Woke without alarm at 5:45 from a flying dream. Out of the house at 6:10 and in the air before 7:00. There was 5mph breeze from the East and bumpy air up to 300 ft where it smoothed out. I flew over to Gasparilla Marina climbing to 2200 ft where the winds had increased to 20 plus. There was a big cell offshore and some boomers up toward Naples.
The Lift EZ was pulling to the right and I flew with right trim out 2 inches to compensate for torque and wind. Crabbing back toward the locks the wind continued to build. I overflew the old RC air park and made a big circle over safe cove before heading back to the LZ. By this time I was barely penetrating and had to descend to get back. The wind had shifted 45 degrees off the runway so I set down in the grass stopping right at the truck. The wing draped the passenger mirror. :). It’s a good day to be alive.
45 minutes
Max altitude 2200
Think I’ll go sailing.
Powered Paragliding. A most Personal form of Flight 