n_parastars2002

Parastars 2002

In yellow, Terry Alford, president of the Parastars and Don Jordan.

For its second edition, the Parastars convention was a total success. It confirms the great interest in paramotors in North America, while this discipline was born on the old continent, from an invention of NASA.

The count ended up with number of 74 paramotors!

A little history

Nothing is official, but with what we know, a certain Anton Tyukodi, apparently a Canadian living in Ontario bought his paramotor (a Jet Pocket) in 1989, after a visit in the Oshkosh's big air show. It'd be the very first in North America to have a paramoteur. He was a professional stuntman, he died last year in an helicopter accident. There is no information on the first paramotorist in the USA.

The paramotor was born between 1985 – 1986, the first gliders had 7 cells and were used more for skydiving, the engines weighted 40 kg and had no reduction gear… It’s recognized creator is named Leon Moureau, he lives in Seine and Marne, France, Hartig and another Frenchman, Gilles Marre, can also claim the paternity. Gentlemen, if you read this article, see what has become of your baby.

The clubs

Paramotoring is a relatively recent concept in the USA. Beside the Parastars of Florida, I raised at least 6 other clubs : The Dukes of Windsoar in Maryland, the Northeast Paramotor Club the Northwest Paragliding Club, the Southern Arizona PPG in Arizona, the East Coast Soaring Club, the Fantasticos in New Mexico, it represents a lot in a short period of time.

The "Limousine" driven by Rusty Blevins.

The Parastars (www.parastars.com)

-In France the paramotor pilots clubs form generally around a school and around an instructor, it's a little bit different with the Parastars : It is constituted by pilots with their own paramotors. Founded in 1999 by the president Terry Alford assisted by the dynamic Bill Hocker, it has about 40 members. The yearly membership is $126. It includes an EAA membership (equivalent of the ULM federation and planes combined), a yearly subscription to EAA experimenter magazine, insurance and use of the flying field

-This year, from April 11^th to 14^th 2002, the Parastars decided to beat their own record of the biggest number of paramotors flying at the same time, there're at least 5 nationalities represented by the pilots. The last year’s record : 53 pilots.

It has to be mentioned that a previous record had already been established in France, in Basse-Ham in Lorraine in June 2000, by the association Grand Air, presided by Jean-Claude Ludwig. While 93 pilots had taken to the air, the count of the paramotors flying was only 43, it seems that went to fly somewhere else....

Michelle Daniel, instructor at American Flyer, New Mexico.

The ratification of the record

This type of record isn't approved by the FAI (International Aeronautical Federation). World organization for the sports aeronautic, the ULM department of the FAI, the seat of which is in Geneva, Switzerland, is called the CIMA (International Commission of Microlight Aviation), it is presided by the Norwegian Tormod Weiby assisted by a battalion of vice-presidents and by a secretary of American nationality, named Thomas Gunnarson ( www.fai.org/index.asp ). All are amazed at the fast growth of the paramotor. The next assembly of the CIMA will take place in November 2002, I hope that in the meantime a resolution will be put forward to ratify the rules for this record, at the moment it only interests the Guinness book of Records providing a specific criteria is met.

The place of the gathering

It is in Florida in the region of the lakes, at Fantasy of Flight ( www.fantasyofflight.com) in Polk City by highway I-4, between Orlando and Tampa. Fantasy of Flight is the equivalent of the Ferté-Alais in France, it's a private aerodrome with immense hangars, real museums which shelter a collection of antique aircraft in perfect condition. We can see one of the Wright brothers there being next to a Flying Fortress B-17, to a P 51 Mustang or a Starliner Constellation. It’s owner, Kermit Weeks, isn't sectarian, all that flies is welcome… at the moment the rules are respected. He intends to learn to fly the paramotor and he has plenty of space to fly there. To go there when visiting from Europe, the simplest way is to go via Miami, to rent a car to drive the 450 kilometers (if in Miami you decide to go out in the evening, to the restaurant or to take a drink, please, don't miss the Art Deco quarter, Ocean Drive Avenue, guaranteed atmosphere).

The organization

-The participation fees for this event amount to $69 for the EAA members, $99 for the others and it includes : insurance, the Saturday night banquet and an EAA registration, the rest covers expenses.

A trailer pulled by a pompously baptized quad " the limousine " transport pilots and paramotors to the site of take-off and return. It is often driven by Rusty Blevins who is always thoughtful and cheerful.

Group picture

Adventure trike "a la" American.

