Entire News Archive
Wow! you don`t hang about. I may take you up on your offer.
Hi, your last video was very nice. I was hoping to fly today, but I found it was too windy. I`m going to Toronto to pick my neice. If you would like to come and visit Montreal I can pick you at the airport. The plane tiket I will cost $80 from Toronto on the 16 of Dec returning on the 18 of Dec.
Coooool!! Looks like I`ll soon be seeing Montreal and I`ll finally get to meet Michel. I must remember to bring some warm clothes. I`ll sort out the arrangements by e-mail Michel.
Hello again, You are the only visitor I get from Mongolia!! I will put up another request on the website for you. So far I have not heard of anyone willing to donate an old wing.Have you seen the newer version of the website? www.marksparaglidingpages.com Good luck with your flying efforts Mark Andrews So anyone fancy being one of the first paraglider pilots in the world to fly in Mongolia? This guy is nothing if not persistant. Got an older wing you could donate? Why not see if you can get some sort of trip organised (wing in exchange for board/lodging and guiding!!). Just an idea..."
Hello I come here often. This is not quite a paraglider, but shows what happens when someone tries to build home flying machines; feel free to pull the absolute piss as I told my friend not to be so cheap, but did he listen? His new nickname is polar bear after your funny video!
Thanks Christian, I`ll put it straight on the caption competition page. You are now a `member` (oo00OOHH!!), so you can access some of the larger video/photo files I have on the site.
Mark, This was my first ever paramotor flight from Bedlinog. The crisp and smooth winter air is coming into Wales now. Autumn colours are lovely too. Pete.
Thanks Pete, I have added it to the video section (Here). I hope you don`t mind, but I stuck some music and titles on it first.
No problem Frank, hope the new powered paragliding school is keeping you busy.
Hello, Mark! Great films. I am a pilot from Kazakhstan and I would like to make my films. Could you advise the best camcorder with lipstick minicam.
Hello there! It depends on your budget. I bought a used camera from e-bay. It needs to be fairly small (so that you can handle it in flight). I would STRONGLY recommend using the miniDV format. It must have AV-in if you want to use a lipstick camera. Ideally an attachment for an external microphone would be good. Camcorders usually have very poor built in microphones. Most of the features of modern camcorders are gimmicks. Ignore any mention of digital zoom, or in-camera editing. Titling and graphic effects should never be applied while filming. You simply cannot undo them. Optical zoom is useful. Check out RFconcepts for lipstick cameras. Good luck! Send me a copy of your first film. I will gladly post it up on the website. Safe flying,
No worries Serge that is what we are here for
Thanks Christian, The members only area is for anyone who makes a contribution to the site. It can be an article, some photos, a video clip, a paragliding joke, holiday diary...whatever you like. You get a username and password, giving you access to a selection of videos and photos that are much bigger file sizes. Images are suitable for printing and videos look good enough to play full screen on your PC. So send me something I can stick on the site and I will set you up with a password.
Great! Send it to mandrews1973@gmail.com I will add it to the funny videos section and promote you to the lofty status of member (ie issue with a username and password)
Not sure about Macs, never used one. I look forward to seeing your efforts.
Thanks Steve, That`s a good idea. I might do that. They usually want lots of photos too and I haven`t the time. I`ll see what I can do.
Glad you found it useful Norm. Get yourself some great footage and edit it together so I can post it on my site real soon.
Mini DV with AV-in will do it. Some people are using these nifty little gadgets Digital Video Recorder, but I just get by with my second hand JVC camcorder from e-bay
Hi Neil, Easy, you send me something that I can include on the site. This you have already done. You are now ellevated to the lofty status of Mark`s Paragliding Pages Member! I have already created a section for your videos and added it to the site. Neil`s video Enjoy! Mark
Merry Christmas to you too Dan. I would love to go but I am saving my holiday time for a trip in the French/Swiss/Italian Alps again with Jason, my brother. It is just going to be me and my bro on a mini trip through Europe. Maybe we can hook up some time after Christmas Dan, if you ever find yourself round my neck of the woods.
