More kiting practice:
The kids went down to visit some of the ranch livestock:
Sassy!
This is Buddy, the other dog.
Good Shabbos from Blackhawk Ranch!
Day 296: Blackhawk Powered Paragliding Training, Day 6
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Monthly Archives: May 2014
Day 295: Blackhawk Powered Paragliding Training, Day 5
We had really windy weather today, so there was no flying, but we did practice kiting with the motor on:
The kids continued hanging out with the ranch dogs:
Can you tell that we’re sick of the homeschool whining?
I tried a couple launches tonight, but I was unsuccessful. Maybe tomorrow.
Day 294: Blackhawk Powered Paragliding Training, Day 4
This morning, I had my first untethered flight. Since it was past the recommended first three hours of the day to fly in the smoothest skies, Joe had initially said we would just practice running with the motor on, but towards the end of my run he had me go to full throttle and I took off! In the video, I made fellow student Dave nervous with my slow rate of climb, but from where I was sitting I wasn’t even close to hitting the trees:
The air was a bit bumpy, and I must say this was the most terrifying experience of my life. Joe was having me practice turns, but after the third time flying over the LZ I yelled down “I want to come down!”, so Joe brought me down. Hopefully my next flight will be in smoother air.
This afternoon, I took a nap and the kids worked on their North American geography as well as triangle type identification:
I’m looking forward to another great flight tomorrow!
Day 293: Blackhawk Powered Paragliding Training, Day 3
Another beautiful day at Blackhawk:
This morning we did more rope tows:
M found a dead squirrel to photograph:
Tessellation work continued in math class:
During the afternoons, when the wind is too strong, we have a break. I cut and assembled the new bunkhouse wall using the 2x2s we brought with us to Blackhawk. We used a sheet as a temporary divider:
I also installed the locks that keep the fifth wheel in the bed of the truck:
…And installed the kids new medicine cabinet:
Yet another ranch dog showed up:
This afternoon we practiced kiting with the motors on:
Mark gives me some tips:
Will out first flight be tomorrow? Stay tuned!
Day 292: Blackhawk Powered Paragliding Training, Day 2
Today we did our first tow launches. We are attached to a rope that runs to a high speed winch that pulls us into the air, cresting at roughly 50 feet above the ground.
There’s still a lot of running to be done as I generate enough forward motion to inflate 28 square meters of wing:
A little bit of lift:
Unfortunately I didn’t depower the wing on landing so it fell on top of me. I understand this is called a “gift wrap”:
Flying high! The first time was terrifying, but the second time was much better:
Touchdown!
The kids loved the ranch dogs, Sassy and Buddy:
Coming back from the tow run with my wing:
The kids worked on tessellations in math class:
As the winds picked up, Mark helped me practice the reverse launch:
Again, towards sunset, the winds died down and I was able to practice the forward launch:
Tomorrow we will practice launches wearing the motor.
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