Powered Paragliding Bible 2

Foreword                                                                                                           viii

How to Use This Book                                                                                      viii

Thanks To                                                                                                         ix

Preface                                                                                                             x

Section I: First Flight

Ratings                                                                                                             2

What it Takes Physically                                                                                  2

 

Section I: First Flight

Chapter 1 The Training Process

Finding an Instructor                                                                                         3

The School                                                                                                        4

Different Methods of Instructing                                                                        5

Certification                                                                                                       7

Training Aids                                                                                                     7

Getting to that First Flight                                                                                 10

Progression                                                                                                      10

Chapter 2 Gearing Up

The Wing                                                                                                          13

The Risers                                                                                                        15

The Harness                                                                                                     16

The Motor                                                                                                          19

Instruments                                                                                                       20

Accessories                                                                                                      21

Chapter 3 Handling The Wing

Deflating the Wing                                                                                              24

Brake Positions/Pressures                                                                                24

Preparing Yourself                                                                                             25

Preparing the Wing                                                                                            26

Forward And Reverse Launch                                                                           26

Light Winds (Forward Inflation)                                                                          26

Wind Over 6 mph (Reverse Inflation)                                                                29

Storing the Wing                                                                                                35

Chapter 4 Preparing For First Flight

Adjusting the Motor                                                                                            37

Fueling                                                                                                               38

Preflight Inspection                                                                                            39

Starting the Motor                                                                                              41

Have a Plan: Patterns, Areas and Altitudes.                                                     42

Taking Instructions Via Radio                                                                            43

Handling Emergencies                                                                                      43

Chapter 5 The Flight

Launch                                                                                                              51

Climbout                                                                                                           56

Flying Around                                                                                                    57

Landing                                                                                                             59

After Landing                                                                                                     62

Chapter 6 Adding Wheels

Wheeled Types                                                                                                64

Setup                                                                                                                64

Launch                                                                                                              65

Flying                                                                                                               67

Landing                                                                                                             68

Risk Comparison                                                                                             68

Walk or Roll                                                                                                      68

 

Section II: Spreading Your Wings

Chapter 7 Weather Basics

The Perfect Day                                                                                               71

Thermals & The Daily Cycle                                                                            72

Indications of Turbulence                                                                                 72

Thunderstorms                                                                                                 73

Mountains                                                                                                         74

Beach                                                                                                               74

Whenever There’s Wind                                                                                   75

Acquiring Aviation Weather                                                                               77

Other Weather Sources                                                                                    78

Chapter 8 Common Sense & The Law

Regulations                                                                                                       80

Case Law & Other Issues                                                                                 81

Commercial Use                                                                                                83

If I Violate the Rules?                                                                                         84

Chapter 9 Airspace

Airspace Types                                                                                                  86

The ABC’s of Airspace                                                                                       86

Reading The Charts                                                                                           91

The Airspace Test                                                                                              94

Other Uses for the charts                                                                                  97

Chapter 10 Flying From Anywhere

Choosing the site                                                                                               100

Site Permission                                                                                                 101

High Elevation Fields                                                                                          101

Flying At or Near Airports                                                                                   102

Places to Look                                                                                                  105

Safe Havens                                                                                                      106

Telling Wind Direction From Flight Path                                                               106

Chapter 11 Flying From Controlled Airports

Telephone                                                                                                         107

Aircraft Radio                                                                                                     108

Letter of Agreement                                                                                            112

Chapter 12 Setup & Maintenance

Harness                                                                                                            113

Motor                                                                                                                118

Reduction Drive                                                                                                  119

Clutch                                                                                                               120

Propeller                                                                                                           120

Propeller Repair                                                                                                 122

The Wing                                                                                                          125

Emergency Tool Kit                                                                                            128

Reserve                                                                                                             128

Chapter 13 Flying Cross Country

Basic Tips                                                                                                        131

Fuel & Range                                                                                                   133

Getting Lost                                                                                                      133

Navigation                                                                                                        133

Pilotage                                                                                                            136

Altitudes                                                                                                           137

Using a GPS                                                                                                    138

Chapter 14 Flying With Others

Courtesy                                                                                                           139

Risks                                                                                                                140

Rescuing a pilot                                                                                               141

Communications                                                                                              142

Formation Flying                                                                                               142

 

Section III: Mastering The Sport

Chapter 15 Advanced Ground Handling

Upside down kiting to clean out cells.                                                                145

Kiting Without a Harness.                                                                                  146

High wind techniques                                                                                         148

Light Wind Techniques                                                                                      153

Inflation Issues                                                                                                   154

Chapter 16 Precision Flying

Brakes—The Feel Position                                                                                157

Straight Lines—Pendular Precision                                                                  158

Balance of Power                                                                                              160

Low Flying                                                                                                          161

Hitting Suspended Targets                                                                                163

Formation                                                                                                          163

Active Flying in Turbulence                                                                                164

The Perfect Touchdown                                                                                    165

