Story:
http://ppgniagara.blogspot.com/2009/11/ok-so-i-lied.html
Right out of the blue a beautiful warm Sunday in November hit us and it was just too good an opportunity to pass up. I contacted Andre and he told me that he'd be at the Sodom field for 1 pm. I got a there a little early with my kit in tow and set up. The wind was blowing at between 0 and 5 mph variable but mostly from the south which made taking off nice and easy for me. by the time one o'clock came we had 6 flyers out including Ralph ( a local celebrity and all around nut bar) who was there to shoot a couple of clips for his web site and Chris Miller a flyer from Buffalo. Others included Roy, Mark and Andre.
Roy took off and almost proceeded to plough a small trench with his backside for 30' down the runway. He told me later that all he could hear was "lucky bastard!!" over the radio. I took of next with the red Sky wing. It was pretty much the first real flight I have had with it and it did feel a little swifter than the tandem, however it was a little rough up there and I got jostled around a bit at the lower altitudes. After about 15 minutes I landed and decided that I would attach the auxillary fuel tank that Roy had made me and brought with him. Everything fit like a glove and I attached the hoses. I really wasn't sure if it would work like it was supposed to but there wasn't really enough time to check it out properly as Andre, Mark and Christ were setting up to fly to Crystal Beach. This was a long flight and I was pretty sure that one tank of gas just wasn't going to do it. Oh well... I decided that I would take a chance and hope that it worked the way it was supposed to. Everyone took off with out a hitch and soon we were heading toward Lake Erie. Chris and Mark were flying low to the ground and skimming the tops of the trees while hopping from field to field. I kept at about 300' to be safe and watched in amazement as the ground passed underneath me.
After we cleared Netherby Road we came to open fields where we hung out for 10 minutes circling the trees and playing around. I looked down just as I few over the top of a bird of prey as it cruised west toward the brilliant setting sun. I looked to the north I saw another PPG heading toward us from the field. Roy had decided to join us after all. Off to my right we could see a huge plume of dust rising from a field and so we decided to go over and investigate. The dust was being caused by a monster combine harvester as it made its way across the field cutting hay. Chris came in low from my left and buzzed the top of the harvester from behind. I can't imagine what the farmer must have thought as he saw the wing zip past his cabin. I took his lead and flew at about 50' past the other tractor while another farmer stood there and waved as I passed by. I climbed and as I turned I could see the other four wings in the sky. I couldn't stop myself from letting out a loud "Woo-Hoo!" It had to have been one of the most amazing moments of my life!
I few close to Erics house and then flew on to Crystal beach, over the houses and playing fields. Chris, Andre and Mark headed over to the beach and flew along the sand. Andre found a massive bonfire and flew into its thermal. He later said it really rocked him. I took a look around me and realized that I was now pretty much alone and decided to call it a trip and head back. Just as I did a yellow plane came flying over me just to my left and about 50' higher than me. This is just incredible! how may people get to experience something like this in their life time?
The trip back was pretty uneventful. I was unsure where I was supposed to be heading to get back and so I used the gps to get back. At the one hour point I was about 4 1/2 miles out from Sodom road and thinking that if that extra fuel tank is going to fail it would be now! Fortunately for me it worked like a dream and I came in for a baby smooth landing with the engine off. Roy was waiting for me and quickly explained that his flight and turned sour just after he reached us. Apparently is engine began to splutter and eventually quit causing him to land in the parking lot of ZOOZ ! He was picked up by a couple of guys that came over to see if he was ok and one of them kindly drove him back to the air field. No injuries or damage done.
Within 10 minutes or so everyone came back to the field and packed up their gear. Ralph had stuck around and filmed the whole thing from the ground. What a guy! Can't wait to see the footage.
I had packed my PPG away for the year thinking that that was it. What a nice turn of events.
http://ppgniagara.blogspot.com/2009/11/ok-so-i-lied.html
Right out of the blue a beautiful warm Sunday in November hit us and it was just too good an opportunity to pass up. I contacted Andre and he told me that he'd be at the Sodom field for 1 pm. I got a there a little early with my kit in tow and set up. The wind was blowing at between 0 and 5 mph variable but mostly from the south which made taking off nice and easy for me. by the time one o'clock came we had 6 flyers out including Ralph ( a local celebrity and all around nut bar) who was there to shoot a couple of clips for his web site and Chris Miller a flyer from Buffalo. Others included Roy, Mark and Andre.
Roy took off and almost proceeded to plough a small trench with his backside for 30' down the runway. He told me later that all he could hear was "lucky bastard!!" over the radio. I took of next with the red Sky wing. It was pretty much the first real flight I have had with it and it did feel a little swifter than the tandem, however it was a little rough up there and I got jostled around a bit at the lower altitudes. After about 15 minutes I landed and decided that I would attach the auxillary fuel tank that Roy had made me and brought with him. Everything fit like a glove and I attached the hoses. I really wasn't sure if it would work like it was supposed to but there wasn't really enough time to check it out properly as Andre, Mark and Christ were setting up to fly to Crystal Beach. This was a long flight and I was pretty sure that one tank of gas just wasn't going to do it. Oh well... I decided that I would take a chance and hope that it worked the way it was supposed to. Everyone took off with out a hitch and soon we were heading toward Lake Erie. Chris and Mark were flying low to the ground and skimming the tops of the trees while hopping from field to field. I kept at about 300' to be safe and watched in amazement as the ground passed underneath me.
After we cleared Netherby Road we came to open fields where we hung out for 10 minutes circling the trees and playing around. I looked down just as I few over the top of a bird of prey as it cruised west toward the brilliant setting sun. I looked to the north I saw another PPG heading toward us from the field. Roy had decided to join us after all. Off to my right we could see a huge plume of dust rising from a field and so we decided to go over and investigate. The dust was being caused by a monster combine harvester as it made its way across the field cutting hay. Chris came in low from my left and buzzed the top of the harvester from behind. I can't imagine what the farmer must have thought as he saw the wing zip past his cabin. I took his lead and flew at about 50' past the other tractor while another farmer stood there and waved as I passed by. I climbed and as I turned I could see the other four wings in the sky. I couldn't stop myself from letting out a loud "Woo-Hoo!" It had to have been one of the most amazing moments of my life!
I few close to Erics house and then flew on to Crystal beach, over the houses and playing fields. Chris, Andre and Mark headed over to the beach and flew along the sand. Andre found a massive bonfire and flew into its thermal. He later said it really rocked him. I took a look around me and realized that I was now pretty much alone and decided to call it a trip and head back. Just as I did a yellow plane came flying over me just to my left and about 50' higher than me. This is just incredible! how may people get to experience something like this in their life time?
The trip back was pretty uneventful. I was unsure where I was supposed to be heading to get back and so I used the gps to get back. At the one hour point I was about 4 1/2 miles out from Sodom road and thinking that if that extra fuel tank is going to fail it would be now! Fortunately for me it worked like a dream and I came in for a baby smooth landing with the engine off. Roy was waiting for me and quickly explained that his flight and turned sour just after he reached us. Apparently is engine began to splutter and eventually quit causing him to land in the parking lot of ZOOZ ! He was picked up by a couple of guys that came over to see if he was ok and one of them kindly drove him back to the air field. No injuries or damage done.
Within 10 minutes or so everyone came back to the field and packed up their gear. Ralph had stuck around and filmed the whole thing from the ground. What a guy! Can't wait to see the footage.
I had packed my PPG away for the year thinking that that was it. What a nice turn of events.
Tags:
niagara, Flying, powered, paragliding
niagara, Flying, powered, paragliding
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