Mark I just got back from Dominica. Amazing paragliding. We have got to organize a trip some time. Airline is cheap and living in the villages would be cheep. The people are great and amazing 2000 mts mountains. Warm flying with 65 K XC flights everywhere. I was staying in a resort away from the mts about 3 hrs from Santa Domingo and another 1 hour from the best flying. It was a long drive and I was running late to get back to Suzanne for new years but I had a nice thermal flight over villages and rivers at about 5000 ft. landed in the middle of a very poor village and everyone came out to great me help with my wing and carry everything to the road. It was like I was santa Clause dropping in to deliver toys. The mountains are green. I would suggest an around the country trip for about 4 days of flying and 4 days of beach relaxing. From Dec - March you can fly almost every day. I missed meeting the head of Caribeanfreeflying but chased down another pilot who showed me the take off. No pressure and I was the only one in the air. Andre let me use his harness and what a difference. Nice take off with a very short run way in about 85 F temp. I could see all the way to the ocean. I was told that the flying in other areas was even better with one place you land on the beach. They are having a fly in with pilots from all over at the end of this month. hello to Jason and Emma. Felis navidad. Chris
You jammy git! Yeah we should organise something spectacular down there. Maybe without the girlfriends though :) Mark
Have a few vids to send your way. Post them if you think they are worth it. What`s the max size and best way to send them to you? Ian Vancouver, BC
Hi Ian, The best way to do it would be to put it here: Putfile.com Once it is up I can download it and stick it on my site.E-mail me with any additional information that you would like to appear alongside your video. I will then create your own section in the Video Gallery I hope that answers your question. I look forward to adding your video. Mark Andrews
Mark, Is there any chance that you would `sell` your article direct? I won`t be able to get your magazine, because I`m in Europe (and actually just about to travel back to the Caucasus, where I live). However, I would like to get some equipment before I go over. (Here is our fairly old web site, you will see that paragliding is still in its infancy in Georgia www.xcaucasus.org .) I would happily donate some money through Paypal (or potentially buy one of your videos). All the best, Hans
See file attachment Hans, I appreciate the offer but really there is no need. Maybe you would like to host your a video or two on my site in the future Hans? Safe flying,
Hi Mark, I actualy read the article for first time (lol). I am waiting on a powered paragliding harness to come from New York and then I will be shooting video`s all day long. It would be great if you stick them on your site. Should be around 1-2 weeks including editing if this wind disappears,(gale force 11-12 65- 73 gusts at the moment). Should make interesting videos, but probably wouldn`t be alive to send them! Christian
Looking forward to seeing them Christian
Mark! Thanks a lot for all the videos! They are the nicest I have seen! Could you add name of site and location, in the description of videos. I Plan to visit France this year. Great Job! Rollin McCarty,
Thanks for the compliments and the suggestions. If I get time, I will update the information for the videos to include their location and possibly a short background to the flying site (very good idea!) When are you going to France? I plan to be flying there again in August with my twin brother, Jason (who thinks he is a better pilot than me...)
I`m not sure if you know about the site: Para Film Production it`s full of videos.
Indeed I am. Para Film Production is simply the best place on the web for watching high quality paragliding videos. K-Leb flies at a great site called Saleve, right on the border of France and Switzerland (take off is in France landing field is is Switzerland). This place is an acro pilot playground. When you take off you can see Geneva airport only a few kilometres away. The landing field has a cafe and a paragliding shop too. It is definitely a great place to live. Lucky bastards!
I know it very well! This one is top of my favourites list. So I guess it deserves the link that I have now added here. Para Film Production is simply the best place on the web for watching high quality paragliding videos. K-Leb has well over 200 there now (although some no longer play) K-Leb flies at a great site called Saleve, right on the border of France and Switzerland (take off is in France landing field is is Switzerland). This place is an acro pilot playground. When you take off you can see Geneva airport only a few kilometres away. The landing field has a cafe and a paragliding shop too. It is definitely a great place to live. Lucky bastards!
Mark, been enjoying your site for some time now. Very cool. Want videos? Got a few. Check out my page at www.hangprop.com as well as my club page www.michiganpoweredparagliders.com Feel free to post my videos or let me know if you would like me to send you the files. All are wmv files. Feel free to add the site links as well if you would like. I am hosting a fly-in in Florida February 3,4,5 for my group and will put the DVD together of our travels. Our trip is coined `Michigan Migration 2006`. It should be interesting to say the least. Where are you located Mark? I would enjoy hooking for some flying in the future.. Thanks for the great site. Hang prop .... Launchpad
Thanks, I am just having a look through them now. Looks like you are a `Windows Movie Maker` fan. I think I will just stick a couple on and then have a link back to your videos page. I am located in Niagara Region. My main obsession is freeflight paragliding but this just isn`t the best place to be for that, so I took up PPG, and I love it. I will be back in the Alps over the summer. I have added your videos here. Mark Andrews
Hi Mark, how are things with you and Andre? I hope to see you this year. Would like to go flying again.
When do you start Mark! Give me an call Regards Ray Northener.....
Hi Ray
Long time no fly.. (Video of Ray`s second ever flight) Towards the end of March we should be flying again, but it is up to Andre (and the weather) since he runs the show. Maybe it will be sooner since we don`t seem to be having much of a winter this year. Andre is 40 today, so we shall be getting drunk tonight.
