Glad you enjoyed it. I think a lot of sub 70 and SSDR Flexwing pilots (myself included) are ex paramotorists who are just too old and knackered to run any more!! 👍
I liked how you covered the safety strap article. Almost as important as wearing a helmet when even just ground running an open cockpit/flexwing aircraft..;)
New to the channel buddy, used to fly a long while back. I was witnessed a pilot starting and warming up a Rotax 447 in a Solar Wings XL on a concrete runway that went full rpm. The guy was half hanging out racing around 100yds before coming safely to a stop. Luckily ended well. I used to read the aaib reports and took interest in Pilot Magazine 'I learned about flying from that' interesting knowledge to be gained.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. I’m a firm believer that every accident/incident is a massive source of learning and we would be stupid if we didn’t learn from these things. 👍
Nice one PB 👍 enjoy the topics you covered, especially Electronic Conspicuity, I personally use SafeSky on my mobile phone as I think it’s all going to go down that road anyway and it’s probably the only device that I think could be used as a transponder in the future!! I be interested in your and anyones viewing on this topic 😁
Speaking as one PB to another, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if mobile phones end playing a much bigger part in navigation, conspicuity and communication in the future. We’ll have to wait and see. 👍
I did a long landing into a short field to avoid fields of crops when experienced carburettor icing overlying Brize Norton non-radio hence 3500 feet on a damp July evening in a Pegasus XL. Which only has a lap strap for the front seat. I suffered a fractured vertebrae but my son in the back with full harness emerged without a scratch. I also had severe bruising on my feet which were x-rayed assuming I had broken at least one. The doctor said if I had not been wearing walking boots it would have been a different story. So as well as wearing a full harness do NOT wear flip flops or gym shoes!
Wow. Sounds like you had a lucky escape although your story does add weight to the argument that full harnesses should be worn at all times. I think the CAA also ought to add a no flip flop section into the regs. Can we add Crocs as well? In fact Crocs should be outlawed full stop!! 👍
RC plane clubs have been sharing some airfields for a while now, however commercial pressures to ‘clear the sky’ may now lead to less opportunities to fly for leisure.
Thank you Kev. I’ve already added two new fly in dates to the calendar since I published the video. I expect it will probably grow quite significantly as we get closer to the better weather. 👍
I fly my Dragonfly without using the shoulder harness so I can reach the dash panel with starter button etc. I think our slower machines are less risk of causing serious injury during a landing or ground event. I have a chute on the Dragonfly and on all my previous single seat machines...I would rather have the option to use it than nothing. Our wings originate from the Hang Glider world and they mostly use a backup chute. I know the risk of wing failure is very small, unless there is some damage/wear that hasn't been found during preflight and mid-air collision or bird strike is also very small risk. Perhaps also a very small risk of failure due to freak air conditions (turbulent rotor from mountains or wind shear). If you just fly circuits or a short bimble in very smooth air then maybe no use for a chute. If you prefer to fly on longer XC flights in more thermic conditions then maybe a chute is good insurance.
I guess things like reserve chutes and the wearing of shoulder harnesses are all down to personal choice. We all make our own decisions and have our own reasons for making them. I just hope that prompting a discussion might raise awareness and help pilots make informed decisions. Fly safe. 👍
Another (even better) news update. As you rightly say, all this info is out there but you've got to go digging for it. Having some of the most significant stuff pulled together in this format works really well and I can imagine that if you keep at it you'll become a 'go-to' source for a lot of people. Oh and I've just added a couple more events to my calendar... 😉 Cheers, Paul - keep 'em coming.
Cheers Dan. I’ve already added two new dates to the calendar since I published this video. There is loads of news and info out there. The difficulty is in deciding what’s relevant and knowing when to stop. I can talk about this for hours!!! 👍
@@paulieb796 Don't worry - I think your audience is likely to be pretty much the same! 😂 I guess it is tricky to know what to include and what to leave out, but it feels like you're hitting the important and interesting stuff. You'll get better and better at making the judgement, too. 👍
Another great video Paul. I got my Stbd U/C (Hip replaced) rebuild last week, just waiting for the healing to finish. Then I can start thinking about getting the Pt one done before I can get some air under my wheels.
