New image in the aircraft spotting photography contest

Please view in HR to see the paraglider’s brand. …
Paraglider photography picture

A wing, a helmet, a backpack and probably some nerve, the necessary ingredients for the 500ft descent.

Canon EOS 450D

www.christopherjonesphotography.co.uk

Equipment, Eastbourne, UK

13.10.09: Since the accident at Pule in 2007, Sam hasn’t had any paragliding flights worth mentioning. Mainly a couple of ‘top-to-bottoms’ at Pule and Edenfield. So, Sam was in need of a BIG easy flight just to get his confidence back up and to break his 25 minute airtime record.

We went to Rhossili in South Wales from Friday 25th – Sunday 27th September and Sam managed a 1 hour 20 minute flight on Saturday afternoon. Sorry but there’s no acro or fancy flying, just a chap finally enjoying a relaxing long flight that was well overdue.

21.09.09: Sam successfully flew his Eggmotor on Saturday afternoon. This was our third day of attempting to get him airborne. We had tried the day previously and the Friday before that but the wind was always just a bit too strong. We did have a minor mishap prior to the flight whereby a line ‘glanced’ the prop tip and split it slightly. Fortunately our two new flying buddies (John & Mick) reckoned the damage was minimal and recommended a quick fix with super glue and some PVC tape to hold the wood ‘tight’ during curing.  We checked the wing’s lines too and there were no signs of damage. The prop tip looked ’solid’ again within 20 minutes and so Sam had another go. The video below is the end result of everyones passion and commitment. Well Done Sam!!! The first of many more flights, lets get some hours in now ;o)

A paraglider flies high in the deep blue of a summer sky.

Pentax ME

www.christopherjonesphotography.co.uk

Paraglider, Eastbourne, UK

06.09.09: Matt @ Xoar Props has kindly sent through the thrust data sheet for the PJD-P 34X10. To achieve 40kg thrust (as per ‘egg’ spec.) then the engine needs to be pushing about 10kw (13.5hp) @ 5200rpm. If you just wanted a competent slope-assisted launch machine then 30kg thrust will be available with just 6kw (8hp) @ 4600rpm. Or, if you are a slightly heavier pilot or just wanted more power then a heavily modded GX200 pushing 13.5kw (18hp) @ 5600rpm will develop 47kg thrust. Something for most people there I think ;o)

Em 2007 o piloto também havia conquistado o vice-campeonato

Martinho Morais (Pouso Alegre), Cristiano Ricci (Poços de Calda) e Tony César (São Lourenço) comemoram, respectivamente, os títulos de vice-campeão, campeão e terceiro lugar, no Circuito Sulmineiro de Paraglider 2009 - Foto: www.euvoosulmineiro.com.br

O piloto Martinho Morais foi vice-campeão do Circuito Sul Mineiro de Parapente 2009, no último dia 23 de agosto, em Carmo do Rio Claro. A cidade mineira foi a sede da última etapa das provas que, por medidas de segurança devido ao mal tempo, foram canceladas. Mas nas três primeiras etapas, respectivamente, Andradas, São Lourenço e Pimenta, os voos rolaram.

Entre 149 competidores, Martinho conquistou 2958 pontos em provas de maior distância percorrida e triangulação em menor tempo. O piloto ficou em segundo lugar, perdendo apenas para Cristiano Ricci.

O piloto, que  ocupa a 11º posição do ranking da Associação Brasileira de Parapente (ABP), ficou em segundo no Sul Mineiro em 2007. Mas em compensação, terminou o ano como Campeão Mineiro pela ABP e ainda fez parte da equipe de pilotos que representou o Brasil no prestigiado XC-Open Carpinteria, na Argentina, conquistando o 2º lugar na categoria Serial Class.

1º Etapa, Pico do Gavião, Andradas – 1 e 2 de maio

Primeira Etapa realizada no Pico do Gavião, em Andradas http://www.euvoosulmineiro.com.br

A primeira etapa do Circuito Sulmineiro de Praglider de 2009 foi realizada em Andradas, no famoso Pico do Gavião. Segundo informações do portal euvoosulmineiro (.com.br), haviam 114 pilotos que enfrentaram uma decolagem tensa, devido a condição fraca. Durante a prova, o tempo melhorou. O piloto Martinho Morais ficou em 8º na contagem geral.