Hey Mark, just wanted to say THANKS for the great site! I was in Annecy in April 2003 and your videos brought back some amazing memories... I`m from the UK but now live permanently in southern Japan so flying is a bit `different` here; mainly due to volcanos (ouch!); overhead powercables everywhere (big ouch!!); and paddy-fields (squishy!); but I`m still flying! Keep it up and fly safe! Simon :-)
Thanks a bunch Simon, it`s always nice to get such positive feedback. If you`ve got any flying stories, photos or video I am always looking for contributions to the site.
Hi Mark, I have some good footage taken from my bullet cam but the files are to big to e-mail. Is there any other way of submitting them? Cheers, Nick
Mark, Maybe I just miss flying too much? Here`s my score of 10,975 Cheers for now, Simon in Japan
How the hell! I can never land the bloody thing! You have been added to the score board
That`s IT!!! No more! I really don`t have the time!!!!!! My new high score 13,800 Simon in Japan!
Holy crap! Man, you gotta get some real airtime dude! You are top of the score table though
Mark, Your site rocks buddy. I recently bought a PPG and will be taking my course at the end of April. After years of looking into this sport I finally found an instructor in New Brunswick. My question is I recently bought a 4 pic Kodak zoom lens camera and was wondering if I could get shots like yours or close to it with this camera or better yet what type do you use. Thanks, all the best, Mike
Hi Mike, If you are going to be training with Powered Paragliding New Brunswick, say hi to Frank (Savignac) for me. Frank, the chief flying instructor at PPGNB, learned to fly with Andre and me at Powered Paragliding Ontario. He has been flying almost every day since then. You will learn quickly with Frank. I have e-mailed you the rough version of the article I wrote for Paraglider Magazine (out next issue). Hope you find it useful.
I am a newby pilot and appreciate your safety videos. I would like to be able to save them and share them with others. However, I do not know how? The save target method does not work. I hope you have a simple procedure that I can use to save your videos. I really enjoy them and want to look at them again without a lengthy re-download. Thanks for sharing these images with the public. Aspiring to get high with safe flying Eli Fishpaw Lexington, Virginia
Hi Eli, I am assuming you are a PC user, browsing with Microsoft Internet Explorer. Navigate to your temporary internet files and copy the videos from there. Tools>Internet Options...>Settings>View Files This will list all the temporary files currently in use. Sort them by size (click on size). The largest files will most likely be any videos you have recently viewed. Select the files you want to save permanently. Hold down CTRL key and click on relevant files. In the left pane, click copy files. Then choose the location you want to save the files Hope that helps
I`ve been going to your web site for over a year and have really enjoyed your videos. I give credit to them for helping make me a better pilot and a better video producer, (Ha Ha). Please send me your mailing address so I can send you a few videos of my own. Thanks for all the time you put in the web site for people like myself. Jeff
Wow! Thanks Jeff, that`s really encouraging to hear. I`ve emailed you a reply and I very much look forward to receiving your video masterpieces.
Hi Mark Had a fantastic days flying on Saturday! Please add my latest video to the gallery. The footage was shot on Cats Tor in The High Peaks of Derbyshire, England. The music is `Staple It Together` by Jack Johnson. I have included footage shot by camcorder first to set the location then from my bullet cam on my helmet. Plenty of clips shot flying around other pilots to make a much more intersting film. A far superior video than my last one I think! Even got my `splatt` landing in on the end when I made the school boy error of coming in on the down wind leg!!!! Only injury was a bruised ego!!! Thanks ,Nick
Nice one Nick! I put it here: Winter flying That is tons better. I reckon the next one will be a hollywood blockbuster... That looks very very similar to a video I made a couple of years ago. A great winter flight Looks flyable today (5th March 2006) so I might get a chance to get in the air too. I am flying PPG at the moment though because there are no hills for miles where I am living. Thanks Nick Mark
Mark, New trike video: Flying the Espanola Valley in New Meixco with 2 other pilots:
Thanks Damien. As ever your trike flying videos are stunning. I have added to your video gallery here
Hello Mark, I have an opportunity to fly a Fire Bird FLAME not used by previous pilot....I see from your great video site that you fly FB and wondered if you can comment on its handling...would appreciate if you would just drop me a few pointers ..anything from your experience ...I see the FB are light to handle? and sensitive to the control inputs this would be a XL DHV2 Much appreciated Mark Thanks alot Cedric Magic
Hi Cedric, Well spotted. I currently fly a Firebird Z-One. This is a nice solid beginner wing (DHV 1). I can`t really comment on the FLAME because I have never flown it, but I`ll tell you about the Z-One if you like. It`s easy to launch and ground handle and has reasonable performance, but it can be a bit `mushy` in turns compared to higher performance wings. It does have a tendency to drop during tight turns (under power at least). Despite being DHV1 I have also found that it is possible to lock in during a spiral, which is something to watch, so stay high.
