New project for Bonwick

Build one of these babies and buzz the streets of Luton...

 

Heh, I could do that ..

The more I see of these and what they can do now compared to what they
were doing only 5 years or so ago is astounding. More powerful motors,
better parafoils, better control etc etc.. I could really consider one
... but maybe next year when I'm 50 ..

 

Don't think I haven't considered it.

They're not expensive to buy and you can fly them out of Brampton
which is only 20 miles from home. I've got the idea logged for future
use when I've got a few quid to spare for spending on silly games.

 

Zymurgy, Mandy and myself drove up to the escarpment above Castleton in the
Hope Valley during EOSM. One can watch the Paragliders hanging out over the
edge some 20-30 metres away. Looks great but the powered version looks 10
times better and much less restrictive in terms of finding a good location.
Big sandy beaches with shallow bays look like a good place to play.

 

That is a BAD idea.
If you land in the water the canopy and all of the associated bits of
string will conspire to drown you. And they have succeeded too many
times in the past to make it a sane risk..
Rather stay on land and accept the occasional bent limb.

 

I'd be wearing a buoyancy aid and possibly an inflatable life preserver!

I've always dreamed of doing a HALO jump. In the wonderfully barking USofA
there is a Zone which operated 30,000ft drops.

 

And how will that help when you are wrapped up head down in half a mile
of nylon cord with a waterlogged canopy sitting on top to hold you under ?

Sounds more like fun.

 

Have you really thought this through? Of course not, it's you. But with
any horizontal velocity, the canopy is going to overshoot where you splash
down and not going to simply flop on top.

 

and it weighs little. As soon as you get into the water release the
Capewells and depart.

 

I suggest that you read some accident reports. This is a serious issue.

 

Yes yes, if only one life could be saved...

 

Where?

Not here
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/index.cfm
though it does make *interesting* reading.