Category: log entry

First launch was aborted when I feared that a line had been cut. First, I heard the distinctive click of a line being cut and when I pulled some left break there was no pressure, so I killed the motor. Turned out to be nothing. Second launch was fine except that at 500 feet I could see rain west of Gasparilla Island moving my way. It was not huge and I hoped it would move off to the North but when I saw a powerful wind line form on the Intercoastal Waterway, it was apparent that I was in the path of the precipitation. So…. I turned back and landed without incident. On the surface the wind was picking up and a nice rainbow had formed by the Marina. I could probably have stayed up longer because when I was pulling away from the LZ, the rain had not yet arrived but there was nothing to be gained by staying in the air and daring it to get me. It's all good.

The following is a totally fictional log entry.

The photos are stock images.
Night flights are against FAA Regulations.

Flight 992.
It would have been great if this had been #1000 but today was the day.
I’d been wanting to do this for as long as I can remember.

Last night the moon was full, the skies were clear and at 3:00am it was 75 degrees. The wind was 4 mph from the East. I set up on the freshly blacktopped road. It was a bit of a trick to clear the lines. Even with a full moon I couldn’t follow them all the way back to the wing to make sure they weren’t crossed and I was doubly surprised when I found one wrapped around the wing while squaring up and folding the tips.

I pre-flighted the rig, mounted the iPad and turned on the Garmin. Everything was done. Try as I might, I couldn’t find anything to keep me from sitting down and buckling up. So I did. My left brake was in my hand and all I had to do was turn the key to start the motor. I was launching to the East the moon was at my back and looking down the runway it was pitch black. The runway was clear but if I was forced to either side, I would have to abort or risk catching one of the Stop signs, 200 feet ahead of me.

It was time, but …. My heart was pounding. I released brake and forced myself to relax. It didn’t take long. It was maybe 30 seconds, when I reached for the left brake, turned the key and started the inflation. The wing came up clean and I knew it was going to be good, the trike was accelerating nicely right down the center of the road. I didn’t need to mash the throttle or pump the brake, it was a clean launch.

I stayed on an easterly course while climbing over the pond south of the RC Airpark. It was exhilarating to see the lights of Punta Gorda across Charlotte Harbor. I started a slow right hand turn and there was the Gulf with that big beautiful moon reflecting back at me. Looking down at the field I could make out the roads but not as clearly as I expected. I knew where the truck was but it was only visible from the west. Worse case, I could navigate back to the launch and that was reassuring.

For the next hour I did laps around the meadows. Going as far west as Gasparilla Marina and back to the Rim Canal. I watched the eastern sky lighten and a few little clouds float across the Harbor. The views were amazing. To the west was Boca Grande, the Gasparilla Causeway and Stump pass. The lights of the Marina and jet port were convenient landmarks, the moonlight reflecting off the gulf outlined the coast and at first light I began to see the details of Cape Haze. To the East was the Myakka and Peace rivers and South was Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island. I’ve flown from Placida dozens of time but this was special.
After the sun was clearly above the horizon I descended from 1800ft and landed without drama.
Cheated Death Again!

Crosswind launch was a bit spicy. I laid out in the intersection and had to turn crosswind down the runway almost immediately . My rear right wheel lifted whilst in that turn. It did come back down before taking off but only for a very brief touch. I suspect that I started the turn before the wing had fully inflated and for a short time the wing and I were going in different directions . :). The landing was a little sloppy too.

Paul and Alvaro showed up to practice kiting. Paul s getting it and Alvaro is ready to fly. I guess Alvaro got a short flight the other day but it was a straight forward launch and land. He is ready and hopefully Bob will be there when he does.

Nice…. Flew to 6000 and explored a sector South and West of the Rotunda. Takeoff was terrible. The wing and trike didn't want to fly straight down the runway and I had to steer around a couple of stop signs, deep in the brakes, before I could begin to climb out. I had a similar experience earlier this week, it was not as spicy as this morning but I'm going to have to figure it out before it becomes a bad habit. The GoPros didn't perform well with the existing light. Everything is washed out. The Hero+ did better but not great.

There was a huge temperature inversion and several layers of bumps.  One at 300 ft and another at 2500 and 3700, at 6000 it was smooth.

Three days in a row at Placida. Monday and Tuesday were about Paradiso and Gasparilla Marine. Today it was just getting up in the morning and drag assing to the field. Gotta be getting to bed sooner. I revisited the Rotunda area and terrorized a few golfers but didn't go near the Marina or causeway.

https://youtu.be/uX2vHsHYGmA

Both mornings were easy launches into very light air. This mornings landing was a bumpy affair starting about 200 ft. The turbulence was the leading edge of a new flow from the North East. Next time it would be interesting to speed up the wing and land hot.
By the time I had packed up, the wind had increased significantly. I drove home and had just enough time to water the dog and slam a cup of coffee before IYC Harbor 20 sailing. I think I'll take a nap this afternoon.