Hi Simon. Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery. Looks like we are in a similar position at the minute . . . waiting for things to heal before we can get in the air! 👍
I did things the other way round. Started with paramotoring but switched to flexwings after a cycling accident left me unable to foot launch. I was speaking with Giles F earlier who mentioned that he knew you. Small world isn’t it?
Did I enjoy it?.......... NO mate I didn't............... I absolutely loved it. See what I did there!!!!!! I no longer follow social media or forums, so this is a great platform for updates. Glad you're on the mend. In regard to airspace, I remember working on this when I was at Manchester airport in 2016. It's been going on for a while. There's a gradual decommissioning of VOR beacons as they are no longer needed for enroute navigation with the latest technology and as you mentioned, airspace designed in the 50's is no longer fit for purpose. It's going to be interesting to see the outputs. Keep up the good work mate.
It’s definitely time they started again with a blank sheet of paper rather than tweaking an already creaking system. It will be interesting to see what they come up with. 👍
Great stuff again Paul. Im in favour of the reserve vs Beer calculation 👍🍺. I have been thinking about the safety belt issue and noted not all flexwings have a shoulder strap, the rear seat would be just as key in my mind to have a shoulder strap to reduce the chance of the passenger smashing into your back/head.
I think that all two seater flexwings should have a full harness in the rear seat to comply with section S. However instructors do have an exemption from wearing them when flying from the rear seat as they cannot physically reach forward enough to have sufficient pitch control with shoulder harnesses on (in P&M machines at least). P&M machines do have 3 point harnesses fitted to the front seat but Section S suggests only the lap strap is mandatory. There are accident reports on the AAIB site where a front seat pilot has been injured by the rear seat passenger who was not wearing a shoulder harness. Reading the accident reports has made my mind up. All seats should have a full harness and unless you are instructing, then you should wear one. AND YES, BEER IS WAY MORE USEFUL THAN A RESERVE PARACHUTE. 😉
Great video Paul. Why not make 4 point harnesses mandatory. I’m very interested in your talking about ballistic and self thrown parachutes, my concern has always been that after deployment it could get caught up and not deploy correctly, how often do they need checking /maintenance. What’s the consensus of wearing a personal parachute instead. Sorry to waffle on.
BCAR section S mandates that all occupants of a microlight must be provided with a lap strap and upper torso restraint so they are mandatory. There is an exemption for instructors from wearing them in the rear seat. The problem is that the regs currently say that only a lap belt is required in the front seat which I think is likely to be amended. Considering reserve chutes, the maintenance seems to be determined by the individual manufacturers but the general advice is that they should be repacked every 12 months (although the BHPA suggest every 6 months). Wearing a personal parachute is just adding yet another option. I personally don’t know of any microlight / SSDR / sub 70 pilots who have chosen that as an option. Be interesting to throw that out for further discussion . . .
The UK is about to lead the world in shared airspace, you wont have to do anything as a microlight flyer, not even have EC look for Altitude Angels Corridor and maybe ask Richard the CEO to talk to you in a livestream about it. Everyone wants safety and equal and equatable access for all is the aim of the game. The snag with ADSB is it was designed in the 1990s and is super simple to spoof. We all should be pushing for a secure low cost system.
Richards scheme will be free for crewed airspace users. It's already working in the Reading area and this summer a corridor will extend upto Coventry. Cameras, radar and EC receivers of all types will monitor the sky and identify traffic. The towers with sensors are nearly all built. It's radar 2 I guess
Reserve.... I have flown (paragliders) 20+ years with a reserve, I have only felt like I have come close to needing it a couple of times. Now I am moving into trikes, its hard to shake the psychological effect of having one last chance if the worst should happen. Fighting all the way to impact trying to get the reserve to open seems like it would be bliss compared to the hopeless despair of not having any option but to realize "This is it, this it my end". Is it just me?