Mark, I`ve been getting e-mails from friends finding my videos on your page. Glad you posted a few of them. Just wanted to inform you that the Michigan Powered Paragliders `Migration 2006` was a blast. A half dozen of us made the trip to Florida and found the clouds, and met with some of the Florida flyers. I have three videos posted on our home page, including one that shows what happens when a good pilot goes bad in a southern cowboy bar. Check them out and feel free to post any you like. Hope to fly with you soon. Michigan Powered Paragliders
Looks like you guys had a lot of fun. The `American Idle` karaoke bar extravaganza had me crying. All three videos are now on the site: Michigan Migration Michigan Boyz American Idle Cheers,
Hello Everyone! Here is a short 1.5 min video flying over the Caulderon of Hell, a unique New Mexican landscape, with another Pilot friend of mine Jeff. High resolution version on Damien`s site: Cauldron of Hell Enjoy! Damien
Cheers Damien, I like the way you end the video with the words enjoy...just before the tape runs out! I have also compressed it and added it to your video gallery here: Cauldron of Hell
This was actually posted to me in the mail, along with a tiny CD: Mark, Thanks for watching my videos. I hope you enjoy them and will share them with your friends. I am 50 years young and have been flying PPG for about a year. My equipment ia a Walkerjet RR with reserve and I fly a Sky Attis medium paraglider. I just love this stuff! I wanted to video some of the flights, so I got a Sony HC42 camera and put it to work in the air. Shortly afterwards I discovered that I couldn`t fly and film at the same time. That`s when I decided to get a helmet cam. It is a Sony JonesCAM 480 EX and it is great. Just velcro it to my head and off we go. The video in the air is from this camera. I`m still working on being steady, but must admit at times I just forget about filming and enjoy flying. Anyway, here it is, use what you would like and toss the rest. Thanks Jeff Taylor
Thanks Jeff, It is always a nice surprise when I get stuff in the mail. Unfortunately my CD drive is not fully working at the moment. I will give it a kick up the arse this weekend and maybe get your video up on the site (although I may be too busy... another article for paraglider magazine to write and a review of Risk and Reward to put on the website). I hope the safe, fun flying continues. Thanks again Jeff, Mark UPDATE: These films are now on the site HERE
Hi Mark, I am getting used to all this editing saving and uploading thing. I have posted my video Cooks Terrace Sydney Australia so that you can add it to your site. The video is not as refined as some however. It has a bit of foot camera, helmet camera, B-line camera and some ground stuff along with some music. It`s a very popular small ridge soaring flying site on the Northern Beaches of Sydney Australia. Will put together some more up to date video from Cornwall soon. BTW where in Cornwall did you first see Paragliding?
Hi Tony, Looks good, I have added to the site here: Tony Nelson Flies Cooks Terrace Do you think you could wear long trousers next time? I almost lost my lunch when the boot cam shots came up! I`m not sure what the place was called in Cornwall, we weren`t very far from Newquay (45 minutes drive maybe). It was a long time ago. I was 19 years old, and I remember thinking how much fun it looked. Mark
I`ve decided to sell my video kit as unfortunately it`s seeing little use.
This was not sent to me, BUT, it was on the paragliding forum, so I thought I`d help Stew sell his gear and maybe get someone started with their videoing!
Mark, Thanks so much for putting my videos up on the website. I really have a blast making these things and will make plenty more in the future. The pilots that I fly with here in Amarillo are some of my good Radio Control friends that got me into this sport. Rick Simmons, who has been paragliding for probably 7 year or so, and Shawn Johnston, our local Walkerjet dealer, has about 2 years in with tons of hours, Myself, with over a year and 105 hours and 200 plus landings. Yes, I do keep a logbook. Kevin Decker with under a year flies a trike, who went to Albuquerque and learned with Erik Dufor. Lyle, Eddie, Mich, and a few others, all with little time in. The flying site that we use most of the time is SW of town about 18 miles or so and provides an excellent place to PPG. ARKS flying field, ( Amarillo Radio Kontrol Society ) that has 22 acres of good flat ground.
Cheers for the info on all the videos too Jeff. I have filled in the blanks now.
I am trying to organise a 2-day first aid course for UK paraglider pilots. It would cost about £70 plus accomodation and would involve spending a weekend in Devon. The course is hosted by www.adventurefirstaid.co.uk and is specifically tailored to paraglider pilots and the injuries associated with the sport. I would go on my own but they need 10 pilots to make it commercially viable so I`m trying to generate some interest. Please email me at jason.andrews@gmail.com if you are interested or contact www.adventurefirstaid.co.uk directly. Thanks, Jason
Thanks Jase, You should also post on the paragliding forum. There may be some pilots that would be interested in brushing up their first aid skills there.
