The Other Side Of the World
After the mutiny, the absconded vessel’s crew landed on this island and began a new life. While that is a fascinating story on it’s own right, what’s interesting to us is that the island’s first ultralighter is USPPA member, Route 66 Flyers member (Albuquerque, NM) and paramotor pilot, Derick DeGennaro.
He is doing video taping for a planned documentary on the island and has gone through enormous efforts to arrive at the island with his PPG and has recently become the first civilian to fly himself over the island. The trip will be covered in the June Ultraflight magazine. It is a fascinating adventure with some victories, some defeats and at least one close call. We’ll look forward to getting the rest of the story.
- Published in Entertainment
Fast & Small
Shon from Paradrenalin near Phoenix may be a lightweight but, at 198 pounds with paramotor, he was still way overweight on a kiting-only Paratoys training wing. It was a short flight but sure covered a lot of distance. If you look carefully at the picture you can see that something just doesn’t look right! It was a short flight for another reason, this is incredibly dangerous! Photo by Gavin Harrison.
- Published in Entertainment
Tinkering
One of our members, Ryan Trujillo from Rio Rancho, N.M. has been busy in his garage. The finishing touches of his tinkering has resulted in the craft seen in these pictures. It is a nice-looking 4-wheel PPG cart.
Lord willing we’ll get to see it at a fly-in sometime. As he says, it’s “all heavy duty, many bells.” No word on whistles.
- Published in Entertainment
Dress For Success
Even in the south, cold air dips. Isaac Smith captured himself just before enjoying the wind chill on the shores of Lake Lanier, just north of Atlanta, Georgia.
- Published in Entertainment
Ice Hockey
A group of Canadian flyers show their robustness by braving the snow, ice and cold for a winter romp in the Great White North. Frank Savignac tells us “who needs beaches, warm weather, We do! We’ll see ya in Florida Polk City!” Pilots flying this New Brunswick, Canada site were Roger Harris, Mark Dean and Frank. Thanks for sharing and we’ll all look forward to the March Florida warm-up.
- Published in Entertainment
Wind Suck
Joe took off and wondered why everyone on the field was waving so wildly at him. Then he looked at his wing and saw way: he’d snagged the windsock from Arizona’s Phoenix Fly-In on launch and it was still following him around. He landing uneventfully soon after the discovery. After Joe was safely on the ground, we all had a good laugh about it, but there was quite the sense of urgency until after he landed. Interestingly, Joe says he didn’t even notice it while flying. Photo courtesy of Joe Lakato
- Published in Entertainment
Gator Gotcha
Free flyers don’t always have the option of choosing their landing site and must be constantly aware of their options. Motor pilots get lazy and don’t think about when they should be but, eventually it will quit. One intrepid artist offered up this reminder of how important that consideration can be. There would be lots of regret from forgetting to always keep good landing options available in this situation!.
Thanks to TL Hoke of Farmington, MN.
- Published in Entertainment