Rob Schaffer
Cleared for Takeoff
I have not been around much here on the POA forums as an active poster in the past few years, but I still visit to see what all you guys are up to and the trips, posts, gatherings you do.
October 22, 2011 was my last PIC flight in General Aviation. I lasted about a year after my third daughter was born before I couldn't financially continue. 2012 I made the trip to Oshkosh with the POA campground gang and had a blast, spending a lot of my time at the Ultralight section. While there wasn't a Powered Paragliding vendor there that year I was intrigued by them and the compactness for transport, as well as the low and slow flying aspect. Shane was flying PPG locally here, so I met up with him and discussed some more.
So,... this years OSH'14 there was a vendor there and I was able to get a show special even though I wasn't physically at the show. The past few weeks since Labor day I have been training here locally, and it is a lot more challenging than those YouTube videos look. The science behind these paragliders is really cool and innovative.
After many sore muscles and exhausted nights, I finally solo'd this weekend and became PIC again! The most nerve wracking part about the solo is that it was just me, exposed and out there, doing something completely new and feeling so different. Kind of sickening like an amusement ride that moves you around in many directions, mostly due to the new sensation and high adrenaline! You can practice all you want hanging in the garage or in a simulator, but that first flight has high pucker factor! After the first flight, I made a second which was much more relaxing once I was in my seat.
So, without further blabbering, here is a link to my PPG solo video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj5_TZkj52w#t=49
October 22, 2011 was my last PIC flight in General Aviation. I lasted about a year after my third daughter was born before I couldn't financially continue. 2012 I made the trip to Oshkosh with the POA campground gang and had a blast, spending a lot of my time at the Ultralight section. While there wasn't a Powered Paragliding vendor there that year I was intrigued by them and the compactness for transport, as well as the low and slow flying aspect. Shane was flying PPG locally here, so I met up with him and discussed some more.
So,... this years OSH'14 there was a vendor there and I was able to get a show special even though I wasn't physically at the show. The past few weeks since Labor day I have been training here locally, and it is a lot more challenging than those YouTube videos look. The science behind these paragliders is really cool and innovative.
After many sore muscles and exhausted nights, I finally solo'd this weekend and became PIC again! The most nerve wracking part about the solo is that it was just me, exposed and out there, doing something completely new and feeling so different. Kind of sickening like an amusement ride that moves you around in many directions, mostly due to the new sensation and high adrenaline! You can practice all you want hanging in the garage or in a simulator, but that first flight has high pucker factor! After the first flight, I made a second which was much more relaxing once I was in my seat.
So, without further blabbering, here is a link to my PPG solo video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj5_TZkj52w#t=49