Hello Mark, First off all congratulations with your great internet site. Each week I do a quick look for new videos. Okay, now the reason I write you. For 3 years I fly here in the cold wet Holland with a monotrike from Fresh Breeze. At the moment I`m looking for a tandem trike not a very big one end even a small one. I saw on your site a tandemtrike in a movie called tandem trike fun. Is it possible you can tell me what kind off trike this is, maybe a website and price ( with- or without engine)? Each year in sept/oct I`m visiting family in Vancouver, maybe there is a someone who sells these trikes........in British Columbia/Ontario.... Thanks and fly safe, Hank Sprong The Netherlands
Hi there, You need to get in contact with Andre Zeman at Powered Paragliding Ontario. He will let you know how much the trikes are and what the shipping costs would be. Andre`s e-mail address is info@poweredparaglidingontario.com Andre`s Trike page Address: Powered Paragliding Ontario 630 Welland Avenue, St. Catharines, ON L2M 5V6 CANADA ``Those with Walkerjet RR can purchase solo/tandem trike kit. This will include: Convertible trike that that you will be able to fly solo or tandem $1200 Passenger seat frame and harness $800 Tandem paraglider + spreader bars $3700 I also recommend tandem rescue parachute $900 Maximum payload (pilot and passenger) 370lb Hope that helps! Mark Andrews
Hi Mark, How`s the Flying? I was coming back from town today and there was an excellent sunset. Of course, I`m thinking: `Why am I driving a car and not in the air?` Anyway, the song, Knock, knock, knocking on heaven`s door by Bob Dylan was playing and it seemed to be a great song for one of your sunset films. Your thoughts? Frank.
Next time I get some footage I might slow it down and add that one to it. Andre and I are planning to teach his friend to fly this weekend. She is in a wheelchair, so it might present a few challenges, but I think she will be over the moon to get some solo flights. As ever I will keep everyone updated via the website. I have a new digital camera so I will posting lots of pictures this year as well as all the videos. Jason (my brother) and I are off to the French Alps again in the summer. We will be spending two weeks flying in and around Annecy, which is one of Europe`s best paragliding sites. If we are lucky we`ll be able to get some cross country flights in. I am hoping for some epic adventures and some good footage to share when we return. It should be the trip of a life time. How was the convention down in Florida? Did you meet a lot of people? Still enjoying the flying? Visit Frank`s website
Hi Mark, I made another video last week (in addition to `crowded skies` I sent you before) Valle de Bravo - La Torre at Sunset. I have a 20MB version if you would like and I will be editing footage from another site in Valle de Bravo over the weekend. When is your brother at Oludeniz? I am booked in with Jocky Sanderson for the week beginning 26th May. Cheers, Neil.
Hi Neil, Can you post it to putfile.com? (the highest resolution you can manage) I will copy it from there and add it to your gallery. I am always very appreciative of any video footage, so if you have anything else let me know. Jason is in Turkey around that time, I`m not sure of the exact dates, but I will find out and let you know. Safe flying, Mark Andrews
Mark, I am traveling to Annecy this summer and it seems you have been there a few times. Any good contacts for English speaking pilots? Where do you recommend flying? Thanks for the info. I live in Cleveland, OH if you ever come this way give a yell we have a couple of fun sites to fly. I also fly a Grid, how does it behave with a motor? How do you like PPG? I still haven`t made the commitment to buying a motor but need to living in Cleveland. Jon Kelley
Hi Jon, Try looking on the Maison-du-Moulin website. This is where to stay! It is run by an English speaking paragliding instructor at the base of the mountain. Speak to the owner of the Bed and Breakfast (Irwyn). He knows the area very well. If you are on gmail chat I will fill you in with more details. Typing is too much trouble! I fly a Z-One at the moment (as well as various sky paragliders). It behaves wel under power, but does tend to drop out of turns quite quickly compared to some other wings. As for PPG, I`m an instructor, so I have to say I love it! Any kind of flying gets my juices flowing, but I do miss the mountains.