2º Etapa,  São Lourenço – 19 a 21 de junho

A primeira prova foi um bate e volta até Caxambu, com cinco pilões na rota, numa condição sem vento e térmicas fortes. Martinho ficou em sexto. No segundo dia de provas, o piloto não ficou entre os 10, numa prova decida em seis pilões e numa condição semelhante ao dia anterior. Na contagem geral, o piloto de Pouso Alegre ficou em 8º lugar.

3º Etapa,  Pimenta – 24 a 26 de julho

No primeiro dia de prova, um bate e volta na cordilheira, com goal próximo a Pimenta, Martinho não ficou entre os 10 primeiros. No segundo dia, uma prova de 53km sentido à cidade de Ilicínia, e com dois pilões, Martinho ficou em terceiro. Na categoria Open, o piloto ficou em quarto.

 

Segunda Etapa - São Lourenço http://www.euvoosulmineiro.com.br

4 º Etapa,  Carmo do Rio Claro – 21 a 23 de junho

A quarta etapa, infelizmente, não aconteceu. Devido à falta de condições nos dias previstos, os organizadores, por medida de segurança, cancelaram as provas. Segundo o portal oficial do circuito, no primeiro dia foi o vento lateral que colocou em risco a decolagem dos pilotos. No segundo dia foi o tempo nublado e ameaça de chuvas. Final de prova, Martinho Morais repete a façanha de 2007 e é vice-campeão do Circuito Sulmineiro de Praglider 2009.

* Fonte de informação e fotos: http://www.euvoosulmineiro.com.br

O piloto Martinho mostra troféu ganho na 3º etapa do circuito em Pimenta

590 – 1:08:43

高田橋(相模原市〜愛川町)

相模川に架かる橋で、相模原市と愛甲郡愛川町とをつなぐ道路橋。
現在の高田橋は昭和50年に竣工したもので、橋長342m。3径間連続鋼箱桁橋が2連で構成されている。
舟運のころからの由緒ある場所に架けられた橋で、大正13年に初めて架けられたが、翌年には洪水で流失し、再び舟運に頼ることとなった。
2代目の橋は昭和4年に完成した。現在の橋は3代目のものである。

〜高田橋への行き方〜

高田橋は　E139.20.0.4　N35.32.15.0　になります。

１．中央高速からの道順です。

八王子Ｉ．Ｃで降り、Ｒ１６の八王子バイパスを通り、橋本五差路をＲ１２９（上溝バイパス）方面に進み、その先の立体交差を右折です。（立体なので、実際は左折方面に進路変更し、くぐって右折します）あとは道なり走って、結構急な長い下り坂を下りきって、右にカーブすると、ほぼ現地に到着です。

そのまま行くと橋の手前に交差点があり、その左角に、ぽつんとマンションがあります。そこを左折すると、すぐ右に河原に降りる道があります。だだっ広い河原の、右の方（橋の下の付近）であやしいチェロキーの集いが開かれていると思います。

２．東名高速からの道順です。

横浜町田Ｉ．Ｃで降りて、相模原方面（右へ）に行き、Ｒ１６をひたすら直進し、相模原駅入口交差点を左折してください。途中のＹ字路は左方向です。（左手前に郵便局があります）そして、その先の左に横山公園があり、そのまま直進して行くと上記のＲ１２９立体交差をくぐりますので、直進です。以降

856 – 0:16:46

Csak erős idegzetűeknek!

16.08.09: We’ve been at it again but mainly with Sam’s motor. I have flown twice now with it and although slightly underpowered (since had timing mod fitted) it is proving viable, especially as Sam is a lighter pilot than me.

Also, both motors have been powder-coated, made visually more appealing and we’ve also modified the exhausts so that they don’t protrude beyond the cage.

Custom modified RLV exhaust.

Powder coated and interim netting idea.

