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For new pilots, the single
best advice we can offer is to choose a thorough, reputable instructor,
who uses the USPPA syllabus and buy their gear. It is good to understand
a few points, of course, if for no other reason than to make sure the
instructor is reputable. An instructor who suggests a Simonini based
motor (powerful but heavy) to a 150 pound pilot flying at sea level is
doing a dis-service, just like an instructor who says his 100cc machine
will be good enough for a 230 pound pilot.
Perfect propulsion for one person may be another's nightmare. It depends
on desires and dimensions—a
petit pilot won't enjoy hefting a monster motor any more than a big bruiser
will hate a petit pusher. As usual, there is no best machine,
they're trade-offs.
A
few relics survive only by finding unwitting marks—those
taken in by the slick-looking website or fast-talking salesman. Using and
buying from a reputable instructor will avoids that trap.
Nearly
all motors have an integrated harness—software that's just as
important as the hardware. Go
here to understand the various harness styles and terminology. A great motor can be rendered dangerous, let alone uncomfortable, with an
inadequate or improperly setup harness (see Chapter
12 for setup).
Your
choice in motor will also affect your safety. Design improvements are
available but, until market forces dictate their adoption, makers will not
be
inclined to spend money on them. |