April 6th Hi Mark, I have realised that you instruct ower the weekends, anyways you may find some weekends free. Yes it is good to hear that you have decided to join USHGA and RAF, it is cheapest and greatest `free flying` playground for us. You are even closer to the FL sites. As for other pilots in Ontario I have seen once or twice so many different pilots mainly at Kings Forest and some of them at FL , but in esence there is just few that are foot launchers non motorised. There was Stan and Lenka instructors couple they used to show up at KF and fly occasionaly however mainly being busy with students there.They used to guide tours too. They lived 5min from KF. There is another pilot Guy Le Blanc recently instructor but great pilot that asociates with UFO tow site near Port Pery he is realy good only extremly cautios when it comes to ridge flying and dealing with winds near the slope, so he is not crazzy about coming to FL for that reason and another is that he is even farther from FL than I. However there is also my friend Florian Ghiban you will see him at FL if you come he is PG veteran and still very `alive` pilot. You will see Louis V. and Phill La Rose `old standard` fingerlakers guys. Other than that in my `limited field of vision` so far you have just people that I persnaly can expect to see accidentaly. Hovever if you go on the or South Ontario Paragliding Group where we anounce our intentions and flying adventures you may get impresion that there are more than that active pilots. Oh, yes one can not count Stan and L. as active expecialy now when they moved from Hamilton, I mentioned them only cause they used to be prominent figures here. EDIT As for sites, not much that is worth botering, more you strougle to find it more it looks worth to go straight to FL. Since this is already too long I will tell you what I fly here in next occasion, but these are more or les `bandito` micro sites where I just cure my frustrations if I am starting to lose touch with the wing. April 10th Hey Mark, it might interest you how FL was, so; I flew Saturday 3 flights. First flight(my new wing UP Targa) in midday at Mossy Bank NE wind 15 to 35km/h pure thermaling high and away from the ridge lowest was half way from the cloud base. Second time I reached cloud base I decided to drift with clouds, which pushed me somewhat away from main road. For that reason I decided to venture in blue to cross the wind to the main road and ended with 16km distance (hitch-hiked back). Second flight that day was in taken soon after this at another location at Hammonsport wind was almost 100% cross and even gustier than before so I ended flying 15min landed at regular LZ in the valey and hiked the hill. Third flight that day was at the end of the day now NW wind 20 km/h still strong but with great apeal of magic air, I did not make single turn on the ridge, went instantly even much higher than cloud base was in midday( it was entirely blue now). another PG pilot showed up just after my launch he recorded his highest 1500 feet above the ridge. I do not have instruments but I was at least most of the time 3 to 4 times higher. I had a pleasure and so much height to comfortably ride almost full speed bar to get back above the launch and try it as well along the valey. Top landed after 75 min flying 10min after sunset. When I was top landing it was still lifty so I did some spiraling to shoot the spot. Yesterday I had 4 flights 3 of them in midday not worth mentionig short fights for thermals in weak cross wind. 4th was at the end of the day for 80min, top landed last, there was bunch of PG and HG(around 15 people) pilots from US most of them were in the air for this last glass of flight, this was combined ridge soaring and thermaling flight nobady went higher than 1500 including myself, hover as usual I persited to make longest flight ( Cause I live farthest I try to have best ratio of flying and driving hehe).
Sounds like you had an excellent time Mukrim. We were thinking about going to Finger Lakes today (Friday), but the weather was no good for it. I think we will end up doing some PPG flying in Ellicotville with some ex students instead. This will be a chance to see some different scenery and maybe make a little film of the trip for the website. 16km is pretty reasonable. I must get down there soon to get some free flying again. If not I`ll have to wait until my trip to Annecy at the end of July.
Hi Mark I managed to get out and do some flying today and try my boot mount out. This is not the best video ever to be submitted but the results look good! Would you consider putting it on your site? Cheers Nick
Ok, it`s in your gallery Nick. (Nick tests his boot camera) Takes a while to set it all up doesn`t it. Good effort Nick Liked the music so much I bought it here!
Hello Andre and Mark, I just finished this flash animation for your ground school class. It is made with macromedia flash. It explains the principle of angle of attack and engine RPM. Feel free to use it
Thanks Francois! That`s really clever Angle of attack lesson
Hi Mark How you doin??? Click on the link for another video I would like to submit from last Saturday. I had a bit of a nightmare on Saturday.... Firstly, I was launching like I was back in the school! Then I had a fast slope landing coupled with with a dragging and damaged my bullet cam (Hence only a short film with only one bullet cam angle) and finally, when I`ve edited the film, there is a load of crackly edits at the end which I can`t remove!!!!! However, I think it`s still worth a viewing!?? Cheers Nick [Nicholas Bubb]
Ok Nick, sorry to hear your camera was damaged, I am guessing you are OK. I`ve fixed the crackle at the end for you. Here`s the link Nick`s latest Mark
I have a SIV clip of me making a complete mess of a full stall. Reply to this if you want me to send the clip for you to host on your site. It is about 2.5 meg i think. Ben Ben`s post match analysis: That event took place just up lake Geneva from Villeneuve with Alain Zoller. It was my second full stall the first being about thirty second before. The story goes like this- At the drop back I was gripped firmly by the icy hand of fear and never locked out my arms properly. After that I entered what you might call information overload, part of me was trying to lock my arms out to compete the full stall while being yanked about by the glider, part trying to control the surges and worst of all I think I was doing that thing where when you take a big fall you instinctively stick your arm out leading to all sorts of silly brake inputs. The only real decision I made was to fully restall the glider after taking the big spin/swing, not the right decision but there we go it did stabilise the situation. With less height and over land I would have been in real trouble. All that was actually needed was to make a positive decision to release the brakes progressively (Alains analysis). I did scare me alot but I feel I am now much less likely to panic in real situation and don’t regret doing the SIV one little bit and will be doing it again. I would recommend it to all pilots, especially if you are scared of it, you must face the fact that unplanned dynamic situations will happen to you sooner or later and you need to train for it to avoid panic.