No, not just you and a common way of thinking particularly from paramotorists making the switch to trike flying. The big difference is that you will never have a wing collapse with a solid wing. I get why it would feel weird though. Imagine driving a car without your seatbelt on. It would just feel wrong and unsafe which I guess is how you would feel if you flew without a reserve. It’s all down to personal choice. 👍
@@paulieb796 Yea... Cant shake it :) Even a small reserve - If I'm oriented nose down (ish), I get the feeling my frame and four point belt would give a pretty good chance of survival @ 15/20mph.(7/9ms) Oddly enough, the reserve often calms my soul when scrambling to get above an active cloud base when we are probably at our safest, its irrational. My adrenalin days are behind me, I like to be out there sight seeing with a jam buttie in one hand :)
Great video Paul, glad your ribs are on the mend. Have you considered doing a Fly-UK to widen your horizons? I'm sure your 9 would be up to it. Colin Johnson did it in 2015 in a Flylight Dragonfly! I've been hooked on Fly-UK since 2013, I found myself at Kirkwall Airport on Orkney on my first one, never thought I'd end up there from my Midland base! It's great fun with even greater company.
Hi Graham. I haven’t considered Fly-Uk although I agree the NiNE would be up to the job. It’s the pilot who might need some persuasion. Never say never though. I’m always looking for new challenges and that would also make some excellent UA-cam content. 👍
Well, if you're tempted at all, I've got a few Fly-UKs on my UA-cam channel. Just search my name and be sure to set 1080p on view settings. They're not up to the standard of yours, but visually they're OK.
Stuffed an SSDR flexwing when forced landing into a bog, aircraft looped, not a scratch. Reason? Full harness belt. Two instructors tucked the shoulder straps when I flew with them, maybe mandating full harness would be the cure??
Instructors are exempt when seated in the rear seat. They simply can’t reach forward enough when flying from the rear. They should however be making it clear when teaching that that exemption applies to them only and I agree that in all other cases, the use of shoulder straps should be mandatory. I wouldn’t feel safe with just a lap belt. 👍
I’m skipping through your channel in no particular order so forgive me if I’m behind, we have a navigation app for phones and iPad, Oz runways. It’s the preferred navigation system through all aircraft.
I’ve just had a look at ozrunways. It looks very similar to SkyDemon. I wander if SkyDemon will ever extend to Australia. They do now cover New Zealand so are getting closer??
The mic holder in my office is actually a camera mount which I ended up using as a mic boom instead. I have added a link to the item from Amazon. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09Y8PFJ9C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Absolutely. Darley Moor is home to MicroTraining who offer training in all manner of microlights from sub 70kg machines like the PeaBee and Adam through to NPPL courses which will let you fly the heavier single seat machines like the BivvyBee and the FllyLight Nine right through to the two seat flexwings and also fixed wing training. Visit their website www.microaviation.co.uk/ or give them a call on 01335 682268. Tell them I sent you. 👍
Hi James. I think this must be some sort or record. Minimum time taken from subscribing to a channel to having your name mentioned! Thanks for the sub. 👍
Nice information about reserve Chutes 14:18 . Cheers
Hope it was useful to you. 👍
Great stuff. ❤
👏
Great video Paul, as a paramotorist it interesting to see someof the issues in your sport and what you're picking up in general aviation. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it. I think a lot of sub 70 and SSDR Flexwing pilots (myself included) are ex paramotorists who are just too old and knackered to run any more!! 👍
@@paulieb796 I'm that old I can't do emojis, think of this as a smiley face!
I liked how you covered the safety strap article. Almost as important as wearing a helmet when even just ground running an open cockpit/flexwing aircraft..;)
I don’t know if I’d feel safe with just a lap strap. I was also amazed at how much information you can find on the AAIB web site. 👍
Good to see/hear from both of you. Hope you’re feeling better Paul! Man I wish I could come to the UK and tour with you cats.
Great stuff once again 👍
To paraphrase, we don't need no stinkin reserve chutes,🤣. I'm on board with with beer for camping😁.
