, Italy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUmxBNlf6bc&feature=autoshare

Footage from flights near the Matterhorn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxF9E-l7nFc&feature=autoshare

XC from Brienz to Interlaken with PHI Symphonia Paraglider size 20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EodWLn-Xlrg&feature=autoshare

Paragliding in the Engelberg region in Switzerland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKVR9I6h3dM&feature=autoshare

Paragliding from Zugspitz the highest peak in Germany

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kvW8rYN5sI&feature=autoshare

Old Film footage from Aarau in Switzerland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_kvVdWPdIs&feature=autoshare

My first flight in Romania. Exciting.

My first flight in Romania. Exciting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM_3TEOft44&feature=autoshare

Flights from the Zugerberg and Rigi July 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3fnQ_ZznOE&feature=autoshare

Paragliding with overly dramatic music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUxbeRb8wQ8&feature=autoshare

So much great flying to be had here in Switzerland when the weather is good.

So much great flying to be had here in Switzerland when the weather is good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kScc6xb1TU8&feature=autoshare

Paragliding at Detling, Kent, UK.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-VeAUkvB_0&feature=autoshare

A very windy day. A bit rough, but good practice. The site in on the North Downs way in Kent.

A very windy day. A bit rough, but good practice. The site in on the North Downs way in Kent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufV_AH0KGAc&feature=autoshare

I finally got to fly Detling Hill which is a site near Thurnham in Kent.

I finally got to fly Detling Hill which is a site near Thurnham in Kent. It's the closest site to Charing being less than 20 minutes by car.
The wind was moderate to strong on the ground, with a thermic/squally feel.
Because I had a small wing with me I felt confident about ground handling to feel the air. I had to time my take off with a lull in the wind. Landing was the result of a careful setup.
I was sharing the sky with Aero Modelers, look for the planes in some of the shots.
I took off at the bottom of the slope as the wind was averaging about 10kt there. I went up to the top of the hill before I flew to check the compression and it was definitely something to stay well away from.
I flew for about 25 minutes. During one squall the wind picked up quite a lot and I was on full speed bar and just holding my position in front of the hill, that was my signal to call it a day.

Some great flying in Tenerife. Strong thermals and tight landing spots.

Some great flying in Tenerife. Strong thermals and tight landing spots.

https://vimeo.com/274111098
https://vimeo.com/274111098

Light NE winds.

Light NE winds. A low inversion. Weak thermals. 3 safe flights. 3 hikes back up the mountain. A new person record time for ascending and descending. Maybe not such a tough day after all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JojmPZIUbfU&feature=autoshare

Another awesome day at Mt Bakewell.

Another awesome day at Mt Bakewell. NE winds, but light and thermic so plenty of chances to launch safely from the top. 3 awesome flights, each one special and challenging. I'm flying a Skywalk Masala 3 XXS. It's a super fun glider, fast, dynamic, responsive and glides well too. Oh and it weighs 2.75kg and packs up to the size of a bath towel. I never would have imagined that 16.8sqm could do so much.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDLuN2gYMYA&feature=autoshare

Another awesome day at Mt Bakewell.

Another awesome day at Mt Bakewell. NE winds, but light and thermic so plenty of chances to launch safely from the top. 3 awesome flights, each one special and challenging. I'm flying a Skywalk Masala 3 XXS. It's a super fun glider, fast, dynamic, responsive and glides well too. Oh and it weighs 2.75kg and packs up to the size of a bath towel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wweNf5RpIg8&feature=autoshare

I had a great hike and fly adventure at Bakewell.

I had a great hike and fly adventure at Bakewell. The winds did not allow for much flying, but I got plenty of fresh air, exercise and practice taking off in tricky conditions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8-P3rrXwpI&feature=autoshare

Short flights, but still a nice day in the country.

Short flights, but still a nice day in the country.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7fCjzT0ov0&feature=autoshare

Richard Dawkins on veganism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-F09sJvWQs&feature=share

A short XC and hike back to the car.

A short XC and hike back to the car.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyuV0hCT4Lw&feature=autoshare

An epic week in bright. 12 hours of video compressed to 15 minutes!

An epic week in bright. 12 hours of video compressed to 15 minutes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrXsQHBt3YI&feature=autoshare

I had an awesome XC from York to Goomalling a couple of days ago. 3 hrs was my longest flight on the Symphonia.

I had an awesome XC from York to Goomalling a couple of days ago. 3 hrs was my longest flight on the Symphonia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpyL5MtESQg&feature=autoshare

https://youtu.be/HMGIbOGu8q0

https://youtu.be/HMGIbOGu8q0
https://youtu.be/HMGIbOGu8q0

Some great PG flights over the last week. Some highlights from an XC on a low day and from the coast.

Some great PG flights over the last week. Some highlights from an XC on a low day and from the coast.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbwAzjObxAI&feature=autoshare

Another great day at Mt Bakewell.

Another great day at Mt Bakewell.

A 10k XC with 2.5 hour walk back. Then an hour of magic lift at at sunset.

PHI Symphonia 20 Stall/Spin in Thermal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZpTuus3rWQ&feature=autoshare

A Tale Of Two Trumps | Season 29 | THE SIMPSONS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq4FCuEaclA&feature=share

Another awesome day at Mt Bakewell.

Another awesome day at Mt Bakewell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sGk4t5j4JQ&feature=autoshare

It's a JOKE!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti2bVS40cz0&feature=share

A short thermal flight.

A short thermal flight. A longer thermal flight. A committed forward launch in the SW late in the day. 3 climbs back up the hill. A fun day. Pretty clouds and not too hot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC3EvdosOg0&feature=autoshare

3 flights. 3 hikes back up the hill. Way more exercise than flying, but all good fun.

3 flights. 3 hikes back up the hill. Way more exercise than flying, but all good fun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0BLvZERmD0&feature=autoshare

Cool

Cool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvFNCNOyZeE&sns=gp

Climbing out with eagles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx0IRcyQimg&feature=share

Bevan has got a big winch. Payout winch towing a Hang Glider.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe-wEn6A0k8&feature=autoshare

I got towed to 4000ft AGL testing Bevans new winch. A new world record(for me).

I got towed to 4000ft AGL testing Bevans new winch. A new world record (for me).

It only has a range of 10km at the moment, but still pretty cool.

It only has a range of 10km at the moment, but still pretty cool.

With a hybrid version with a small high power turbine engine it could actually work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr1V-r2YxME&feature=share

Why I changed my mind about nuclear power | Michael Shellenberger | TEDxBerlin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciStnd9Y2ak&feature=share

Flying a Hng Glider with Paraglider Harness. Wills Wing Sport 2. Western Australia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEzRm1KJaws&feature=autoshare

Supprone test with the Sport 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKaDrSFwPoA&feature=autoshare

Experiment flying Hang Glider Supprone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF4NgKe4zuw&feature=autoshare

Rolf tries to take off in a crosswind with crash

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l65cm-BSZ38&feature=autoshare

First flight on PHI Symphonia 20. XC from York to Northam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoqI9wkNTww&feature=autoshare

Ozone Firefly 2, Shelley Beach Western Australia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwAOU8QJ1J8&feature=autoshare

Shelley Beach 2018 - 12 Fly and Hike flights in one day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z_V95sPtJQ&feature=autoshare

Another awesome day at Shelleys. I flew the Firefly 3 times. Wind was 10-13 knots.

Another awesome day at Shelleys. I flew the Firefly 3 times. Wind was 10-13 knots.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/z6S7MubtHuH3YVwC2

How to Bomb Out with your Paraglider.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXGMZMwh4Tg&feature=autoshare

A quick trip down south to Albany.

A quick trip down south to Albany.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiCrvHv87HYAhXFfrwKHcCqBasQFggsMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rainbowcoast.com.au%2Fareas%2Falbany%2Fshelleybeach.htm&usg=AOvVaw2sLazll1oBrmW7J_j8_rzk

Camping by the ocean.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xYHL8iKhI5VLoI1E2

https://photos.app.goo.gl/q06JWTcAqIa3Jom43

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2E1VQoP0EHHTQaZl2

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SIU7wXU3ecZwdinJ2


An amazing day of flying.

https://youtu.be/J1jD57ANZHE


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiCrvHv87HYAhXFfrwKHcCqBasQFggsMAA&url=http://www.rainbowcoast.com.au/areas/albany/shelleybeach.htm&usg=AOvVaw2sLazll1oBrmW7J_j8_rzk

Another awesome day at Bakewell. 5m/sec or 1000ft/min climbs up to 8000ft.

Another awesome day at Bakewell. 5m/sec or 1000ft/min climbs up to 8000ft.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/3hHqcs617CCRWrre2

Hang Gliding at Cottesloe 16th December 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YNvt0oWR8k&feature=autoshare

+1 for religious people wearing blindfolds and putting plastic bags over their heads.

+1 for religious people wearing blindfolds and putting plastic bags over their heads.

http://all-that-is-interesting.com/hasidic-blindfolds
http://all-that-is-interesting.com/hasidic-blindfolds

To treat back pain, look to the brain not the spine – Cathryn Jakobson Ramin | Aeon Essays

https://aeon.co/essays/to-treat-back-pain-look-to-the-brain-not-the-spine

http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html
http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

Mr Men, Mr Happy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMYzPBn63Ic&sns=gp

Summer has ended.

Summer has ended. But cold and and sunshine means thermals. Yay. I'm flying my first true love again. Love my Masala 2 XS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRYUNjzBQh8&feature=autoshare

Vote No To The Gay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vejeNYq9284&feature=player_embedded

Why bitcoin is a bad idea....

Why bitcoin is a bad idea....

https://digiconomist.net/bitcoin-energy-consumption
https://digiconomist.net/bitcoin-energy-consumption

https://jakubmarian.com/where-in-europe-is-electric-car-a-good-idea/

https://jakubmarian.com/where-in-europe-is-electric-car-a-good-idea/
https://jakubmarian.com/where-in-europe-is-electric-car-a-good-idea/

I'm starting to get used to the wing...

I'm starting to get used to the wing...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R66NShi_-QU&feature=autoshare

Paragliding is fun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DONHNYigEfA&feature=autoshare

After forgetting how to fly a couple of days ago, I remembered again today. 4 fun flights.

After forgetting how to fly a couple of days ago, I remembered again today. 4 fun flights.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMtOX2UlfLY&feature=autoshare

Some days you realise that it was your turn to be the cautionary tale and not the shining example.

Some days you realise that it was your turn to be the cautionary tale and not the shining example.

Today was my turn.

Schwengimatt is a hang gliding and paragliding site in Solothurn, Switzerland.

There are 2 take-offs. They both take a Northerly wind but are mostly flown as thermal sites.
Neither take-off gives you a nice clean start from the side of a hill, both take-offs are set back a long way from the edge of the tree covered hill.

I’ve taken off from the higher take-off many times, both with HG and PG. However you have to go between a couple of trees on take-off and it gets pretty rowdy when it’s thermic.

The bottom take off is lower and shallower, but you have a great big sloping field between you and the trees and so aborting is an easy low risk option. I also found the take off to be much easier as you can run on the shallow slope.

According to my gps the starting elevation is 1020m and to clear the the tops of the trees by a few meters you need to be at 980m when you arrive at the point 380m away from where you take off. That means you need a glide ratio 380/40 = 9.5 to 1 in still air.

Of course it’s rarely still air. With a light facing breeze your ground speed and hence your glide ratio reduces, but the extra lift tends to overcome that.

I think that with a chainsaw and the use of an excavator for the day I could make one amazing take-off that would be the kind where you don’t have to worry about your glide ratio as you are heading towards the trees.
But of course, in the real world one has to contend with the trees.

Today was my first time at the lower launch. My first take-off was fairly uneventful, I got out over the trees and onto the ridge and went looking for thermals.

After landing down at the bottom I got a ride back up to the top for another go.

For my second launch it was getting more thermic. I watched a couple of pilots fail to clear the trees and then land just before them.

Both guys seemed to have higher performance wings than me, and so that made me worry that my inferior glide might not be enough.

I’m flying a straight EN-A wing, that’s as safe and simple as it gets. It sacrifices performance for a very forgiving nature, and that’s exactly what I need to be flying.

So I took off at a moment that I thought was good and had one of those, will I, won’t I clear the trees flights, where I would hit some lift and gain a few meters and then hit some sink and lose a few meters. I was totally fixed on the trees in front and was waiting for my decision point where I would abort if I was not going to be several meters above the trees when I got there.
Having the wing pitching about all over the place made it very hard to judge my flight path, so with a couple of seconds to go I aborted by turning right and landing along side the trees.

I picked up my wing and walked back to take off for another go.

There were some pilots there who seemed to be in spectator mode. I know it’s one of those sites. Whenever anyone takes of in marginal conditions (or a marginal pilot in good conditions) everyone watches and says “Oooh” and “Aaah” as they glide towards the trees. It’s quite hard for people watching to judge whether a pilot will clear the trees and always exciting when it’s close.

At this point there was another pilot there who had failed to clear the trees and was having another go. I took of shortly after him. Neither of us made it over the trees, he aborted right, I went left.

When It was time to flare I realised my canopy was in front of me and as I pulled on the brakes in an attempt to slow down and round out I suddenly realised that I had been so fixated on the trees I had forgotten to fly.

I’m a low hours paraglider pilot, flying a new wing. I’ve just got to the point where I’ve done enough ground handling and take-offs with this wing to feel relaxed during take-off.

I know the site fairly well and so I don’t have any stress about where I’m going to land.

I’ve even seen enough other people abort flights to realise that it’s just one of the things that can happen and is nothing to worry about. I’ve only ever seen one guy end up in the trees and that was because he left it too late to abort and then stalled and spun his glider in, that was one mistake I was not going to make.

So as I packed up my gear I though about what had been happening. About how my wing was pitching all over the place in the turbulent air. About how I would gain several meters and then lose them again.

My whole thinking had been to fly the best glide I could manage in order to clear the trees. Most paragliders get their best glide wherever they are trimmed, touching the brakes will reduce your speed and your sink rate, but also your glide. For this reason I was trying to fly as hands up as possible, I was even trying to weigh shift to steer to avoid using the brakes.

In hindsight now of course I realise that was the reason the wing was pitching all over the place. I should have been active flying the wing. The small losses from touching the brakes would have paled in comparison to the huge loses I was getting from the massive pitch changes.

I was one of the guys that the experienced pilots on the hills were pointing to and saying, look what happens if you don’t manage your pitch well.

It’s easy to fly a paraglider. It’s hard to fly one well.

I’ve put the video of the aborted flight up on you tube to serve as a reminder to myself and others.

https://youtu.be/NuZFIqTo0dM
https://youtu.be/NuZFIqTo0dM

Meet Spot, the robot dog that can run, hop and open doors | Marc Raibert

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO4In7d6X-c&feature=share

Paragliding is boring ;-) Bombout from Niederbauen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwDn3TJqCyg&feature=autoshare

It goes completely against what most believe, but out of all major energy sources, nuclear is the safest

https://ourworldindata.org/what-is-the-safest-form-of-energy/

If the media were to tell us to ignore the media and look at the actual reality...

If the media were to tell us to ignore the media and look at the actual reality...
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/jul/28/is-the-world-really-better-than-ever-the-new-optimists

Petrified Forest | Lewis H. Lapham

http://laphamsquarterly.org/fear/petrified-forest

Insanity.....

Insanity.....

Check out my trail running activity on Garmin Connect. #beatyesterday

Check out my trail running activity on Garmin Connect. #beatyesterday
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1860119138?share_unique_id=2

Part of my second flight. I managed a nice accurate spot landing.

Part of my second flight. I managed a nice accurate spot landing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ-sDdkYXIM&feature=autoshare

<iframe src='https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/1853989520' title='Beckenried Trail Running'...

A fun run along some awesome ridge today. Started wet and cold and windy but ended with sun.

Advance Pi2 23 Niederbauen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww77qrIg5nk&feature=autoshare

A public service announcement ;-)

A public service announcement ;-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt9zSfinwFA&feature=share

The Vitamin Myth: Why We Think We Need Supplements - The Atlantic

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/07/the-vitamin-myth-why-we-think-we-need-supplements/277947/?single_page=true

Worth an explore!

Worth an explore!

I remember when ......

I remember when ......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YewNEAIkbG4&feature=share

https://youtu.be/qF7qJ1K4VOk

https://youtu.be/qF7qJ1K4VOk
https://youtu.be/qF7qJ1K4VOk

https://youtu.be/OpBnCY7wwaw

https://youtu.be/OpBnCY7wwaw
https://youtu.be/OpBnCY7wwaw

Spot the little guy.

Spot the little guy.

Mythbusting 101: Organic Farming > Conventional Agriculture

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/science-sushi/httpblogsscientificamericancomscience-sushi20110718mythbusting-101-organic-farming-conventional-agriculture/?wt.mc=SA_GPlus-Share

HALF DOME! (1977)

https://vimeo.com/160704545

Copy of My first Thermals on the T-lite

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFd54AKq3uY&feature=autoshare

Copy of Chasing Glory Part Two

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6zf3A3JtRQ&feature=autoshare

Here Is How Countries Across Europe Are Mocking Donald Trump

http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2017/02/03/germany_switzerland_denmark_belgium_and_portugal_join_the_netherlands_in.html

Bless your heart Wayne.

Bless your heart Wayne.

One of our pets. Personally I prefer the reptiles and the bandicoot.

One of our pets. Personally I prefer the reptiles and the bandicoot.

If you are one of the people who does not understand how Trump won, you should read this.

If you are one of the people who does not understand how Trump won, you should read this.

https://antidotezine.com/2017/01/22/trump-knows-you/
https://antidotezine.com/2017/01/22/trump-knows-you/

There have been suggestions that Trump is intending to head down this road.

There have been suggestions that Trump is intending to head down this road. It is what every responsible government should be doing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=196n6etP4rg&feature=share

A classic.

A classic.

https://www.facebook.com/fethiyeparasut/videos/vb.100013337196436/234086297045942/?type=2&theater
https://www.facebook.com/fethiyeparasut/videos/vb.100013337196436/234086297045942/?type=2&theater

My first flight from Mt Bakewell on a Paraglider, and at noon in January!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh0XR6_VVBA&feature=autoshare

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X7fZoDs9KU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X7fZoDs9KU

https://goodcountry.org/index/overall-rankings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X7fZoDs9KU

New Years Eve flight at Mt Bakewell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaQ6p0Y7XB0&feature=autoshare

Get $10 of free credit when you sign up for a DigitalOcean VPS with this link:

Get $10 of free credit when you sign up for a DigitalOcean VPS with this link:

https://m.do.co/c/0588dd120a66
https://m.do.co/c/0588dd120a66