Thanks Ben, It`s on the site here: Kung Fu Flying My post fligt analysis: You pull your right brake down, You pull your left brake down, Up, down, up, down, spin it all around. You do the Hokey Cokey And you flail around. That`s what it`s all about! Oh hokey cokey cokey...
Hi Mark, I finally got around to uploading my video from Valle de Bravo Mexico. I still have lots of stuff to edit from El Penon and I was flying Point Mounain, Salt Lake City last week. Lords Seat was pretty strong yesterday and I have a short clip of a screaming vario and corresponding height gain. I will be in Olu Deniz with your brother so I should be able to get some of his exploits on camera. Cheers, Neil.
Thanks Neil. Do me a favour; make sure Jason doesn`t do anything too stupid in Turkey. I put your video here.
Hi Mark, This is Ozgur. I was a student of Semih, with Jason in Oludeniz several days ago, and I want to thank you and Jason, for this website. Please say hello to Jason for me. Thanks. I will check this site often. Ozgur Hi Mark and Jason, It was brilliant days for me, and now yes I am at home. I hope see you 2007 in Oludeniz. best wishes. ozgur:)
Thanks
Hi Mark, I saw the mails and pictures in your feedback section about paragliding with a special wheelchair and thought that I could offer some more information. We have a pilot (a lady named Petra), who often goes flying with her wheelchair in our area in Salzburg, Austria. She is quite good at paragliding, even flying competitions sometimes and doing cross country very often. Right now she builds a special wheelchair for tandemflights. More info on her website. www.pitti-service.de Thanks, Armin
Excellent! Thanks very much. I will keep you updated with Cindy`s progress next time she is in training.
Hey Jason, Here`s some pics & a (huge) vid of morgan, will see if i can shrink it. Enjoy the flying & keep up the updates... Alex
Thanks Alex, A very nice selection of photos from the week!
Hi Jason, I am very sorry that I did not see you off. I say many thanks to you. Today Oludeniz is unflyable due to strong winds. If you come to Japan, contanct to me. See you anydays. Hiroshi
What`s the flying like in Japan?
Hi Mark, just got back from Turkey!! great website mate. Jason was getting on with his sats, helicopter etc, real nice guy. Cheers, Morgan
Thanks Morgan, yeah Jason is alright I suppose!
Did you get a chance to check out my first videos. They`re on my news page or under videos. Check them out, I`d like your comments. Frank
Great start Frank. Here are the comments: 1. Edits need to be tighter. 2. Avoid shakey zooms. 3. Try not to always follow the motion of the subject - allow it to enter and leave the frame. 4. Try to get some personal shots of people - the look on someone`s face after they land etc. Good job Frank, I will be looking out for the next videos.
Mark, I`ve got an example panorama of Spring Hill take off, the Australian Capital Territory`s No 1 flying venue. I`ll mail you it if you pass on your e-mail address. This is not for your website, as it was taken in flat light conditions and isn`t very good. I`ll re-shoot it in a couple of days time, when the bloody sun is out. Best wishes, Taff
E-mail address is mandrews1973@gmail.com Thanks, I look forward to it.
Hi Mark, We have a short video clip that can be viewed at www.manxparagliders.com If you want to make it available on your site I can rebuild it to any codec or dimensions that you wish (we only have it small as we don`t have alot of webspace). We also have a panorama taken from Planfait launch in Annecy. www.manxparagliders.com The image is currently `tiled` to suit the free zoomify viewer - however I can supply the base image in whatever format (and dimensions/filesize etc.).
Hi there, sorry not to have responded to your e-mail earlier but I have been somewhat busy with work, website and flying recently. Great video - well edited, would love to add it to my video gallery at 512kbps if possible (.wmv) format. Once up on my site you are welcome to link back to it + I will add a link to your site in the description of the video. If possible could you also supply some information about the video, music, date, people featured etc. Panorama is nice too, although I dislike the player. A good base image would be enough for me to add it to the site, and link back ofcourse. Well I had better get back to fielding the inquiries about the electric paramotor. Thanks, Mark
Hi Mark, My husband is a paraglider and I want to get him a bullet cam for his birthday. I`ve done a bit of research looking at Dogcam, action cam and a site called wiggle!? Dogcams videos look better that action cam`s but the cameras seem to be similar. Basically what do you reckon is the best 520 cam out there? Its to go with a canon mv830i that I`m going to get too. Cheers.
