by Jeff Goin | Apr 7, 2015 | Log: Hang Glider
Oct 21, 2015 shifting weight. This is also as my official hang glider logbook since I’ll lose the paper one anyway. My first exposure to hang gliding was at 13 years old. My brother brought home a book showing a hang glider on one page and a sailplane on the...
by Tim Kaiser | Jan 1, 2015 | Log: Enterprise
Year three for Enterprise “C.” One more year on the Chassis Warranty and the cruise control is starting to act up—not engaging all the time. We got everything else fixed so hopefully, this will be easy. Plans for this year include Sebring, the Endless...
by Jeff Goin | Nov 14, 2014 | Reviews: Paramotors
Air Conception has been focusing on lightweight powerhouses but this is a new high, or low, depending on your perspective. As best I can tell, this is the highest power-to-weight machine available. The example I flew was Eric Dufour’s demonstrator at Wings Over...
by Jeff Goin | Nov 8, 2014 | Reviews: Paramotors
Nirvana strives for refined, good looking performers in the premium price arena. I’ve flown this machine before (at the Endless Footdrag) but didn’t do a write-up. It’s time. This flight, in November, 2014 at Wings Over Winter near Orlando, was on...
by Jeff Goin | Nov 8, 2014 | Reviews: Paramotors
PAP has been a stalwart of paramotor manufacturers, building machines popular in Europe for many years. They strive to, among other things, make the experience more like free flight with lower hook-in points that more closely resemble free flight harnesses. I flew...
by Jeff Goin | Sep 25, 2014 | Paramotor Pariahs
It should come as no surprise that Dell Schanze has managed to define yet another low in the business ethics of powered paragliding. Nobody has even come close to being this clueless or classless. In an effort to dupe the gullible into thinking there is, in fact,...
by Jeff Goin | May 8, 2014 | News
Sport Link Communications is for sale. They make headsets, radio helmets and related accessories, design, manufacture, and distribute/sell to the General and Sport aviation community, directly, thru dealers and distributors, world-wide. Products include...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 25, 2014 | Log: Helicopter
Her name is Ellie, Ellie Foo Foo. Ellie just sounded good–“Ellie the heli,” but “Foo Foo” has a story. A good friend of mine, Al, was an expert mechanic on airplanes and engines, but one that didn’t want to work on helicopters (an...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 20, 2014 | 20: Competition, About, Log: Enterprise
Brief flight history: I started flying gliders at age 13, soloed at 14, got my private license at 17, commercial license at 20, airline transport rating at 26 when I became captain on a commuter airline and got hired by Southwest Airlines in 1993, becoming a captain 4...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 13, 2014 | 08: the Law
Story of possible Ultralight discrimination and resolution | See also Ultralights at Airports In 1975 I flew my first aircraft, a glider, at Marion, Ohio. Malcom Green took me up in a Schweizzer 2-33 sailplane and soon after releasing from tow, said the magic words...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 7, 2014 | 22: Aerodynamics, 23: Motor & Propeller, Log: Paramotor-Ultralight, Reviews: Paramotors
Florida’s relentless weather perfection lured us aloft again. I got to try Parajet’s newest offering, a Thor 250, water cooled, behemoth with thrust galore. It’s ideally suited for trikes or competition pilots powering their tiny little steeds to...
by Jeff Goin | Mar 30, 2014 | 01 Training
THOROUGH training is your most important expenditure. Sometimes “free” is way more expensive (aka Kurt Pfister) Calling a capable instructor and threatening him was the last straw. Kurt Fister (aka Kurt Pfister) needs to be exposed for his horrifically...
by Jeff Goin | Mar 21, 2014 | Log: Hang Glider
I soloed a hang glider! (sorry Mom). Hang glider logbook here. No, I’m not going to go bonkers like I did with paramotoring but will try mastering the basics. I’ll take more training from respected mountain instructors before launching willy nilly into...
