I've been a professional fixed wing pilot for almost 25 years and understand weather pretty well (on a macro level), but this lesson in micro weather phenomenon was explained in a way I hadn't heard and was well done! I'm just getting into PPG and my years of experience in aviation has taught me to be humble enough to know what I don't know and this video was another reminder that there's still lots for me to learn.
I moved from Indianapolis to Oregon a couple of years ago, and I took the opportunity to get freeflight training. It was hugely worth it. I really got a ton more comfortable in thermal air, learned how to feel the air out, and learned a lot about predicting the weather. Turns out, "midday" flying varies quite a lot! I figured any clear mid day would be thermic and turbulent, but it turns out that there are a lot of conditions that can shut thermals down and make you wish you brought your motor with you. But you also have to watch out for the region you are in. Weather patterns vary a ton from region to region, and people who are experienced in one place can get into a lot of trouble if they assume that conditions will be the same somewhere else in the country.
Finally someone that isn't afraid of making videos because of others opinion. Too many in the PPG community prefer not to talk about certain topics in order to maintain a certain "image". subbed. keep the videos coming.
I live in the desert. About a year ago I tried to to fly on a cool overcast day with nil winds at about 3:30 - 4PM which I thought would be perfect. It's cool, it's overcast. I figured thermal activity should be light. As soon as my feet left the ground I took the express elevator up to about 150 feet straight up. It then dumped me out and I think I fell more than 50 feet. Being new at the time I semi panicked and tried to go around to land. I hit the same lift once more which shot me up again only to dump me out and let me fall again. That didn't do anything to ease my discomfort and at this point I gave up trying to go around, I just wanted on the ground again and I knew I wasn't going to get there fast enough because I kept getting lift and then getting dumped so I just turned in the general direction of the field, killed the motor and ended up getting dumped into a patch of huge tumbleweeds. Took me awhile to untangle my wing and work up the courage to fly again but as an inexperienced pilot I was lucky to walk away from that unscathed. I learned thermals don't need HOT air to kick off, they just need air that's "warmer" than the surrounding air no matter what the air temperature is.
This channel is epic. What a wealth of knowledge delivered flawlessly. I am sure this school is one of the best in the world. Keep the videos coming. I am grateful. Thank you!
So glad I stumbled across this video. I have been watching a lot of weather related stuff, this one with your simple illustrations made them all make sense! Subscribed!
Keep the videos coming you do a really good job. I really enjoy watching videos that teach about the weather I’m a pilot here in Virginia mountain areas
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. The way you explained that has definitely added to my learning. it has also confirmed that to increase my skills as a PPG pilot it will be good to learn freeflight.
Those who have subscribed to Kyle for years understand that it was a long and slow progression for him and his primary experience came from free flight in mountains. I agree that someone new might not know all of that. Concerning moisture in clouds, my biggest "wow" is the fact that a cloud can hold literally tons of water, yet they float.
It took me several years to progress to it as well, with a lot of paragliding. Yeah, you wouldn't look at a cloud and think it's a heavy object, but... "According to scientists, the weight of the average cumulus cloud is 1.1 million pounds"
Excellent video, and sound advice. I live in Arizona, and our mid day thermic conditions are some of the strongest and sharpest on the planet. The dry air, and extreme heat can create some of the most challenging mid day conditions. One of the first strong thermals I experienced was a 1300 fpm updraft velocity and it was at 4:30 in the afternoon in late September! This is well within the 2.5 hour before sunset window. Mid day flying here is a challenge for the most seasoned of freeflight pilots and not something I'd ever recommend for a motor pilot even with a good deal of experience.
I'm thinking it's worthwhile also mentioning the type of wing one flies with. With PPG reflex wings works very well, but trying to thermal with it really is a bad idea. Even dual purpose wings may bite you in an instant. A video explaining the dynamics of flexwing VS (let's say) EN-A rated free flight wing may be very valuable to many pilots.
I'm a newbie with about 20 paramotor flights and I find your videos very insightful. I appreciate the "behind the scenes" level of detail as to what is going on. This video belongs in a "must see" for all beginners... along with your other videos on taking off and landing.
I just bought a new quad paramotor and took training. Ive taken 5 flights and two of them were bumpy and made me nervous. It was just after sunrise and right before sundown. I can't even imagine paramotoring mid day. Scary.
I very much appreciate the depth of your coverage of these issues. I’m remembering what you have said and it’s giving me improved understanding of the sport. Thanks so much. Eric Farewell, who I very much respect has spoken very highly of you, says a lot about your skills! Thanks again!
I friend of a pilot we trained a few years ago made them for us. He made one for the Tri-State Skywalker club pilots also. We only have two. I was going to get a bunch, but they were pretty expensive, I real in the $50 range. I didn't figure many people would be interested in a $50 tumbler.
Preach! Not enough ppg pilots understand weather! I'm blown away at how little USPPA only pilots know about weather. It's literally life and death! Please go learn about weather!
Please post links of videos that you think will clarify dynamics of the atmosphere 9:23 and how pressure and temperatures work together to create unstable conditions.
Your understanding on the weather is great. I think pilots need to study material like this especially before they attempt to thermal. However, your video kind of downplayed the importance of kiting which I disagree with. Kiting in midday conditions will teach you 10x more than watching youtube videos on the weather. Watching videos on weather will teach pilots how to pick the right day. Kiting will teach pilots how to control and keep the wing open while thermaling. Id like to quote kyle O, "if you can kite in it, then you can fly in it." When kiting midday, you can feel the cycle of thermals forming around you and passing you. That will teach pilots how to time landings and takeoffs. It will also teach them their personal limits on how strong of thermals and gust they can handle. New pilots take note. If you cant control the wing on the ground then you will just be along for the ride in the air.
Totally agree, I don't mean to diminish kiting. I think kiting is the foundation for almost any skill you are trying to learn or improve. I was knee jerking to the idea that, "If you can kite up a wall, you can fly midday. If someone says otherwise, you need to find a better instructor." (I'm paraphrasing). I also agree that you can watch and read until you're blue in the face, but it's no substitute for experience, air time and a mentor.
Thanks Matt. I agree Mid-day is no joke. If you are not studying weather intently then you have no business flying midday. Or even flying for that matter. We have too much data so easily accessible to not be ever learning. If you don't understand weather you cant understand flying.
I think I know the SUPER pilot's video you refer to. He is SUPER skilled but SUPER SUPER irresponsible, with a SUPER largemouth + SUPER ego. Seems to think it's funny to start on the ground, I have seen several accidents due to this in my short time in the sport. Shame he is on RU-vid. . anyway subscribed. Have my own channel called "ParaTard"... English humour
From a paramotor pilot and former paragliding instructor, this video and advice is excellent and applicable for all pilots. Kyle O'Glee put out a video recently where he was flying close to the ground with his paramotor and Zeno in very gusty turbulant air. He was not being a wise sky god in my book. Draw your own conclusions re that opinion.
Ian Hornby Kyle is a very seasoned paraglider and Paramotorist and tells pilots not to do this unless they have proper training. He’s very informed on weather conditions too.
His video isn't the one that caught my attention. I've never met or flown with Kyle, but he seems to take good care in describing his flying as "not for beginners" when it's appropriate.
