MK
It took three trips out to the field before I was able to log number 859. Monday night I was at Shell Creek but the winds never came down. Tuesday morning I drove to Placida and stood in thick fog until 8:30. But Tuesday afternoon I watched the winds go from 18 to 15, when the hit 12 mph I jumped in the truck and booked it to Placida.
The wind was right at the edge of my comfort level, but it’s a wide open area without rotor and it wasn’t gusting. I decided to go for it. The launch was a non-event, the wing came up clean and we were off in a flash. The first 300 feet was bumpy but once at altitude it was smooth and there was less wind than at the surface. I flew out to the causeway and noticed for the first time a jet was taxing around the jet port. He never approached the runway but I kept an eye on him When I reached the Gulf I turned back because I was alone and didn’t want to try a water passage without back-up. The flight back was in calm air.
I’d cobbled together a new chase cam using only an aluminum hunting arrow. It flew great and I look forward to getting some awesome video. Below is the Vimeo link.
Powered Paragliding. A most Personal form of Flight 