Cheers
Hi Patrick. Clearly, great minds think alike. 👍
New to the channel buddy, used to fly a long while back. I was witnessed a pilot starting and warming up a Rotax 447 in a Solar Wings XL on a concrete runway that went full rpm. The guy was half hanging out racing around 100yds before coming safely to a stop. Luckily ended well. I used to read the aaib reports and took interest in Pilot Magazine 'I learned about flying from that' interesting knowledge to be gained.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. I’m a firm believer that every accident/incident is a massive source of learning and we would be stupid if we didn’t learn from these things. 👍
Nice one PB 👍 enjoy the topics you covered, especially Electronic Conspicuity, I personally use SafeSky on my mobile phone as I think it’s all going to go down that road anyway and it’s probably the only device that I think could be used as a transponder in the future!!
I be interested in your and anyones viewing on this topic 😁
Speaking as one PB to another, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if mobile phones end playing a much bigger part in navigation, conspicuity and communication in the future. We’ll have to wait and see. 👍
I did a long landing into a short field to avoid fields of crops when experienced carburettor icing overlying Brize Norton non-radio hence 3500 feet on a damp July evening in a Pegasus XL. Which only has a lap strap for the front seat. I suffered a fractured vertebrae but my son in the back with full harness emerged without a scratch. I also had severe bruising on my feet which were x-rayed assuming I had broken at least one. The doctor said if I had not been wearing walking boots it would have been a different story. So as well as wearing a full harness do NOT wear flip flops or gym shoes!
Wow. Sounds like you had a lucky escape although your story does add weight to the argument that full harnesses should be worn at all times. I think the CAA also ought to add a no flip flop section into the regs. Can we add Crocs as well? In fact Crocs should be outlawed full stop!! 👍
RC plane clubs have been sharing some airfields for a while now, however commercial pressures to ‘clear the sky’ may now lead to less opportunities to fly for leisure.
I hope not which is why I am glad the CAA are at least looking at possibilities for us all to share our airspace.
Great video Paul, and the calendar is an excellent idea 👌🏻👍🏻
Thank you Kev. I’ve already added two new fly in dates to the calendar since I published the video. I expect it will probably grow quite significantly as we get closer to the better weather. 👍
I fly my Dragonfly without using the shoulder harness so I can reach the dash panel with starter button etc. I think our slower machines are less risk of causing serious injury during a landing or ground event.
I have a chute on the Dragonfly and on all my previous single seat machines...I would rather have the option to use it than nothing.
Our wings originate from the Hang Glider world and they mostly use a backup chute. I know the risk of wing failure is very small, unless there is some damage/wear that hasn't been found during preflight and mid-air collision or bird strike is also very small risk. Perhaps also a very small risk of failure due to freak air conditions (turbulent rotor from mountains or wind shear).
If you just fly circuits or a short bimble in very smooth air then maybe no use for a chute. If you prefer to fly on longer XC flights in more thermic conditions then maybe a chute is good insurance.
I guess things like reserve chutes and the wearing of shoulder harnesses are all down to personal choice. We all make our own decisions and have our own reasons for making them. I just hope that prompting a discussion might raise awareness and help pilots make informed decisions. Fly safe. 👍
@@paulieb796Absolutely, each to their own...these are just my choices not meant as advice or preaching. Thanks for the videos.
Another (even better) news update. As you rightly say, all this info is out there but you've got to go digging for it. Having some of the most significant stuff pulled together in this format works really well and I can imagine that if you keep at it you'll become a 'go-to' source for a lot of people. Oh and I've just added a couple more events to my calendar... 😉 Cheers, Paul - keep 'em coming.
Cheers Dan. I’ve already added two new dates to the calendar since I published this video. There is loads of news and info out there. The difficulty is in deciding what’s relevant and knowing when to stop. I can talk about this for hours!!! 👍
@@paulieb796 Don't worry - I think your audience is likely to be pretty much the same! 😂 I guess it is tricky to know what to include and what to leave out, but it feels like you're hitting the important and interesting stuff. You'll get better and better at making the judgement, too. 👍
Another great video Paul.