As there is a possibility of camping (free of charge) on the spot, I brought my tent to shelter my material at night, port-a-potties and warm showers were installed, there's a fast food restaurant in the open air with very cheap prices, the organization is impeccable and I wonder why I went down to the motel 20 kilometers away.

The stands of the vendors are widely arranged on both sides of the entrance. The headquarter is an immense blue tent lent by Red Bull drinks and offer a considerable refuge from the heat in the afternoon which reaches 30 ° Celsius. Caps and T-shirts embroidered with the Parastars’ logo are for sale and of course, cool Red Bull drinks.

The Dealers

Inescapable, the French Canadian Eric Dufour, assisted by the fresh and charming Elisabeth (paramoteur@paratour.com). So smiling as beautiful, the instructor Michele Daniele, I give her 4 kisses. Francesco de Santis of Quebec (Fchek@aol.com) also an instructor in Florida. Most express themselves perfectly in French and are very involved in the organization of this fly in. I also met Laurent Carillon and his wife (lolo2@prodigy.net) two French people who live now in Florida, he is a paramotor instructor in Orlando. From Quebec also, another instructor, Christiane Moisan.

There are two names to remember : the French Canadians David Sigier and the American from Utah Chris Santacroce of Superfly ( www.superfly.com ) for their aerobatics demonstration in a paramotor (over a lake and equipped with a rescue) it was astonishing with multiple loops.

Japanese Kanji Watanabe of LibertyAir ( Kantaro@ehm.enjoy.ne.jp), Came from the country of the rising sun, he is also a friend of the well known Asian colonel Basir, the organizer of a yearly raid in Malaysia, this raid includes flying over the famous Twin Towers of Kuala Lumpur at a height of 450 m.

The Product and the Manufacturers

-The American Paralite USA (www.paraliteusa.com) represented by Jim Jackson who still uses the Italian Top 80 engine. This year he increases the power with more motors notably the RDM 17 and 22 CV.

Freesh Breeze, with the German Markus Muller, this adaptation of the Solo engine is a success confirmed by power and silence, as for the Monster, it develops a power of 80 kg with its carbon four bladed propellers.

- It is the same Fresh Breeze engine that equips Eric Dufour's very sturdy Canadian SD (www.Paratour.com) who this year completes its range with the RDM 22 CV for tandem and the small, powerful and light Radne engine.

The flying girls team : Michelle Daniele, Maria Ortiriega, Dawn Pistocchi, Cindy Adkinson, Catherine O'Gara, Susan Mitchler, Christiane Moisan.

Aifer, the Spanish, represented by Fernando Ortiriega. He uses different engines, the Solo, the Falcon 110 and the Cors'air. A Falcon 110 series exists with a titanium cage, this metal is lighter than the aluminum with a 4.5 density against 2.7 for the aluminum, but much more resistant (it melts at 1,800° instead of 600 °).

- Miniplane (www.miniplane.com), the Italian paramoteur, simple and sturdy cage, steel frame, the cage with a knockdown fiber hoop, equipped with the famous Top 80 engine, and the presence of the builder, the nice Diego Cecchetto and Daniella his(her) partner. His French retailer, Philippe Gruber was also present, he has a school in eastern France (Phone : 03 83 96 57 46).

Thierry Simonet, Back Bone constructor weares the Parastars team colors.

Thierry Simonet is a University of Technology graduate in Mechanical engineering of Aix-en-Provence (France) who created his brand. He is also the manufacturer of the Back Bone paramotors His retailer is the French Canadian Eric Sigier (www.airproparamoteur.com) who's also the father of David, the wonder in aerobatics. A new completely knockdown model has just been added to the Back Bone range, the “Voyager", solid and extra-light, in zicral covered with cooked epoxy paint, the engine is a Top 80 with a clutch, weight 19 kg with harness. Provided with a Back Bone propeller, the Top 80 static trust goes at about 54 kg. Breaks apart, it takes only little place in ones plane luggage.

- Aerolight USA ( www.aerolight.com) American distributor of Apco gliders and Fly paramotors.

- Scott Johnson, instructor at US Airborne ( www.usairborne.com) of Washington state and a Skycruiser retailer.

- Mike Campbell-Jones of Eagle Flight Factory (www.eagleflightfactory.com), Reflex, Genie paragliders and Vortex paramotors ( England).

- Alex Varv ( www.aerocorsair.com ), American distributor of the Cors' air engines. He greeted me in French with a strong handshake "how are you doing my friend? ".

- Bill Walsh, Adventure retailer a brand that is preparing an offensive on the American market (www.paramoteur.com).

