Flytec unveiled their Connect 1 smartvario at the 2015 Thermik show in Germany. It has a touch screen and a range of sensors and connectivity options. The first 100 ‘basic’ units were sold to testers at a special price in March. The test team are feeding back their thoughts to Flytec, who will steer the instrument’s development […] …read more
Apco First III basic / lightweight harness
Apco have been making the First starter harness for 20 years now, and the latest mark III incarnation now has quick-lock buckles and an improved webbing system. It is designed for first flights and popular with schools, and so has been built to withstand the rigours of training, yet is light too at just a smidge over 2kg, with a large […] …read more
El Speedo Wanaka 2 harness
Czech firm El Speedo have released the new Wanaka 2 paragliding harness, which has a semi-solid seat plate that the company say almost ‘wraps itself’ round the pilot, making for a comfortable and secure ride. It’s named after one of the company’s favourite flying locations, and is based on the successful Chogori pod harness, having a similar […] …read more
Bad Situations Avoided… Learning From Mistakes.
Aside from Industry News Websites like US Paramotor News, there are many groups and resources out there for Pilots to share their experiences with others. Some of the most popular being Social Media Groups and open forums where Paramotor Pilots can post freely about their flying experiences. “The PPG Big List” Yahoo Group or “The Paramotor Group” on Facebook are just a couple of examples. Some of these groups host literally THOUSANDS of members from around the globe and topics cover just about anything you can imagine. The United States Powered Paragliding Association is another great resource with a dedicated section for Pilots to report incidents. Recently, we have seen more and more pilots sharing about how they handled or avoided a bad situation while in flight. These topics have received a tremendous response from the community and have helped many people become SAFER PILOTS. Below are just a couple of examples of posts from Pilots who care enough to say “I shouldn’t have done this, and here’s why…” All of us at US Paramotor News would like to thank these Pilots for sharing their experiences with others. This site is primarily dedicated to Industry …read more
Source:: US Paramotor News
Air Design Rise 2 SL, high-end EN B
Sharp handling and the ability to fine-tune your thermalling using AirDesign’s ‘brake-shifting’ make this a standout in the high-end EN-B class, writes Ed Ewing My first flight on the Rise 2 SL was in Colombia, from a grassy launch in the Cauca Valley, close to the town of Roldanillo. I was quite nervous: new wing, […] …read more
Mac Para Charger review, Paramotor Wing
Jeff Goin tries out the new Charger, a full reflex wing aimed at newer pilots It was very easy to launch – very easy. Light wind reverses, where backwards walking is needed, were easy. Even after letting it fall back slightly, it would recover overhead nicely once we scored some thrust. Trimmers were set about […] …read more
Nova Mentor 4 review, high-end EN B
An increase in trim speed, glide and more refined handling make this a worthy successor to the Mentor 3, finds Franz Altmann The Nova Mentor 4 is the latest in the super successful Mentor series from Nova. Topping Euro XC leagues it offers the promise of performance with security. In Cross Country 159 (May 2015) […] …read more
Gradient Aspen 5 review, EN C
Marcus King discovers an intuitive-handling wing at the top of the C-class “It’s got no lines!” was my first thought when we unpacked the Aspen 4 for review back in 2012. In the air, the wing was like a motorbike with a very tight throttle, responding immediately to small inputs. We concluded it was one […] …read more
MacPara Elan review, EN C
At last, a real EN-C wing!’ Alpine guide Kelly Farina said on the Elan’s release. Mac Para say it’s, “The new relaxing way to enjoy paragliding.” Marcus King finds out for himself I reviewed the EN-B Eden 5 last winter and enjoyed its dynamic direct handling and secure, forgiving nature. After the review I chatted […] …read more
Cross Country 159: What’s in the latest issue…
Hold your breath! Matt Gerdes is about to take you deep, deep inside the mind of one our most breathtaking cousins – the wingsuiting Base jumper. Imagine hovering silently just near the summit of a massive peak, with a near vertical 3,000m wall beside you. Not in the rattling chaos of a helicopter, not sitting in […] …read more