I got my Stbd U/C (Hip replaced) rebuild last week, just waiting for the healing to finish. Then I can start thinking about getting the Pt one done before I can get some air under my wheels.
Hi Simon. Glad to hear you are on the road to recovery. Looks like we are in a similar position at the minute . . . waiting for things to heal before we can get in the air! 👍
I enjoy your videos . I used to fly flexing back in the early nineties. Fly Paramotor’s now but am very tempted to get another flexy
I did things the other way round. Started with paramotoring but switched to flexwings after a cycling accident left me unable to foot launch. I was speaking with Giles F earlier who mentioned that he knew you. Small world isn’t it?
Did I enjoy it?.......... NO mate I didn't............... I absolutely loved it. See what I did there!!!!!! I no longer follow social media or forums, so this is a great platform for updates. Glad you're on the mend. In regard to airspace, I remember working on this when I was at Manchester airport in 2016. It's been going on for a while. There's a gradual decommissioning of VOR beacons as they are no longer needed for enroute navigation with the latest technology and as you mentioned, airspace designed in the 50's is no longer fit for purpose. It's going to be interesting to see the outputs. Keep up the good work mate.
It’s definitely time they started again with a blank sheet of paper rather than tweaking an already creaking system. It will be interesting to see what they come up with. 👍
Great stuff again Paul. Im in favour of the reserve vs Beer calculation 👍🍺. I have been thinking about the safety belt issue and noted not all flexwings have a shoulder strap, the rear seat would be just as key in my mind to have a shoulder strap to reduce the chance of the passenger smashing into your back/head.
I think that all two seater flexwings should have a full harness in the rear seat to comply with section S. However instructors do have an exemption from wearing them when flying from the rear seat as they cannot physically reach forward enough to have sufficient pitch control with shoulder harnesses on (in P&M machines at least). P&M machines do have 3 point harnesses fitted to the front seat but Section S suggests only the lap strap is mandatory. There are accident reports on the AAIB site where a front seat pilot has been injured by the rear seat passenger who was not wearing a shoulder harness. Reading the accident reports has made my mind up. All seats should have a full harness and unless you are instructing, then you should wear one. AND YES, BEER IS WAY MORE USEFUL THAN A RESERVE PARACHUTE. 😉
Great video Paul. Why not make 4 point harnesses mandatory. I’m very interested in your talking about ballistic and self thrown parachutes, my concern has always been that after deployment it could get caught up and not deploy correctly, how often do they need checking /maintenance. What’s the consensus of wearing a personal parachute instead. Sorry to waffle on.
BCAR section S mandates that all occupants of a microlight must be provided with a lap strap and upper torso restraint so they are mandatory. There is an exemption for instructors from wearing them in the rear seat. The problem is that the regs currently say that only a lap belt is required in the front seat which I think is likely to be amended. Considering reserve chutes, the maintenance seems to be determined by the individual manufacturers but the general advice is that they should be repacked every 12 months (although the BHPA suggest every 6 months). Wearing a personal parachute is just adding yet another option. I personally don’t know of any microlight / SSDR / sub 70 pilots who have chosen that as an option. Be interesting to throw that out for further discussion . . .
The UK is about to lead the world in shared airspace, you wont have to do anything as a microlight flyer, not even have EC look for Altitude Angels Corridor and maybe ask Richard the CEO to talk to you in a livestream about it. Everyone wants safety and equal and equatable access for all is the aim of the game. The snag with ADSB is it was designed in the 1990s and is super simple to spoof. We all should be pushing for a secure low cost system.
Exciting times ahead. I agree, a low cost and reliable device that lets us share airspace will be a big step forward. 👍
Richards scheme will be free for crewed airspace users. It's already working in the Reading area and this summer a corridor will extend upto Coventry. Cameras, radar and EC receivers of all types will monitor the sky and identify traffic. The towers with sensors are nearly all built. It's radar 2 I guess
I’ve just been reading up on project skyway. Fascinating stuff. Thanks for sharing. Might need to follow up on this technology. 👍
Excellent video
Giles in the US? yippee!
