Two words sum up today - "bloody awful". In fact "bloody disaster" would be a better summary and Alan, my instructor, must be wishing he was back home in Saudi after today's woeful efforts at trying to control a wing on the ground. After a few disastrous attempts at a forward launch I finally got one right, so it was on to the reverse launch where things went rapidly downhill. For whatever reason my co-ordination went to pieces and although I could marginally achieve the simple things, such as building a wall prior to launching, keeping the wing in the air was beyond me.
After a bit of foot stamping, a girlie tantrum aimed at myself and a bit of lunch we returned for the afternoon session, well four of us did. The second lunch sitting disappeared never to be seen again, leaving the four of us to guard a collection of motors, wings and other kit for three hours whilst they dined and had a siesta. Lovely.... In the end we returned to the farmhouse to do a bit of ground school as the winds were far too strong for any work outside.
Good news of the day was that Eddie, on of the trainees, managed to get in the air. Ok he's a Londoner AND Chelsea supporter, but we forgave him and were pleased he managed to make a few circuits and get safely down again.
All in all a day to forget for me, but still a nice day out in the fresh air and not in the office.
Onwards and upwards they say.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Sunday, 22 March 2009
From Ok to Awful
Well today was the day I had waited for, so after a sleepless night (and fourteen hour journey yesterday) I was up at 6am, grabbed a piece of toast, sip of tea and then down to the airfield at 7am for the start of our training. I never knew how difficult keeping a piece of fabric in the air could be and Alan, my instructor, showed the patience of a saint as I repeatedly sent his £2,500 wing crashing into the ground. Still, I managed a few good launches and even at one point was lifted a whole inch off of the ground as I ran along with the wing above me.
Unfortunately this afternoon wasn't so good as a migraine inducing headache put paid to any great concentration, as did a fairly strong gusting wind. I spent ten minutes trying to tame a small practice wing, but by then any concentration I had had long since gone and I was sent back to the house to grab a bit of sleep and shower before the rest of the gang turned up.
Hopefully tomorrow will see some improvement and my aim for this week remains the same - to be able to safely ground handle a wing. No thoughts of actually taking to the air as that will have to wait for another time
Unfortunately this afternoon wasn't so good as a migraine inducing headache put paid to any great concentration, as did a fairly strong gusting wind. I spent ten minutes trying to tame a small practice wing, but by then any concentration I had had long since gone and I was sent back to the house to grab a bit of sleep and shower before the rest of the gang turned up.
Hopefully tomorrow will see some improvement and my aim for this week remains the same - to be able to safely ground handle a wing. No thoughts of actually taking to the air as that will have to wait for another time
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Only Sixteen Days To Go....
... and the anticipation is getting far too great! I posted on the paramotorclub.org forum today that the last time I was so nervous/excited/looking forward to something all at one time was before I married Donna almost twenty-three years ago. The days are being ticked off and the 21st March can’t come around quick enough.
The topic of conversation at home has changed and whereas before it usually revolved around our kids discussing the merits of the latest CD’s by “You Me At Six”, “Metro Station”, “The Blackout” or any other band I’ve never heard of, now the tables have turned and it is me discussing (or rather stating) the merits of my SpeedAir helmet, whether I have the right colour flying suit and so on. The kids and their musical preferences are no longer a match for paramotor training in France!
So I’m running through my checklist of what I am taking with me and it looks like David and Tim, the two guys sharing the car down to Airvault, are going to be restricted to a small bag each (only joking fellas!). The TomTom already has the site programmed into the memory and I’m waiting. Isn’t it funny how time always drags just when you don’t want it to?!
Ah well, only sixteen days to go....
The topic of conversation at home has changed and whereas before it usually revolved around our kids discussing the merits of the latest CD’s by “You Me At Six”, “Metro Station”, “The Blackout” or any other band I’ve never heard of, now the tables have turned and it is me discussing (or rather stating) the merits of my SpeedAir helmet, whether I have the right colour flying suit and so on. The kids and their musical preferences are no longer a match for paramotor training in France!
So I’m running through my checklist of what I am taking with me and it looks like David and Tim, the two guys sharing the car down to Airvault, are going to be restricted to a small bag each (only joking fellas!). The TomTom already has the site programmed into the memory and I’m waiting. Isn’t it funny how time always drags just when you don’t want it to?!
Ah well, only sixteen days to go....
Sunday, 1 March 2009
My Paramotor Training Blog
At the request of my good friend Quek I am going to use this site to keep a record of my paramotor training, which takes place in Airvault, France during the 22nd to 27th March 2009. Here I will keep a record of my progress, or lack of, and record my attempts to crash into trees, buildings, cattle and flocks of birds.
Fingers crossed I'll come out of it ok....
Fingers crossed I'll come out of it ok....
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