波崎海水浴場

波崎海水浴場は、環境省認定の快水浴場100選に選ばれた美しい海水浴場です。
砂浜がすごく広くて、遠浅で水もきれいな海なので人気があります。

駐車場近くに「サンサンパーク」という休憩施設があります。
ここにはトイレや温水シャワー（有料：3分100円）やトイレがあり、外にもシャワーが１つあります。外のは温水じゃないと思います。
飲み物の自動販売機も設置されていて、値段も100円〜120円と普通の値段でした。

「サンサンパーク」の隣が駐車場になっていますが、ここから水際までは結構な距離があります。
荷物運び役のお父さんは大変だと思いますので、必要最低限のものを持ち込むか、みんなで手分けして運んだ方が良いと思います。

サーフィンやボディボードなどのマリンスポーツで訪れる人も多いところですが、サーフィンなどのマリンスポーツエリアと海水浴エリアは分けられているので、お子様連れのご家族でも安心して楽しめます。

137 – 0:37:58; 154 – 0:30:19; 164 – 0:32:17; 196 – 0:30:39

Date with Renachan and Ebichan to Futako Tamagawa [2009.08.13]

Futako Tamagawa (二子玉川) is an unofficial term for the area surrounding Futako Tamagawa Station on the Tokyo Den-en-Toshi Line  and Tokyu Oimachi Line  lines in Tokyo, Japan. The name often refers to the Tamagawa and Seta districts of Setagaya Ward, but there is no precise definition. It is colloquially referred to as “Futako” (フタコ) or “Nikotama” (ニコタマ), from an alternate reading of the first three kanji characters in the name.

二子玉川（ふたこたまがわ）は東急田園都市線・大井町線二子玉川駅周辺を中心とした地域の通称。住居表示でいうところの世田谷区玉川・瀬田の一部にあたる。「フタコ」、「ニコタマ」という愛称で呼ばれることがある。

1076 – 0:15:02; 521 – 0:24:28

Today I go for a date with Ebichan and Renachan to Enoshima, Chigasaki, and Hiratsuka Beach area.

I do the flight and take off from Tougahara area near Hanamizugawabashi at Hiratsuka, and fly to and over Enoshima Island. In the afternoon fly to Oiso Long Beach and Southern Beach at Chigasaki.

“Enoshima Island” is one of the famous tourist spots in Kanagawa Prefecture that do not so far away from Chigasaki beach.

Enoshima (江の島) is a small island, about 4 km in circumference, at the mouth of the Katase River, which flows into Sagami Bay in Japan. Part of the city of Fujisawa, it is linked to the Katase section of the same city on the mainland by a 600 meter-long bridge. Adjacent to the closest beach to Tokyo and Yokohama, the island and the nearby coast are the hub of a popular resort area.

Benzaiten, the goddess of music and entertainment, is enshrined on the island. The island in its entirety is dedicated to the goddess, who is said to have made it rise from the bottom of the sea in sixth century. Enoshima is the center of Shonan, a resort area along the coast of Sagami Bay known for its scenic beauty.

The island is the scene of the Enoshima Engi, a history of the shrines on Enoshima written by the Japanese Buddhist monk Kokei in 1047 AD.

.

“Southern Beach,” is a section of the beach in Chigasaki inspired by the Southern All Stars a famous pop singing group whose lead vocalist Keisuke Kuwata hails from Chigasaki. The symbol of Southern Beach is Eboshi-iwa, a large hat-shaped rock that is visible from the coast. The coast of Chigasaki is famous for surfboarding and sea bathing. In particular for Japanese surfboarders, Chigasaki is a place that surfboard started in Japan.

945 – 0:57:25; 167 – 0:29:57; 475 – 0:25:40

Today I go for a date with Ebichan and Renachan to Chigasaki and Hiratsuka Beach area in Kanagawa Prefecture. In the morning, the weather in Hiratsuka Beach area, not so good for flying because the wind is too strong and rain start falling.

Before lunch we heading for Chiba Prefecture, with the hope that we can fly together in Chiba Prefecture.

After having lunch in Parking Area, we prepare for the flight but as the weather not so good the wind blowing strongly, we can not do the flight, just have a fun with the glider ♡.

1510 0:44:39

2370 0:24:05

Today I go for a date with Renachan and Ebichan to Chiba Prefecture.

In the morning the weather is cloudy but good enough for flying.

The temperature is around 18-22 Celsius/Centigrade, with the wind about 2 – 3 m/sec.

In the afternoon after have a lunch with renachan and ebichan, I take off again with my dudek synthesis from Area 51 at Yoshikawa-Chiba Prefecture, and fly above Nagareyama area.

In the afternoon flight, we can not fly long, because the weather change and very windy with the wind speed about 5 – 6 m/sec. So we just fly around and around.

2158 0:32:57

239 0:39:13

Today I go for a date with Renachan and Ebichan to Chiba Prefecture and Nagareyama, Saitama Prefecture.