Hi, since I have only used one bullet camera I am not best qualified to answer that question. I can only telll you what I know. I personally have a 480 lines (I assume that is what you are referring to with the number 520) bullet camera from RF concepts. It works well, although the lead did break after two years but I fixed it. It has taken some hard knocks skiing and paragliding and has stood up to large temperature and humidity swings. Anyway this is what I use and apart from the loose conection issue (probably from me tripping on the lead too many times) it has been very good. RF Concepts were very efficient shipping orders and answering queries. If I were buying another it would be Camera 5 on this page RF Concepts I would also get a selection of lenses and maybe an extension lead too so that the camera could be mounted in the wing itself. That would be my (money is no object choice!) whatever you get make sure you buy some rechargeable batteries and get the correct camera standard ie PAL (Europe) NTSC (N.America). As I said before I don`t have knowledge of many different types, but I think that would be a good choice. Hope that helps, and tell him to send me some good footage when he gets it. Oh yeah and don`t pay too much attention to the quality of any video that you see on the internet. It does not reflect the quality of the camera that took it since it has ALL been compressed to a bandwidth that will play online. The actual results you get from a bullet camera are for better than the video quality you see online, so don`t use that as a comparison when looking at video from different cameras on websites.
Hi Mark, Thanks for getting back to me. Great loads of info. Yeah camera 5 does look good and reasonably priced too. When I finally manage to decide on a cam and mini dv! and he gets it all working with success I`ll get him to send you the results. Thanks again for all your help. ________________________________ Hi Mark Well I bought a helmet cam from RF Concepts. Good recommendation thanks. However I`m still deliberating over which camcorder and wondered if I could pick your brains a bit more! I`m fairly confident in my choice of mini dv but there are a few recording issues whilst flying that I`m not sure about. I have always assumed that the camcorder would be stashed within the harness and the whole idea of a bullet cam was to take away the need to control a device. However tapes seem to be 60min and with flights often much longer surely you will need to control filming? Is there an extra I need to buy for this and would it need a special spec on the mini dv. Also if the camera comes with a mic then am I right in thinking that I don`t need to worry about having an accessory shoe as this would decrease my options? Look forward to hearing from you.
Mini DV, small is good, with shoe for microphone.. Or read these articles
Dear Mark, I`m Kati Mezei, editor of a Hungarian aeronautical magazine called `Motormadár`. We would like to write about Csaba Lemák and his electric PPG. Would you please give me his e-mail address so that I could contact him in this matter. Thanking in advance, best regards, Kati
Check your e-mail
Hello! I am a Hungarian ppg pilot. I offer you 2 videos. Sorry , I don`t speak English. :) I make 3 videos, links: www.kalocsarepter.fw.hu www.kalocsarepter.fw.hu www.kalocsarepter.fw.hu Bye! Robert
I can`t believe the electric PPG works!! Congrats! I would love to buy one when you make a commercial version. Best of luck!
Don McNiven
I`ll pass the message on to Csaba and Patrick. Should be available spring 2007!
Hi Mark how are you? My name is Carlos Rodríguez, from Granada (South of Spain), !`m a paragliding and paramotor instructor, I have read your news about the electric paramotor; it sounds really good !!! It can be soon the future of ppg in the world. I contact you because I`m interested in talking with the brains of the electric paramotor, Csaba Lemak & Patrick MacKenzie, I`m very interested to make contact with them. Could you please send me an e-mail or telephone to contact them ??? I would apreciate it...Also, are you in the U.S ??? I`m planning to go in the next months to California. The guys of the electric paramotor are in Toronto (Canada) no ??? Thanks in advandce and safe flights and happy landings... Carlos Rodríguez
I am in Canada also. Csaba and Patrick are in Toronto, which is about 90mins drive from where I am. I have forwarded your e-mail to Csaba and Patrick, I will leave it to them to caontact you. They are very busy at the moment as interest in the electric paramotor is very high.
Hi Mark, been viewing your site since your first vid with the coldplay sound track, classic. And , the `Feel` by Robbie Williams, just perfect. Here is one I have on Video google, PPG Video and I also have this.... PPG Video Thanks, Martin Hewlett Devon, UK
It`s the same video twice! I will get it on the site soon (very busy!)
Hi Mark, I came by looking for info on the electric PPG. Looks great. Let me know when I can see it fly! I`m up at the cottage near Peterborough these days and still visiting Niagara Falls regularly. Also, saw your Olu Deniz map. Cool. Please add www.hectorparagliding.com as a link to the item 34. I host Hector`s web page. Small world, eh? I hope to get back to Turkey in the fall. Too bad we never got together in May. The weather was just shitty day after day after day. Peter
Done! Here You might see my brother then. He is taking part in his first acro competition in October
Hello, Congratulations for the panoramas photos and if you want see some photos from my place ( Brazil) look www.jcvl.com.br Best regards Fernando
Thanks, but they were not working when I checked your site
I would like a contact email and or phone number for Csaba Lemak re Electric PPG. Thanks Andras
You and everyone else! I have forwarded your e-mail address. I will leave it up to them to contact you.
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