Chapter 17 Challenging Sites

The Horror of Hot, High, and Humid                                                                  167

Tight Spaces                                                                                                     170

Chapter 18 Advanced Maneuvers

Weight Shift Turns                                                                                             176

Speedbar Usage                                                                                                177

Maneuvers Course                                                                                            177

Descent Techniques                                                                                         178

Wing Malfunctions                                                                                             181

Pendular Control                                                                                                183

Tip Line (Stabilo) Line Pull                                                                                 184

Chapter 19 Risk Management

Probability and Severity                                                                                     185

Energy and Injury                                                                                               186

Getting Away With It                                                                                          187

Where the Risk Is                                                                                              187

Combining Risks                                                                                               193

Handling Situational Emergencies                                                                    194

Chapter 20 Competition

How Good Do I Need To Be?                                                                             202

Ground Precision                                                                                               202

Flight Precision (Navigation)                                                                              206

Fuel Limited Tasks                                                                                             206

Endurance                                                                                                         207

Kiting                                                                                                                  207

Chapter 21 Free Flight Transition

Transition to Thrust: Becoming a Power Pilot                                                   209

Transition to Free Flight: Going Soaring                                                            213

 

Section IV: Theory & Understanding

Chapter 22 Aerodynamics

Balance of Forces                                                                                              219

Stability                                                                                                              221

Glide & Drag                                                                                                      222

Center of Lift and Drag                                                                                      223

Sink Rate                                                                                                           223

Speed                                                                                                                223

Efficiency Under Power                                                                                     224

Wing                                                                                                                  224

Chapter 23 Motor & Propeller

Thrust & Horsepower                                                                                          229

2 And 4-Stroke Motors                                                                                       230

Propeller & Reduction Drives                                                                               235

Balance                                                                                                            238

Twisting Forces At Work                                                                                    239

Chapter 24 Weather & Wind

Using Forecasts                                                                                                243

Principles                                                                                                          244

Standard Atmosphere                                                                                       244

Daily Cycles                                                                                                      245

Yearly Cycle                                                                                                      247

All About Thermals                                                                                            247

Clouds                                                                                                               248

Fronts                                                                                                                250

Getting Weather Info                                                                                          251

Turbulence from Wind                                                                                       251

Chapter 25 Roots: Our History

Parasailing                                                                                                         253

Hang Gliding & Ultralighting                                                                               253

Sport Parachuting                                                                                             254

Lost Lineage                                                                                                      254

Performance Improvements over time                                                             256

 

Section V: Choosing Gear

Chapter 26 The Wing

Ease of Launch                                                                                                259

Size                                                                                                                  260

Reflex                                                                                                               260

Glide and Sink Rate                                                                                         261

Stability                                                                                                             261

Handling                                                                                                            261

Speed                                                                                                               262

Center Cell Visibility                                                                                           262

Certification                                                                                                       262

Risers                                                                                                               263

Kiting Only Wing                                                                                                264

Chapter 27 The Motor Unit

Weight                                                                                                              266

Comfort                                                                                                             266

Thrust                                                                                                               266

Quality                                                                                                              267

Powerplant Considerations                                                                              267

Ease of Launch                                                                                                269

Ease of Maintenance                                                                                        270

Fuel Storage—Above, Below, or in the Frame                                                 270

Propeller Size and Style                                                                                     270

Attachment Points & Separation Bars                                                              271

Weight Shift                                                                                                       272

Transportability                                                                                                  273

Support—Parts and Expertise                                                                          273

Safety                                                                                                                274

Chapter 28 Accessories

Reserve                                                                                                             275

Adding Wheels                                                                                                  276

Tachometer                                                                                                       278

Wind Indicators                                                                                                  278

EGT, CHT                                                                                                          278

Airspeed Indicator                                                                                              279

GPS                                                                                                                   279

Emergency Kit                                                                                                   280

Cold Weather Gear                                                                                            280

Chapter 29 Home Building

Building Your Own Design                                                                                  282

Building From Plans (Scratch)                                                                           283

Building From A Kit                                                                                             283

Testing & Changes                                                                                            284

 

Section VI: Getting the Most Out of Powered Paragliding

Chapter 30 Other Uses

Using PPG for Transportation                                                                            287

Flags & Banners                                                                                                288

Cattle Herding                                                                                                    289

Search and Rescue                                                                                           290

Finding Model Aircraft                                                                                         290

Public Relations & Exhibition                                                                             290

Chapter 31 Traveling With Gear

Shipping                                                                                                             291

Transporting via Road                                                                                       293

Customs                                                                                                            294

Chapter 32 Photography

Still Photography Basics                                                                                   295

Video                                                                                                                  299

Appendices

Appendix - Checklists                                                                                        301

Appendix - Resources                                                                                       302

Fuel/Oil Mix Chart                                                                                              302

Repair                                                                                                                302

Instruction                                                                                                          302

Welding                                                                                                             302

Appendix - FAR 103                                                                                          303

Glossary                                                                                                            305

Index                                                                                                                  307