How high is high?

[Turbo]

Howzit all,

I have recently got involved into the powered Paragliding sport as an alternative to flying fixed wing and microlight type aircraft. This came about ever since i was taken for a flip in a microlight for the first time, while i was always spoilt in flying my cheetah which is a closed cockpit plane. After this experience, i realised that microlight flying expresses more of a "freedom of flight"feeling in your gut than a closed cockpit type aerie. Well whats next i asked -- surely none can fly like superman or a bird YET - so the closest thing to this surely - should be the Powered Paragliding route -- and so journey began.

Hunting for product and pricing and accessories and license fees etc -- i found that this was definitely the next form of flight i wanted to experience and fly myself. So i got into it - i now fly this amazon sport, and its unreal how "free" this form of flight is, its low and slow or HIGH as you like -- now the question is - how high....

yes we all know about hypoxia and oxygen above a certain level etc etc -- but i stumbled across a product which i now import and the only reason i do, is because of its accolades -- did you know that a PPG pilot by the name of Ramon Morillas Salmeron set the current world record for the highest altitude (RPF1TM) is 7,589m (24 898 ft) obviously with oxygen on a PPG machine which was normally aspirated of 220cc and 2-stroke!!

When i heard this i researched it and found it true - check this out for impressive!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHs0WNy33kg

This is the official, and current world record - as found on FAI.org web page -- i now am the proud owner of this exact same machine!!

[bryan]

I think in my little bit of experience the height does not get to one so much up to about 7000 ft in a trike. After that the cold sets in and the time it takes to get up there. Remembering that we at the coast find that 6000 ft is high whereas inland it is a lot different. I can only speak for a trike and a little Skyranger which i fly but on our trip to Namibia last year we spent a lot of time at 8000 ft and it was a breeze whereas here at the coast that is pretty high. The heights you talk of are rather daunting since oxygen and cold would definitely be factors

[Blue Max]

Freedom, Yes.
24,000 ft; no thanks.
At which location was the video taken.
I had a visitor the other day on the farm. He strapped a engine to his back and got airborne with a parashute-like contraption.
Two of his fingers on his left hand is missing.!!!

[Big-D]

Must say I am also drawn to PPG's - Looks like great fun.

24000ft, too high for me - Been to 11000ft sitting pax with Demon while wearing shorts and that was cold enough thanks

D

[D2O]

Beating the current world altitude record solo in a microlight is on my bucket list.
According to the FAI, its currently 9720m (31889 ft) set in September 1994 by a french guy by the name of Serge Zin

[nicow]

Beating the current world altitude record solo in a microlight is on my bucket list.
According to the FAI, its currently 9720m (31889 ft) set in September 1994 by a french guy by the name of Serge Zin

I'll join you

[Turbo]

I know the guy with the missing fingers, it happened at Grass Lands last year - a mate of mine Terence was there when it happened - unfortunate, but hats off to him - he is still flying.

Cold for sure -- but the height is not scary at all - its the WIND and thermal activity or cloud suck i would be poop scared of - this is something that will teach you how insignificant us humans really are when you fly a PPG - it is very sensitive to weather conditions, thermals, turbulence and sink, especially when flying low.

But scenic - like you cannot imagine!

[Alkemac]

When the angels tell you...

[Turbo]

Angels tell me nudda -- only when i hit the ground running.

[phislett1]

I believe bear grylls broke the altitude record in a powered paraglider.. I saw it on TV, he had a turbocharged paraglider and flew it above mount everest.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiv4XJ17_7Q

[Turbo]

Nope it was not recognised as an attempt, for various reasons

1) the engine was turbocharged - and the current and existing record as listed on the FAI page (FAI govern all records in the world) is listed in my post
2) The equipment that Bear Grylls used did not confirm the exact altitude as it failed due to the extreme cold.
3) Bear did not take off from sea level - he took off at over 1000meters above

Wikipedia also confirms that bear grills attempt was exactly that - an attempt which failed.

www.fai.org -- facts are all there for all the different genre's

[phislett1]

Yea I guess having a turbocharged engine makes it a whole lot easier

[Turbo]

mmhh well you talking to me -- so i guess i can only agree .. i wonder why that is ...