Since morning the weather is cloudy but good enough for flying.
The temperature is around 21-23 Celsius/Centigrade, with the wind about 2 – 3 m/sec.

In the afternoon after have a lunch with renachan, ebichan, and another members, I take off with my dudek synthesis from Area 51 at Yoshikawa-Chiba Prefecture, and fly above Nagareyama area for about 0:41:51 at 1312 feet. We can not fly long, because the weather change and rain start to drop at around 15.00 p.m.

Lately, I’ve noticed something on my drive to work. There’s a certain spot in Vallejo where people seem to like hanging out. Nothing out of the ordinary, except for the fact that they’re hanging out … in mid-air!!! For what seems like hours on end…

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's ... a human?

I’m so jealous. I want to join! Take me with you!!! There was only one paraglider on the day I finally managed to have a camera on hand, but in the past I’ve seen maybe 3-5 at a time. Quite an amazing site to see, actually. You can find them on Columbus Pkwy. just across from Solano College’s Vallejo campus. I started to drive up St. John’s Mine Road to try and meet these paragliders. There was a sign at the bottom of the hill that said “No Trespassers” and I thought ‘Hey, I’m a journalist … taking risks is what I do!’ But then, after driving maybe half a mile up a winding road, there was a big sign that said: “Trespassers will be ARRESTED.” Yeah … a little too risky for me, especially with two speeding tickets under my belt in the last month I couldn’t turn around since there wasn’t any space so I put it in neutral and coasted back down the twists and turns in reverse. I was proud of myself when I reached the end.

In conclusion, I left my card in their “Paraglider News” box at the bottom of the hill. I hope they call! (707) 428-4440. (Ask for Matt Larson ) Until then, I shall gaze at this awesome hobby? activity? sport? … with desperate envy:

So peaceful ... so eco-friendly ... it's no Willy Wonka flying elevator, but darn close! One day... that'll be me! I hope... (707-428-4440!)

Today I go for a date with Moechan, Ebichan, and Renachan to Chiba Prefecture.
I take off from Area 51 at Yoshikawa-Chiba Prefecture, and fly to east of Tokyo area; around and above Katsushika Shibamata area.
Katsushika Shibamata is a very popular downtown because as a home of the famous film star Tora-san, the film star in Otoko wa tsurai yo.

(男はつらいよ, “It’s tough being a man”) is a Japanese film series starring Kiyoshi Atsumi as “Tora-san” (寅さん), a kind-hearted vagabond who is always unlucky in love. Spanning 48 installments (1969–95), it was considered by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the longest movie series in the world.

All of the Tora-san movies had the same basic plot. Tora-san, a traveling salesman, arrives in some remote town planning to peddle his wares to the locals. He meets a local woman, usually a damsel in distress, and tells her that if she is ever in Tokyo to look him up. He then heads back home to Shibamata, Katsushika, Tokyo and drops in unexpectedly on his family who run a traditional sweet shop. Sure enough, the damsel in distress ends up visiting Tora-san in Tokyo, and he falls madly in love with her. However, in his shy efforts to win her heart, he usually ends up inadvertently helping bring her together with an old boyfriend or another man; Tora-san invariably ends up heartbroken at the end of the movie. Each film featured a different leading lady, called a Madonna, and a different region of Japan. (There were also episodes that featured scenes in Arizona and Vienna.) Two films were usually made each year, one for summer and one for New Year release.

Today I flew my dudek synthesis for 0:46:17 at 1945 Feet.

03.06.09: Big smiles all round!!!! The third test flight at Pontefract Park on Sunday morning proved to be really positive.  3 minutes 55 seconds worth of fun ;o)

I performed a slow figure ‘8′ pattern and roughly calculated a climb rate of +105ft/min. At 92kg ‘naked’ I am over-weight in terms of what I have specified the max pilot weight to be on the DIY web site but I still managed to ‘break free from the bonds of Earth’. Wind was light, 2-7mph varying N-NE. Also, I suspect the power to be slightly down as I have noticed ‘air’ escaping while hand-cranking the prop through the compression stroke. This doesn’t happen on Sam’s motor and it could be because I didn’t ‘lap’ the valves on the prototype but did on Sam’s. Anyway, here is the footage.

Paragliders fly whilst picnickers eat atop Beachy Head on the South Downs.