by Jeff Goin | Mar 20, 2014 | Log: Hang Glider
I soloed a hang glider! (sorry Mom). No, I’m not going to go bonkers like I did with paramotoring but will try mastering the basics. I’ll take more training from respected mountain instructors before launching willy nilly into rocky highlands.What...
by Jeff Goin | Mar 1, 2014 | Entertainment, Log: Life
This was written some time ago but is even more applicable today Sitting here in the Enterprise, overlooking San Diego’s gorgeous Mission Bay, I’m enjoying writing and listening to my favorite music. It seems I’ve already lived more than I ever...
by Jeff Goin | Jan 7, 2014 | 31: Traveling with Gear
It’s always been a crap shoot to check paramotors on airliners but even I didn’t realize how bad it could be. A pilot had shipped his paramotor for an overseas adventure and when he got back the paramotor arrived sans its engine. Then, some weeks later a...
by Jeff Goin | Jan 1, 2014 | Log: Enterprise
Year two for Enterprise “C”. The Warranty expires tomorrow as I write. There are two minor problems — the door is hard to close and a panel inside falls out. Hopefully, we can schedule those in time. We’re absolutely loving this...
by Jeff Goin | Nov 20, 2013 | Reviews: Paragliders
Dudek has been producing top competition wings for a number of years. The Snake is aimed squarely at the Slalom set which may seem like a tiny group, but the performance will appeal to skilled pilots of many stripes. I’m interested in this class of wings for...
by Jeff Goin | Nov 16, 2013 | Reviews: Paramotors
Flown May 2013, Reviewed from notes Parajet is a well established innovator that continues to refine its line with the Zenith series. It’s made for travel with possibly the best breakdown and shipping capability I’ve yet seen. The smallest piece is a back...
by Jeff Goin | Nov 2, 2013 | Entertainment, Log: Enterprise
This series is what I wish were available after I learned the basics of flying PPG. There are many specific techniques that can be learned far quicker if only they were clearly explained. It is intended for pilots who have already learned the basics, and are PPG2...
by Jeff Goin | Sep 14, 2013 | Log: Enterprise
A text message came in from Dr. Dave: “PPG at Frans on 17, dinner to follow”. And as it happened this was a Saturday that both Tim & I were off on. Orders were caught up (envelopes readied for Monday shipment) and the weather looked perfect. Why not....
by Jeff Goin | Sep 13, 2013 | Log: Enterprise, Log: Life
Wow, I can’t believe its done. Although still in the midst of order fury (thanks!), I’ve had time to contemplate, having some surprising thoughts–namely how I’ll miss it. I’ll miss the directed flying, working with the pilots who have...
by Jeff Goin | Sep 6, 2013 | Entertainment, Log: Enterprise
2012 Nov 8 Let the process begin. Most of the shooting is actually along with some of the animation but I’ve got several animations yet to build so that’s where it starts. These will be invaluable for showing what goes into a spot landing. Visible flight...
by Jeff Goin | Sep 5, 2013 | Log: Enterprise
This was Pyro’s Paradise with a side of PPG. More on that later. When I arrived Brandon gave me the brief “our rules are simple, buzz the horses, especially skittish looking ones, fly low over the houses at full power, do footdrags down the runway while...
by Jeff Goin | May 16, 2013 | Reviews: Paramotors
Air Conception has been building the Ultra line for at least 4 years as of this writing and is imported to the USA by Paratour USA. They have updated the super lightweight Ventor motor to make powerful yet lightweight paramotors and accessories. Liberal use of...
by Jeff Goin | May 13, 2013 | Reviews: Paramotors
Here is video 1 about the Scout mostly. Here is video 2, a romp in FL that’s just plain fun. It’s mostly showing the scout but that’s not the mission. Scout is a new entrant on the paramotor market but with great innovation on several fronts. It is...
by Jeff Goin | May 4, 2013 | 06: Adding Wheels
Updated 2013-May-4 Suggestions Powered Paraglider Trike/Quad (Cart) | See A Better Paramotor After watching wheels take off, literally and figuratively, I’ve noticed some areas of strength and weakness with some potential for improvement. None of this is new,...