Flight 987
Dawn left the house at 4am and I was wide awake. I was late to leave the house but arrived at the field in good time, thanks to the shortcut Tony showed me. I set up the wing and rig before suiting up because I thought it might be a good day for a new altitude record. It was 78 degrees at sunrise so, as soon as I pulled on the cold weather gear, I hustled to get airborne.
The air was smooth as I climbed out, flying to Gasparilla Marina. When I was over the Marina, I did a slow spiral and made a couple of passes down the service dock to get a shot of my old boat. Then I turned back toward the LZ. Climbing up to 3700 ft I kept my eye on the weather. It was heading my way but looked like it would pass to the North. Below me it was calm with minimal breeze. There were a few wispy clouds floating through and I blew through the biggest to get some video. While descending I flew to the Southern end of the meadows and enjoyed the calm. The landing was good

I should have checked the weather first thing, at 5am, when the alarm went off.  It was too late to go back to bed now,  I’d showered and was enjoying my first cup of Hawaiian Bold when I opened Weather Underground to check the radar.  There was huge storm building West of Boca Grande.   

I expected it to move inland but I figured I had time to crack off a quick flight. Placida was obviously not going to work so I headed to the Peachland LZ. No joy there. The grass was high and big sections were still flooded. So…. I plugged the Yorkshire LZ into the IPad.  I wouldn’t have thought of this place except that Bob Harrison had mentioned it yesterday as his preference over the Orlando LZ.  And…. it is better,  Yorkshire St. loops through the northern section of undeveloped North Port North East of I-75.    It’s the same basic flying area as Peachtree and offers a slightly wider corridor with less traffic than the Orlando LZ.. The ground between the paved roads is saturated but not flooded and the grass is short enough for footlaunching.   

I set-up on the road and launched in nil wind following the curve of Yorkshire Loop until I had enough altitude to traverse the forest.  Once up, I found the wind behind me at 7 mph.  I climbed to 1400 feet in smooth air and the wind increased to 15mph.  The storm was beautiful with two distinct domes boiling on top and a gigantic base dumping 5 inches of rain into the gulf.   Over North Port it was smooth as butter.  The only bump I felt was when I flew through my own prop wash.  I flew south to the Lake Suzi Airstrip hoping to see sign of Paul C. but he wasn’t there.
I could have probably stayed up an hour but that storm was dominating my attention and this was my third flight in as many days so I turned back and landed by the truck.  

 I got my fix for the day and got back in plenty of time for social sailing at The Isles.

Bob Harrison and I.  Climbed to 3000 and enjoyed the ride while Bob went over the causeway flying low.  Big cloud formations over the coast were threatening nasty air and there were pockets of sink.  I was climbing 35/ft/min at 3400 RPM.  Up high was a different story.  It was smooth with lots of lift.  New guy Paul came out to watch and Kite.  

Video credit and thanks to Paul

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Flight 984

This was a good one.  Launched Into light easterly and climbed 6000 on the way to Gaspirilla.  Then I turned back to South Gulf Cove and climbed to 8000.  Averaged 225 ft/min climb.  The decent was lovely.

Below are quotes from the Facebook Group “Paramotor self trained”.  Doh…  These guys are going to be the reason the FAA STARTS TAKING INTEREST IN US…..

Pilot A

Have any of you has close calls that scared the crap out of you?I want to get into this but saw a wing collapse on you tube.Its looks fun besides the falling to your death part.I think I will just fly low over water to be safe unless that thing makes you sink like a rock
Pilot B

I’ve had a couple of close calls while training without even ever taking off. But that was to be expected going into this (I fully understood and accepted the danger I’d be putting myself into before starting). One time, the winds picked up a little bit and it was getting afternoonish and I got swept up while ground handling and there were three sequential gusts in a row that took me way up above the tree line long before I could react and kill the wing. Luckily instead of panic, I was able to let go and focus and pull on the brake toggles to feel the controls and turn the glider around to have more room and glide down and flare for the landing and run it off. Another time I was practicing free flying and clipped the tip of my wing on the very top of a very tall light pole (I was certain I’d clear it but the wing is bigger than expected). I was totally fine in both cases but did have to send in my wing for repair on the second one. Accept these things as a possibility (or far worse…. or smooth sailing for that matter) and proceed, or like other said if you cannot accept that and don’t feel comfortable with every fiber of your being, try an instructor in a more controlled environment.

I’ve been blessed with great wingmen.  In Colorado it was Mike Bennett and here it’s Mike Lange.  Both are great pilots with enormous mechanical ability.  

This morning was picture perfect.  Light breeze from the East and not a cloud in the sky.  It was bumpy up to 100 feet and smooth as silk after that.  I flew along the North Gulf Cove canal and out to the Gaspirilla causeway.   No Drama.