Pentax ME + Fuji Superia 100

www.christopherjonesphotography.co.uk

Picnics & Canopy's, Eastbourne, UK

Today I go for a date with Ebichan, Moechan and Renachan to Enoshima, Chigasaki, and Hiratsuka Beach area.

I do the flight and take off from Tougahara area near Hanamizugawabashi at Hiratsuka, and fly to Oiso Long Beach and Southern Beach at Chigasaki.

“Southern Beach,” is a section of the beach in Chigasaki inspired by the Southern All Stars a famous pop singing group whose lead vocalist Keisuke Kuwata hails from Chigasaki. The symbol of Southern Beach is Eboshi-iwa, a large hat-shaped rock that is visible from the coast. The coast of Chigasaki is famous for surfboarding and sea bathing. In particular for Japanese surfboarders, Chigasaki is a place that surfboard started in Japan.

I flew my dudek paraglider for 1:00:58 at 270 Feet in the morning, but as the wind go stronger no one can fly in the afternoon.

Fly above Southern Beach – Chigasaki.

My older brother Ishiwata Akira-san.

Oiso Port.

This is Japan Highway Route No.1. between Oiso Port and Oiso Long Beach.

Oiso Long Beach.

Flight near Oiso Prince Hotel.

In the space of a month the valley has changed to a deep, vibrant green.  As the first of the blossoms fall, hedgerow, pasture, wheat and barley weave a patchwork of colour with the sunshine yellow of the oilseed rape.

Once the nettles start they seem to explode everywhere.  The uncurling strands of bracken are beginning to shoot up too. There are more and more bunnies, woodpigeons and songbirds.   At some times of the day the baaing and bleating from the fields full of new born lambs can accurately be described as loud.

There’s an upsurge of human activity too. The White Horse birdmen are back in force, launching themselves off the hill at huge peril to life and limb but swooping, soaring and gliding in what seems such a gentle and relaxing pastime.  A conversation with a visiting French pilot reveals that injuries and deaths are far more frequent in his sport than generally realised.  In fact he describes it as a “cover up” and it reminds me of my own brief skydiving career.  I only did for a year and despite all the official statistics I saw two people die and several more badly injured.

With my feet firmly on the ground I scour up and down the face of the hill watching the paragliders, trying for the most dramatic picture.  Soon though I am drawn down to the bottom, a magical place where somebody has mowed the wide pathway alongside the tumbledown barn.  I wonder who?  I discovered that the work last month on the gorse was funded by Natural England.  That means you and me, the taxpayer. I don’t object to that but I do wonder sometimes who sets the priorities for public expenditure.  There must be dozens – well, at least a few local residents who would volunteer their time to keep the valley in order.  There’s no forum through which to organise this though.  Neither West Dorset nor Weymouth District Councils impress me with their efforts at involving residents.  Discussions I participated in about restoring the White Horse in time for 2012 have ground to a halt. Perhaps this website could help.  Add a comment here if you would volunteer for the care of Paradise Valley.

The barley was only planted at the beginning of the month.  The tractors reappeared and I was amazed to see what was planted back in November being ploughed in.  It seems that slugs had devastated large areas of the winter wheat.  I’m not bothered by creepy crawlies generally but the thought of such a huge army of slugs is the stuff of nightmares.

Climbing the hill up any footpath there are snails everywhere.  I’m reminded of the posters in the vets warning of lungworm that dogs can catch from such slimy creatures so Carla and Capone have a new trick to learn, something else they’re not allowed to do. I wonder whether a dozen of these is the same as a dozen delicious escargot?  I won’t be experimenting so if anyone knows the answer please enlighten me!

In the valley the grass is growing lush and an early morning walk leaves my trousers saturated with dew.  Wild flowers are springing up and the fields in the very centre of the valley are now smothered in an idyllic flush of colour: buttercups, daisies, speedwell, clover and many, many more.  I’m sure that I’ve seen a few orchids as well but my plant identification kills are sadly lacking.  All I can do is wonder at the beauty of it all.

Every day I’m in a state of wonder.  Often, even in the most perfect weather, how I seem to have the entire valley to myself.  This is no complaint because I’m certainly not wanting an influx of visitors or for the fair weather dog walkers to become more hardy in the wet or the cold.  The valley is though a source of great joy and peace and that is why I share it with you.