by Jeff Goin | May 3, 2013 | Log: Enterprise
Enterprise A – Enterprise B – Enterprise C The 21′ Rialta (Enterprise A) was a bit too small, the 28′ BT Cruiser (Enterprise B) was too big, and the 24′ Winnebago View was just right. These are really working vehicles but there’s...
by Jeff Goin | May 2, 2013 | Entertainment, Log: Enterprise
Jan 24, 2011 Work Begins Master PPG 1 is now selling. Finally, money is going the other way, and thankfully way more than we expected. For the last few years I’ve just spent, spent, spent–pouring time and money into these projects without any return. Of...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 29, 2013 | Tributes
We’re reminded again how fleeting life is. And how some people make it so much better. And how we can take them for granted. Powered Paragliding lost one of its great contributors, Scott Adair, to a gyrocopter crash April 29th in Valkaria, FL. Our hearts go out...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 20, 2013 | Reviews: Other
Since our props are fixed pitch the tachometer is a direct measurement of power. Of course you don’t know the absolute hp (have to know torque) but if you’re putting out a higher RPM, you’re pushing harder. So if you’re gonna have only one...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 20, 2013 | Paramotor Pariahs, Ultralights
If you’ve encountered the term powered skydiving, we’d like to clear up what it is. When you add power to a wing it becomes powered (insert wing name). In the case of hang gliding, that’s powered hang gliding. We added power to a paragliding wing and...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 16, 2013 | Paramotor Pariahs
More on Powered Paragliding’s Loudest, Least Honest Mouth Last month the video below came out exposing a 2011 crash caused by Dell Schanze getting tangled in another pilot’s lines. Hooks on Dell’s boots causing the lead pilot’s wing to deform...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 13, 2013 | Log: Enterprise, Log: Paramotor-Ultralight
This is the first year with a new layout at the Ultralight area. Everybody agrees: it’s nicer and there was a better turnout. Paul Czarnecki of PlanetPPG has the only paramotor tent and does a pretty thriving business, at least in terms of highly qualified...
by Jeff Goin | Mar 29, 2013 | Propeller Safety
Passive starting safety for paramotor pilots I mounted it to my Miniplane Top 80 and it’s working. Unfortunately, the motor’s idle must stay below 2700 RPM which may be a problem for pilots who frequently have their motors go above that RPM causing false...
by Jeff Goin | Mar 21, 2013 | Reviews: Paramotors
Ray McMahon is known mostly for importing Dudek wings but he also imports the Minari 180 F1-AE engine and offers it on his own Skybolt-based paramotor frame. The Skybolt is a plans-built paramotor that he has modified slightly. The frame buys buildability with a extra...
by Jeff Goin | Mar 9, 2013 | Reviews: Paragliders
AirDesign is a somewhat new company owned by Stephan Stieglair, a former world champion and former designer for Pro Design, UP and Airwave. The Rama Flex is their first entry into paramotoring. I’m told that it has been certified by DHV to the EN 926 standard...
by Jeff Goin | Mar 5, 2013 | Reviews: Other
2013-Mar-05 This is a multi-purpose device that, besides offering the usual RPM/CHT/EGT/Time, it most uniquely, adds a fuel level indicator system. The fuel tank pickup gives fine level measurements using an ingenious tube-in-tube sensor that goes in through the top...
by Jeff Goin | Feb 20, 2013 | 19: Risk & Safety, 20: Competition
Wrong Place at the Wrong Time | Titanium Balls & Judgment The weather was clear but had become quite turbulent. Enough so that two highly experienced competitors had decided not to fly but a number of others continued including Michael Mixer. You watch this fellow...
by Jeff Goin | Feb 14, 2013 | 19: Risk & Safety, 20: Competition
Knowing When To Stop | Salton Sea Collapse and Crash Competitions exude a can-do attitude that easily clouds judgment. You’re already confident in your flying ability or you wouldn’t be there. Everybody else is flying so it must not be that bad—an effect...
