26  Oct 08 - Roar'n Soar Fly-In, Polk City, Florida - Jo and I will be departing this Friday to travel down south to attend six PPG Fly-In's during the next six months.  Our 1st event will be the Roar' n Soar Event at the Fantasy of Flight the 7 - 9 November 2008.  This private invitation of approximately 25 PPG Pilots will fly the world's smallest personal aircraft on the grounds of the Fantasy of Flight with other famous aircraft.    

You can check their website out at www.fantasyofflight.com 

Jo and I are getting in out last minute preparations before the big move. I've been waiting for a good evening to get in a good Xcitor flight to use up it's remaining fuel. This evening looked good from the ground but once in the air I could plainly see a storm front fast approaching and I had to make it a short flight. 

24 Oct 08 - Henri completed his training - This evening Henri finished his last flights to get his PPG qualification. The air was smooth and it was rather warm, unlike past morning flight's. Congrats Henry on your qualification!! 

23 Oct 08 - Glen's Testimonial - To Trike, or not to Trike? That has been the question.

I entered the PPG world with a foot-launch on June 2, 2004. By Aug. 30, 2008 the logbook showed 75 flights and 31.7 hours P/I/C.  I’ve had the good fortune to hook up with two active Fredericton area pilots, Dave and Bob. Bob is a confirmed trike flier and regaled Dave and I with stories and pics of the ineffable joys of flying off the Mactaquac head pond last winter on skis. Hmmm. Maybe there’s something to this.  Frank was offering a trike conversion course this month and that got me thinking about trikes and skis for my paramotor. I placed my order on October 7, it arrived on October 17, and I was at Frank’s the next morning, ready to be converted.  Naively I assumed that only a few hours of, of well, hmmm, of what, I’m not quite sure now that I look back. But, no matter, I’d be home that evening, fully converted. Guess again! Frank started out with some basics – and I mean ground zero. Talk about how fast you see what necessary instinctive reactions aren’t there. Quite humbling . . .  After a full day and with sunset fast approaching, Frank wanted to see a few more dry runs. They went OK. Frank took my gear for a flight test. How does he make it look so easy? Maybe he’ll deem it too bumpy. Not so: weather’s perfect, strap in! Two flights and they both go exactly according to plan. Hard to believe how fast I’m off the ground. Don’t notice any difference in climb rate – maybe there is, but I’ll need more experience to determine that.

Speaking of experience: I plead guilty to just wanting to fly. With some luck and good weather I’ve been able to blast off. Didn’t give much thought to the how and why, and for sure never worked at perfecting the technique. My attitude has since been adjusted as a result of Frank’s insistence that practice builds instinct, and that leads to consistent performance.

Sunday afternoon, after five frosty circuits that morning, I started writing down everything I could remember about the training. That  filled a page, but there were gaps where I couldn’t recall some details. It’s a word to the wise to realize how much is happening in the few seconds between “go with throttle up” and “we have lift-off”.

Trike flying was an eye-opener; another way of experiencing PPG.

Frank worked me hard, and that was great. I can’t think of a single aspect of his training I’d want to modify. Frank and Johanne are a team and made me feel relaxed. I don’t know when Johanne was taking all the videos and stills, but I came home with two CDs full of her work.

             I’ve never had an ego-booster like Frank’s “Good job, Glen.” on the video. Well, Frank, I’d say you did a good job. Thank you!

             - Glen Boyd, October 22, 2008

22 Oct 08 - The Weather Network video clip - If you did not get a chance to see the video on the visit I had from Shelly Steeves   from The Weather Network , here it is!  Just click on the link  Video

20 Oct 08 - Owen completes his Trike Training -  Owen had completed his last qualification flight's this morning to include a small XC flight to Apohaqui Bridge for his final flight. 

19 Oct 08 - Time for the electric gloves -  This morning it was frosty and although Glen's flight's were short he did complete an additional 5 flight's this morning. Glen had no problem launching the trike and is now ready to expand his flying experience on wheels.

18 Oct 08 - Glen takes Trike Training -  Another foot launch pilot decided to expand his PPG knowledge and purchased a trike. Glen started his training this morning and with a full day of practice of ground training he was ready to fly trike style!! Glen flew two flight's this evening and very impressed with how much easier it was to fly with wheels. Few Pics

16 Oct 08 - Henri flew this morning!! - This morning Henri flew the Mini-PPC for the first time.  We started early and Henri flew 8 flight's this morning.  Well done!!

14 Oct 08 - Owen & Ed flies this morning!! -  Owen had continued on with his flight training this morning. It was foggy until around 0945 hrs but as soon as it was cleared Owen was in the air and he completed 12 flight's.  Ed had also shown up this morning to fly his trike. Ed is a seasoned Foot Launch Pilot with many flight's, but has never flown a trike before.  I had a chance to go over with Ed the different take-off and landing procedures in relation to launching a trike. Ed had blown several attempts but eventually started to get the hang of it and was launching successfully. (Few pics)

13 Oct 08 - Owen flies on first day of Training!! - This afternoon, Owen started his Trike Training and due to his past experience as a private pilot he excelled in his PPG training.  By the end of the evening he had completed all of his training and was ready to fly. There was still 45 minutes of daylight left so I flew a quick demo flight to test the air.  I had asked Owen if he wanted to fly his first flight and he was eager to give it a try.  Owen had a very good inflation and before he knew it he was in the air.  He flew a 20 minute flight to include a perfect landing.  Owen will continue his flight's tomorrow morning.  Good work Owen!!

11 Oct 08 - Henri continues Trike Training - This morning Henri continued on with his training, the winds were low and it gave us the opportunity to practice glider handling skills.   Henri did very well at glider handling so we covered later on In Flight and Emergency procedures. Henri had wrote his Student Pilot Permit Exam and passed, he is now ready to fly his first solo!! Now it's up to Mother Nature to give us the low wind conditions along with co-in siding with Henri's work schedule.