After finishing training I picked up my thor130 today, sitting in the shop adjusting the harness within about 2 minutes i said 'hang-on the cable goes pretty close to the prop'. its a shop overseas an they agreed and we thought best to fill the gap in the frame with netting but i was still a little peturbed. Your advice here is so simple but yet so spot-on. Thank you very much. I'm always sceptical of videos claiming to be the 'The One' but this reall delivers, great stuff cheers
As someone who has as yet to start in this hobby, it is great to see videos like this before hand as it gives some great and what seems obvious advice. Thanks for posting this.
BRAVO!!!! I really applaud this video and the logic that you have presented! You can certainly tell an experienced person, let alone an experienced pilot, by the logic and the manner in which they are able to teach others. I have subscribed to your channel just because of THIS VIDEO and the logic and presentation you have demonstrated. Thank you so much!
Great advise to close gaps in cage nets. And advising to run the throttle cable over your forearm to protect your hand from being pulled into the prop and to give better kill switch access.
Excellent advice Ian, I am one of the 99%, having spent a few years involved in H&S I have noticed the guarding is insufficient on quite a few paramotor designs and really needs addressing, your advice in this video is something that I will definitely do from now on.
Cn you re-upload this video with the volume pumped up. as other have states even with all the volume up on computer and on screen is quite difficult to hear you, I only hear whisper and every now and then recognize a word. when you get closer to the camera it improves a little. Good advice.
Awesome video. I have never had a problem with the way I currently hold the throttle, but your explanation of holding it above the arm makes complete sense. I will be giving that a try tomorrow for sure. Thanks for the lesson!
Thanks all for your comments. My apologies for the sound being quiet. I made this on an iPad and the sound is fine, even when I play it back on RU-vid. I'm guessing it's some other devices that don't play as clearly.
I don't participate in this sport but I can fully understand the points that your making and they make a lot of sense. Wish more people would take the time, as you, to enlighten on the dangers of the sport. Great video!
Good advice in regards to the throttle cable. I have one concern about your setup however. I can see that you have your emergancy handle on the same side as you throttle. In an emergency situation I would prefer to have the reserve on the other side so that you don´t have to dump the throttle handle first and then pull the reserve. