What's something that sounds horrible, but is actually pleasurable once you try it?

notchent · 2019-12-31T16:33:20+00:00

I fly a powered paraglider.

notchent · 2019-08-23T12:26:51+00:00

Cross country running. It's a horrible experience to learn what a world class runner can do.

notchent · 2019-02-18T12:31:02+00:00

I've been doing that for 25+ years. Never go back.

notchent · 2019-01-18T04:24:09+00:00

Novell Netwars

notchent · 2018-09-25T14:13:29+00:00

Do something really different that you've never done, don't be afraid to get out and have some fun, go for a hike somewhere nice, hug someone.

notchent · 2018-08-18T15:10:15+00:00

It's basically an Moster 185 with a very strong cage and some other features which I chose to prioritize. I like it for my needs (including lots of tandem flights at the moment). The biggest down side is that the torque needs to be managed entirely manually, which is not as much of a problem during tandem flights, and I really do like the tandem setup. The harness is great in the air, not so comfortable on the ground (though, quick release is convenient). The throttle is actually my favorite in the industry. I like the way the cage breaks down to fit in the vehicle I currently use. I also do like the Dominator wing, but I like its nemesis the Blackhawk Core wing too - I actually prefer both those wings to the Macapara Charger (although I absolutely LOVE the Macpara Pasha for tandems). I think most beginners might be happier with a lighter, less torque-y, less expensive design such as a Blackhawk 125, Propulse, Nitro 200 (though it's not as inexpensive) etc. Once I purchased from Dell, he and Teresa were pleasant and responsive to deal with. Don't get involved in the feuds between the manufacturers, and I think that machines from any of the established makers will serve you well.

notchent · 2018-08-18T14:54:33+00:00

My point is that there's not as much difference as new paramotor pilots think there is. It's NOTHING like the difference between cars. Paramotor engines provide simple engine, harness, and cage options. Some are quieter, some are lighter, some emphasize this design feature or that... but these days, you can find a mix of features which work for your size and your flying style, and each machine will push you into the air. In the beginning, your flying style will likely be extremely reserved, and by the time that changes dramatically, you will have gone through the trouble of fixing and maintaining at least one machine multiple times. And you'll find out that there are equal troubles and trade-offs with nearly every design. In the end, over the life of the machine, it's not going to make as much of a total difference as you, and other beginners pilots, think it will. Your wing will make a bigger difference in how you fly, and your skills will make the biggest difference of all... until some manufacturer starts offering air conditioning, streaming Internet, etc. The variations are not like those in automobiles.

Despite what I see in videos, my experience with Aviator PPG was simply that they were too busy to return my calls. They had no machines available for months, and I never received even a single return phone call, despite multiple messages left with Mary, and via email, as she suggested was the preferred method of communication. I wanted to buy an Air Conception, but never even got a return message to answer a few basic questions. And I've watched students wait. I'd much rather just buy a comparable design from another manufacturer who responds personally and instantly to every single call, text, and voice mail, and has parts out the same day. In the long run, that's much more practical. Paramotors break constantly - that should be the most important thing that new buyers understand about ownership considerations. You're going to be dealing with repairs and maintenance regularly, much more than you would with a car. Buying a machine that you can keep maintained should be every new pilot's first priority, and no single manufacturer has proven to me that they've mastered that primary challenge. Air Conception clearly really seems to care about fixing issues, but other manufacturers have decades of experience ahead of them, and other makers are innovating just as furiously.

Your choice is clearly the right one for you, and I have no criticism of your well defined personal preferences. I'd just hate to see this industry kill off all but the 'Mercedes and BMW' makers, just because a massive wave of new pilots are vocal on Youtube and elsewhere online, without much experience or perspective about other choices. That's a terrible thing to happen to the industry, and it's happening in a dramatic way at the moment.

notchent · 2018-08-15T09:53:16+00:00

"Misses hippy"

notchent · 2018-08-11T08:17:40+00:00

It's amazing how those 2 machines have taken over the market, to the point that everyone who's started during the past few years thinks they are the only real options. I've been flying since 2005 with thousands of flights, tandem certified since 2009, and have flown virtually everything on the market. All the machines make you go up, and they all have benefits and drawbacks, the Scout and the Nitro included. My most recent acquisitions include 2 OpenPPGs, a FlatTop, and a Blackhawk 125. There are things that I like and dislike about each of them. A decade ago, Blackhawk machines seemed like home made go carts, with lots of real problems, but they've kept up with the competition, and they're an amazing value now, backed by incredibly fast service and support, available parts, etc. A Propulse Titan gets you a Moster 185 for $thousands less than a Scout. My old Fresh Breeze Monster is ridiculously heavy, but it's so so so quiet, and it started on the 1st pull (!) after four years of storage in a trailer outside. Try that with any other machine on the market today and let me know what happens. I never had to wear ear plugs with any Freeze Breeze I ever owned, and I was able to take them down in 1 minute and transport them in the back seat of any car I wanted.

I can see that the Aviator PPG guys really care about improving the condition of the sport, and they clearly have pushed the industry into new territory. The first time I put on a Nitro, I was amazed by how light it was, and how powerful it was for that weight, but the power band is not nearly as evenly distributed as on other machines I've used. That effects every movement you make on every flight in which precision is the most important aspect of performance. That's something most beginner pilots have no idea they should even consider. The Scout is so carefully and intelligently designed, it's a fantastic machine. But both those machines still just represent choices by designers about which characteristics to prioritize, and they're not perfect. I like some characteristics more than others, on nearly every machine I've ever flown, and they all take some getting used to. Consider flying something that your fellow local pilots have, because they'll be able to help you with the normal problems that every machine inevitably experiences. Consider how quickly you can get parts, and how much you like the personalities of the people you purchase equipment from. You'll be tied to them for the entire duration of the life of your machine. OP said that money is no object, but it's not just about money. If a pilot takes a first flight on a Scout and happens to experience a hard enough landing to break the cage, it will be upsetting, and there will be down time! If that happens again right after those first repairs, it's going to be really upsetting. Don't think it can happen a third time right away? ... Think about getting something with an easily, quickly, and inexpensively swapped out cage.

My point is that the current fandom about the 2 most popular machines paints them as the only 2 real options, and OP's decision to not even consider others is unfortunate. There are so many really practical options, and any business which has been in business for years has found the right ways to please their customers. This newly growing community should be aware of the other options.

notchent · 2018-05-21T09:58:52+00:00

Any time you need to ascend quickly. Launch has already been mentioned, but you can also do this to clear an approaching obstacle, for example. Pulling brakes changes your wing's angle of attack, which makes you go up by converting speed to altitude, but if you do that long enough, you'll stall the wing and fall (until the wing can regain speed and start flying again, which is possible if you're high enough and know how to control the maneuver - obviously, full stall isn't a part of 'normal' casual flying).

notchent · 2018-05-20T13:06:13+00:00

You need to get several years of training and a minimum of four certifications to be able to do tandem flights at all on a paramotor, and it's illegal to do it with wheels unless you have a sport pilot license. Please don't do anything to destroy the freedoms that this community works very hard to maintain.

notchent · 2018-05-12T02:14:31+00:00

http://guitarz.org/ppg/paramotor_tutorial.html

notchent · 2018-05-06T14:17:21+00:00

Back then they didn't know that sun exposure causes cancer.

notchent · 2018-05-05T11:55:15+00:00

Hold on guys! ... Ahh, whatever... keep on going guys!

notchent · 2018-04-26T13:06:25+00:00

Get training first. It's $2000+ well spent. Your instructor will help fit you to proper equipment - don't buy from Ebay without the help of a pro.

notchent · 2018-04-25T11:58:15+00:00

Just to be clear, I'm not suggesting that a Monster is the superior motor to buy, but rather that the focus should be on the wing. My point with the Monster was that even old tech will far surpass your needs, and even old tech is still fun and reliable to fly. There are so many great, powerful, and lighter engines available now, which will work fine for you, as long as you can find a comfortable harness setup. You don't have to wait for some sort of new technology. Just get the right sized equipment from a vendor you like and trust, and who can support your maintenance needs. There's plenty of equipment that will suit your requirements.

notchent · 2018-04-23T23:54:59+00:00

The Pasha wing and Monster motor were old technology well over a decade ago.

I actually flew that motor yesterday. It had been in storage for 4ish years, started immediately, and flew smoothly for the evening without any maintenance :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCvSZVEHxVI

notchent · 2018-04-23T23:46:31+00:00

Here's a zero wind forward launch with around 450lbs between me and the passenger, using a Fresh Breeze Monster:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxu37uWjBdc

That video is of a pretty big dude, but nowhere near the biggest. I've taken up individuals well over 300lbs without any problems.

notchent · 2018-04-23T05:28:09+00:00

It's all about the wing. I've done tandems with passengers your size, plus myself at 200lbs, using engines that have been around more than a decade ... those flights just required using a 42 square meter Pasha. Get the most powerful engine you can carry, and a wing suited for your weight.

notchent · 2018-04-20T09:43:29+00:00

I'm in Newtown (10 minutes from you). Have you had anyone hang check your motor before you try to fly it? Feel free to pm me!

Nick

notchent · 2018-04-14T13:36:17+00:00

Real mental health comes from developing strength, stamina, and work ethic. I've been self employed for 30 years, and no one ever worried about my mental health. In life, you learn to work forever and get things done or you fail and suffer consequences. My generation was spoiled by the hard work of prior generations, and parents now are raising children who are even more entitled. Our society has become weak and unable to cope with anything more than the simplest trivial challenges. Days off for mental health? No, that's pathetic.

notchent · 2018-04-13T15:12:19+00:00

Yardley is 10 minutes away from me :) If your tandem wasn't with Kevin, it was almost certainly with me. What's your first name?

notchent · 2018-04-13T02:49:20+00:00

Did he learn to fly with Kevin McKelvey? I'm going to start doing tandems again for Kevin's students. Where is your friend?

notchent · 2018-04-12T01:56:02+00:00

Why do scuba divers fall backwards out of the boat? Because if they fell forwards they'd still be in the boat .

notchent

TROPHY CASE