Feel free to keep him 😂
@@paulieb796 I would if I could but I'm afraid he'd melt. I live in the desert. He'd also miss the rain. 🤣
Reserve....
I have flown (paragliders) 20+ years with a reserve, I have only felt like I have come close to needing it a couple of times.
Now I am moving into trikes, its hard to shake the psychological effect of having one last chance if the worst should happen.
Fighting all the way to impact trying to get the reserve to open seems like it would be bliss compared to the hopeless despair of not having any option but to realize "This is it, this it my end".
Is it just me?
No, not just you and a common way of thinking particularly from paramotorists making the switch to trike flying. The big difference is that you will never have a wing collapse with a solid wing. I get why it would feel weird though. Imagine driving a car without your seatbelt on. It would just feel wrong and unsafe which I guess is how you would feel if you flew without a reserve. It’s all down to personal choice. 👍
@@paulieb796
Yea... Cant shake it :)
Even a small reserve - If I'm oriented nose down (ish), I get the feeling my frame and four point belt would give a pretty good chance of survival @ 15/20mph.(7/9ms)
Oddly enough, the reserve often calms my soul when scrambling to get above an active cloud base when we are probably at our safest, its irrational.
My adrenalin days are behind me, I like to be out there sight seeing with a jam buttie in one hand :)
Great video Paul, glad your ribs are on the mend. Have you considered doing a Fly-UK to widen your horizons? I'm sure your 9 would be up to it. Colin Johnson did it in 2015 in a Flylight Dragonfly! I've been hooked on Fly-UK since 2013, I found myself at Kirkwall Airport on Orkney on my first one, never thought I'd end up there from my Midland base! It's great fun with even greater company.
Hi Graham. I haven’t considered Fly-Uk although I agree the NiNE would be up to the job. It’s the pilot who might need some persuasion. Never say never though. I’m always looking for new challenges and that would also make some excellent UA-cam content. 👍
Well, if you're tempted at all, I've got a few Fly-UKs on my UA-cam channel. Just search my name and be sure to set 1080p on view settings. They're not up to the standard of yours, but visually they're OK.
Stuffed an SSDR flexwing when forced landing into a bog, aircraft looped, not a scratch. Reason? Full harness belt. Two instructors tucked the shoulder straps when I flew with them, maybe mandating full harness would be the cure??
Instructors are exempt when seated in the rear seat. They simply can’t reach forward enough when flying from the rear. They should however be making it clear when teaching that that exemption applies to them only and I agree that in all other cases, the use of shoulder straps should be mandatory. I wouldn’t feel safe with just a lap belt. 👍
I’m skipping through your channel in no particular order so forgive me if I’m behind, we have a navigation app for phones and iPad, Oz runways. It’s the preferred navigation system through all aircraft.
I’ve just had a look at ozrunways. It looks very similar to SkyDemon. I wander if SkyDemon will ever extend to Australia. They do now cover New Zealand so are getting closer??
I can’t seem to find a dealer in the US for a microlite like yours. Any leads??
Blue Collar aviation are US dealers for the full range of Flylight microlights. Their website is www.crowislandairpark.com/contact
Slight tangent but what mic boom are you using?
The mic holder in my office is actually a camera mount which I ended up using as a mic boom instead. I have added a link to the item from Amazon.
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09Y8PFJ9C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Hi Paul. Is it possible to learn to fly the bivvy bee at darleymoor airfield.thanks
Absolutely. Darley Moor is home to MicroTraining who offer training in all manner of microlights from sub 70kg machines like the PeaBee and Adam through to NPPL courses which will let you fly the heavier single seat machines like the BivvyBee and the FllyLight Nine right through to the two seat flexwings and also fixed wing training. Visit their website www.microaviation.co.uk/ or give them a call on 01335 682268. Tell them I sent you. 👍
@@paulieb796 thank you
I’m famous 😊
Hi James. I think this must be some sort or record. Minimum time taken from subscribing to a channel to having your name mentioned! Thanks for the sub. 👍
Autogyro?
Nice try. But no. Not an Autogyro.