- Andi McAvin, Mac Para gliders retailer.

- Sensenich Wood Propeller (www.sensenichprop.com) and Beres and Hirsch Propellers ( www.empnet.com / props).

The atmosphere

Bruce Erion, nice commentator and a TV presenter, helicopter and paramotor pilot, he was animated and entertained people with his comments, talented on the outdoor podium.
There is also the radio paramotor show "PPG Radio Show" animated by Michael Purdy and Cassey Caldwell, two Californian pilots with a portable studio control, please, don't miss it on (http://www.wsradio.ws), Be careful, plenty of action!

Even Harley Davidson had delegated two smiling ambassadors.

Every morning, a briefing from 7:30 till 8:00, then free flying until 10:30 am, there's a takeoff and a landing area which was respected by most people, the site facilitates a coherent organization, the "limousine" goes back and forth between both areas, there's a barbed wire fence that is no very visible so we have to be careful, some pilots launched running at top speed, but aborted their take-off within 3 meters of this fence, the wind is always coming from the right direction. Seen from above, Florida is flat, in this region the lakes decorate the landscape and it is all rather pleasant and safe, fields everywhere, convenient in case of engine breakdown. In the afternoon there was a siesta in the shade of the trees or, for the bravest, a mechanics seminar. On Friday afternoon, Thierry Simonet, Philipe Gruber, Gabriel Ludwig and myself took advantage of this spare time to escape, destination the magnificent bay of Tampa for a flight over the Skyway Bridge, a great flight but what a pity, the afternoon becomes foggy and pre-stormy.

The record

For safety reasons, having a radio is mandatory during the three planed attempts, 140 pilots are present. 12 nations are represented, England, Germany, Canada, Spain, Italy, Japan, France, Wales, Czech Republic, Sweden and the USA. Some of the foreign pilots have to lend radio helmets, the frequencies used aren't the same as in Europe. Safety officers dressed in yellow supervise the event.

In the morning on Thursday April 11th the wind blows too hard, impossible in the afternoon, the heat deteriorates, the threat of stormy weather, big cumulus are taking shape. On Friday the air is unstable, giving problems to take-off to some beginner pilots. On Saturdays morning at 8:00 finally an opening, a briefing, instructions of safety… then take-offs… at 10:00 am, we count and count again in the sky: 74! A new record, there is a great atmosphere with everybody happy.

A laterally floating under bar system, maybe to adapt to the waist size of the pilot!

My friend François Lagarde owner of a Fresh Breeze paramotor, could not come at the last moment, he'd have liked the atmosphere, he will have to wait for next time.
The next gathering to beat this "record" will be on June 21st, 22nd and 23rd, in Basse-Ham, France, with the Grand Air organization ( www.assograndair.com ), the ambitious objective: 150 pilots in flight.

The return

With Thierry returning to Miami`s Desertland hotel on Collin Avenue, nice 60s style with a restaurant and swimming pool plus a direct access to Miami Beach. On the way out we had no time to unpack our paramotors and especially as we didn't know if it was authorized to fly on Miami beach. On the way back, the temptation is too strong, on Monday morning 9:30 am and the plane is at 5:30 PM. Armed with the information given by the Floridian pilots, Who told us : " it's possible to fly by respecting the minimum height of 500 feet and at a respectable distance of the beach over the water, with takeoff and the landing strictly forbidden from the 1st to the 25th street, tolerated early in the morning or in the evening late from the 25^th to the 90^th. Be careful the numerous helicopters. "

Beyond the 90th street, it is not any more the beach of Miami but the one of Surfside. When we took off as high as on the 89th, applauded by the surfers, it was already more than 10:00 am, Lifeguards attracted by our gliders joined us with their quads and came politely but firmly to tell us we had to stop taking off or landing at this place… but that 100 meters farther on the beach (so after the 90th street and in Surfside), we were out of their jurisdiction. They then asked us how much a paramotor costs.

Thierry Simonet on Miami Beach (early in the morning).

Useful information

- Travel agency: www.directours.fr - Nadine (the lowest possible prices on the USA)

- The North American destination allows to take by plane two cases of 32 kg and one bag 7 kg of hand luggage for a total of 71 kg a person, it is exceptional, be careful not to exceed the weight.

- the American measurements are different but the surface of the gliders is also in m².

- Renting a car, the insurance is never included, you have to take a total assurance coverage and pay with a credit card, this system covers, in principle, the excess.

- Detailed report on the convention the Canadians in English and French on www.paratour.com by Elisabeth Guerin