Nice light winds yesterday for the first time in a long while, perfect for a bit of paramotoring.
Loaded up the van, and headed off to the field just over the road. With the recent weather and a second child having just arrived it’s been five months since my last flight… so a thorough pre-flight examination of the wing and engine was in order. An hour or so later and all is looking ok.
Laid the wing out nicely into wind, a very light breeze coming from Kirk Michael. Strapped myself into the motor to carry it to the wing, and fired it up as I walked for a gentle warm up. Started first time (phew). Stop the engine, and dismount to attach the risers. Strap back in, heated gloves, helmet, flight deck, etc. Ditched the radio as no-one to talk to. Struggle to my feet under the weight of it all, fire up the engine, all ready for a forward launch. Check wind direction one last time. Bugger. It’s just turned and is now coming directly from the coast. Wait a bit to see if it changes back. Nope. Kill engine, dismount, move wing to face into wind…
and repeat… three more times…
Fifth attempt, I’m ready, I’m set. The wind hasn’t turned. Start engine… double bugger. All this starting and stopping means now I have a flat battery… Pack up, load van, head home and put the battery on to charge, without actually having attempted a single launch…
Back to field after lunch. Setup again. Ditch the heated gloves and all other baggage in a desperate effort to get a move on before sunset. Ready to go. Bugger. Not again! Fickle wind! But it’s only a little bit off. What’s there to lose? Let’s give it a go anyway… Nope. My now somewhat damp wing is having none of it. Predictably off to one side. It’s a forward launch directly into wind or nothing else…
Carry everything back up the field, setup again. Struggle to my feet again. Wind’s looking good. Fingers crossed. Engine starts. Wind’s still looking good. Step forward, wings up perfectly above. Open up the throttle, start running, and running, and running, hedge is getting closer, and still running, and we’re up…
Head over to home to wave at the family and admire my efforts in the garden from the air, and drop down into the fields behind for some low (ish) flying for ten minutes or so. Climb up to 600ft and head off round “the major’s” estate and on up to Jurby airfield, and then on to Andreas flying club. Beautifully smooth air, just how I like it. But why on earth did I ditch the heated gloves?! Turn towards Ramsey, but it’s getting late and the sun’s setting. So head back towards home watching the neon pink sun setting and patches of fog starting to form on the lower lying ground. Fly round the Cronk, and turn to head back to land at Dollagh. Predictably the wind hasn’t changed since take off, and a nice gentle touchdown in the field where the family have come to meet me.
45 minutes of heaven, to remind me exactly why it is I bother with all this 😉