Hi Mark - thanks for the tip about the Met Office - Balloon Forecast - very applicable for my single seat flexwing! There are a couple of lines at the bottom of the forecast that detail wind shear and thermal strength. Initially these looked a bit scary, do you take notice of them? Keep the vids coming, they are all the flying I do when its windy and rainy!

@markallisonparamotor

2 ай бұрын

I tend to fly around sunrise and sunset outside of winter so thermal strength is usually weak or nil. I do fly in wind shear but it's good to know, and will have a look when at the field to make final decision.

You can make even the shittiest of flights look good. Clouds just look like white fluffy fun bags!

@markallisonparamotor

2 ай бұрын

Haha, any flight above the clouds is a good one in my book!

Here in San Diego (USA), and when I flew general aviation aircraft, I was always worried about other planes flying through clouds when they shouldn't be there (I would be flying IFR with air traffic watching out for us). The clouds would form up and pilots without options would descend blindly hoping to get under them. Even in partially cloudy skies other planes will happen on you very quickly. I just paraglide and paramotor and because I happen to live in a very sky populated area, you never know what will come your way...and really have to watch for helicopters! Glad you made it OK and thanks for the video. Best wishes!

@markallisonparamotor

2 ай бұрын

Yes it's not something I want to repeat, thanks for dropping in. 😁

That looked a little bit tight Mark, I know at low speeds it's easy to manoeuvre but I would worry about obstacles, power lines etc. Awesome footage though. Great as always.

@markallisonparamotor

2 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍 Yes it was clear one minute and then in no time almost closed up. I don't enjoy those moments.

"paramotor flight rules uk" no video exists, please make one.

Hi Mark, I live in the Offords on the edge of St Neots. Must be you I see fly by now and again. Where is the best place to learn paramotoring up this neck of the woods 🤔

@markallisonparamotor

2 ай бұрын

Mike Chilvers at ufly4fun or Clive Mason at cmparamotors are your best bets near here. Feel free to pop over to Little Gransden airfield for a chat when the weather's good one evening.

@chrisbarker5336

2 ай бұрын

@@markallisonparamotor thanks Mark, will do 👍

Hello Mark, interested to know if St.ives Rugby club allows usage of their field?

@markallisonparamotor

2 ай бұрын

I was a guest of a guy that is a long-time member of the club, so I would think not, sorry.

Non-flyer myself but this seems a little sketchy. They may be thin clouds (at times) but isn’t one requisite of VFR that you can clearly see other aircraft as well as the ground?

@markallisonparamotor

2 ай бұрын

Looks worse on the GoPro but I could see the ground.

@andy.robinson

2 ай бұрын

@@markallisonparamotor but perhaps not other aircraft

What are you calling strong winds?

@michroz

2 ай бұрын

Sorry to interfere. I'd say: there is no exact number. For me, "strong" wind is when you have an uncomfortable turbulence (this could be as low as 4m/s, depending on direction/obstacles/sun activity) or when you are not having enough progress flying against it (this equals to your wing max speed less the unbareble groundspeed).

@markallisonparamotor

2 ай бұрын

Anything more than 12mph, forecast was up to 15 gusting 20 later that morning.

I presume you have a GPS - preferably with a map - to show the ground speed and position and thus to estimate the wind speed, ground progress, safe course, etc without a visual contact with the ground, haven't you?

@markallisonparamotor

2 ай бұрын

I could pretty much see the ground at all times, but yes I do have a GPS and know exactly where I am at all times.

VFR Flight rules. Just what are they for flying in clouds again. lol.

@markallisonparamotor

2 ай бұрын

Clouds were very thin and I could see the ground when looking directly down.

@DrTheRich

2 ай бұрын

So if you find yourself suddenly above the clouds where you can't find any gap anymore, you should just stay there till your gas runs out and fall out of the sky or something?

@clubsnapperuk

2 ай бұрын

@@DrTheRich due diligence and pre-flight checks, He knew the clouds were there. he didn't SUDDENLY find himself above the clouds at all,, Mark loves flying above the clouds and gambling there will be a hole does not always pay off. This time it didn't. It's okay seeing the ground "" But can anyone else in the air see you, VFR Rules for cloud cover are for collision avoidance and not whether you can see the ground.

Imagine Boeing 777 pass 😂

@markallisonparamotor

2 ай бұрын

Not at those altitudes. 😊

@1978sjt

2 ай бұрын

that would not be a fun experience with the wake those things throw out

Yes I'm first