Mike Robinson talks about the new HE 120 engine

With an exceptional power-to-weight ratio, proven reliability record and a one-year manufacturing defect warranty, this one interesting engine!

PPG for Morons – Safety Suit

Paul Anthem – has a novel idea to make you a safer pilot!!

What’s new at the Paratoys Wing Department. (A lot!)

Lots of new wing options at Paratoys!

Paratoys Fly-in – 2010 – Confirmed

The Paratoys Fly-in is definitely on for late January, 2010.  Bigger, better and at least as much fun as the legendary events from past years – you do not want to miss this one.  More vendors, more International participants and a “Round-the-Lake” race for prizes and prestige. So, mark your calenders for January 28 – 31, 2010.  Hope to see you there…

Online signups at http://www.Paratoys.com later this week.

Paramotoring in Mexico Video

The ParaToys crew and I went to La Salina, Mexico for a fly-in.
Go here to watch it in HD

Hand Vs Prop. Making a better paramotor

Prompted by a recent arm vs prop accident whose aftermath I was present for, I’ve created this to show how a simple fix can dramatically improve your results. More information is available at the bottom of the page on http://www.FootFlyer.com.

Powered Paragliding can be very safe or very dangerous. Unlike its risk-mate motorcycling, safety is almost entirely up to us, the paramotor pilot.

Always get thorough instruction from a USPPA certified instructor who uses the syllabus. Make sure to ask.

Spot Landing Risks

What a useful skill it is to be able to land where you want. Anybody who flies anything should know how to put their aircraft down when power ceases. We PPGers are lucky in how small of a place we can alight, even landing on tiny targets like Frisbees. But trying too hard for that spot can be deadly.

Here are the reasons why pilots hurt themselves when trying just a bit too hard for an exact landing target.

Read full article on FootFlyer.com

Volunteer Pilots Sought in Malawi

We got a request for help from the Chairman of the Wildlife Action Group International in Malawi. They’re putting up an electric fence to protect the village areas from crop raiding elephants (see www.wildlifeactiongroup.org) but can’t close the fence since 10 elephants are still on the outside. So they’re looking for a skilled paramotor pilot volunteer could help coral the elephants into the preserve.

Read entire article on FootFlyer.com.

PPG for Morons: Fire in the Sky!

A powered paraglider pilot catches fire in the air and plummets to earth…. Like most of the videos, this was shot in three different cities. A big thanks to Don Jordan and the crew at his fly-in.
Thanks also goes to the talented, intelligent, diverse, and above all, patient group of flyers known as the Indy Airhogs who always, I’m sure, wear tennis shoes with their suits.
The catchy, bluesy song is by PPG pilot Scott Adair. Turns out he’s a talented musician also. Hopefully, he’ll send more songs for me to use.
The other music throughout is from Kevin Macleod who generously offers his music for free on his website Incompetech(dot)com.
Troy Hartman is a parachutist who has done many wild and crazy stunts. The chute was lit with a flare gun, after it burned up, he fell and pulled his reserve. You can find his risky behavior on his site Troyhartman(dot)com.
Yes, I actually did light my shoes on fire and yes they got hot, burned the shoe laces and singed the hair on my skinny, white legs.
Ron Hogan played the concerned friend at the begining of the video (Ron has a PPG parts website).
Jeremy Mann was the guy in the coffin (he was probably dreaming about computers).
Dave Halcomb portrayed the priest (he’s also the Midwest PPG instructor and he’s in a rock band).
Ola Wesstrom (Indy Airhog) is quite often the camera man by default (He and his wife, Faith, go to EVERY fly-in possible) because he’s always there AND he’s intelligent and practically good at everything– makes you sick, doesn’t it.
The camera-man is usually the person I give the camera to and say, “Push this thing with the red dot- it’s the record button.”
Any special effects are done with a crayon and a piece of construction paper, because computers have me baffled.
Aerial footage is shot by me holding a camera mounted on the end of several small pieces of PVC pipe that I assemble after I launch. I sit on the pipe and control it with my knees. It is very unnerving. In this video’s scene I was being bounced around by an approaching weather front. You can see the threatening clouds around me.
After the pond scene, I stunk like pond scum for two days. Women were avoiding me but, for some reason, frogs were following me everywhere.

Enterprise Log: SEA-SLC

On the move again, we’re underway through Montana, enroute to Salt Lake City where we’ll end the week’s adventure with a soaring trip. This is an incredible slice of earth, growing as vertical as anyplace I’ve been. Mountain’s here are weathered, rounded by past submersions and millions of years worth of wear, making them well suited to the trees that blanket much of their surface. Further east we’ve found it has gotten more tundra like but is still green with large softish peaks all around. It’s a contrast to the, un-eroded, newer mountains (well, newer in geologic terms) we left in Seattle.

read entire article

Video of the Week – Two incidents to discuss…

Check out the first incident at 5:40 — The second incident is at 6:44.

Oblivious – the latest PPG video for Morons

Runs great!

Paul Anthem Joins WorldPPG – First Conversation

PPG for Morons creater Paul Anthem brings his humor and observations to WorldPPG – enjoy…

Paul’s YouTube Channel

Branden Oberlin’s Close Canyon Call

This was one of those flights that went very bad but it could have been so much worse…

Brandon’s Crash Video
http://www.vimeo.com/5198036

Beach Blast Bloopers

\pər-ˈsist, -ˈzist\

Function: intransitive verb Etymology: Middle French persister, from Latin persistere, from per- + sistere to take a stand, stand firm; akin to Latin stare to stand. To continue to attempt launch, to fly, reverse or forward launch: to go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning.

WorldPPG Gann Ranch Fly-In Interviews Part 1

Brian Thivierge has created an excellent video for those of you who are considering powered paragliding and for those of us who are passionate about the sport.

The Video was taken at the ParaToys Ranch Fly-In

WorldPPG Gann Ranch Fly-In Interviews Part 2

On Any Sunday

PPG pilots have a lot in common.  Many scuba dive, fly airplanes and more than a few ride motorcycles.  Here is one of the best motorcycle movies ever made:

|Click Here to View Entire Movie|

Paul Anthem joins World PPG as a regular, content contributor

As World PPG, formerly “The Powered Paragliding Show”, gets back to regularly scheduled programming, we a very pleased to welcome Paul, “PPG for Morons” Anthem to our humble group.  Look for Paul’s creative and downright funny input into the mix.  Meanwhile, check out some of Paul’s work:

Jeff Goin talks about his fantastic showing at the World Air Games 2009

Turin Italy – Let the Games Begin!

|Click here for Jeff’s World Air Games Blog|