Flyin Party No:5

13/01/2008 by admin.

Friday night emails started rolling in from posts written on the forum about a Manchester flyin, so I posted on the forum and asked am I missing a party, shortly afterwards I received an email from Mark Ingham saying he had tried to call me. An invite to Paul Kilburn and Paul Nations flying field, fab don’t want to let this invite down.

Packed my van Friday night for a good early start and its off to Manchester for a Party….sorted

Took a wrong turning into a quarry, but i knew i was close because Mark Ingham had just taken off and was flying by the side of the East Lancs Rd, I asked a couple of guys directions and found out I just missed a turning through an old gate, picked up some work whilst I was there which was a result.

The wind early on was quite strong and gusty so only the brave ventured out, a good chance to take some photos and help Paul with his motor. Gabe arrived at about 1pm complete with a full buffet, what a man fantastic. Gabe showed us his latest film of the Northumberland trip so with sausage roll in hand enjoyed the film, soon to be uploaded on youtube and im on it 3 times, what an impact and contribution I have made to this sport and the forums over the last few months LOL.

So after mulling around most of the day it was time to go, I can always get the hint because whilst Im there watching everything going on Mark always comes and stands next to me to give a gentle shove to get my gear out……good man.

Well its my turn Gabe has just took off, and Im lined up on the 5ft wide runway ready for blast off, 3mph forward launch, but im not going for the Paul Smith launch technique Im going for the text book run of the mill risers over the forearm set up.

Somone sent me an email last week asking if I have speeded up the video of me taking off in Northumberland as they had never seen anyones legs go that fast before.

Anyway Im off down the runway little legs going, I suppose you dont get much choice when you give it full throttle its like a kick up the arse, wings up and im off…..perfect first launch again just like Northumberland.

So im up 500ft the wind gradient must of been quite high because 500ft I was nearly stood still, I started flapping abit because this is the roughest ive been up in, I calmed down a bit and went with the flow. Its quite unnerveing when you are looking relative to the ground and you seem to be flying sideways and not making any forward progression, the conditions were quite blustery and the wing required alot of active piloting. I had a 30 mins flight which i thought was ample, another notch on my flying belt and different conditions that i have never flown in before. Don’t laugh Gabe but I think its the first time I have thought I want to get down.

Landing was fantastic again, I love the feeling as soon as you cut your engine, getting out of my harness just seems nautral now. It was about 100ft engine off and out of my seat seat at 60ft…perfect on my feet and turned to face the wing and brought it down. I would love a day of jumping off a hill face and just gliding down all day, as long as there was a lift.

Thanks to Paul Kilburn, Paul Nation, Mark Ingham for the invite and Gabe for the sausage rolls…….the bouncing bomb lands again on his feet.

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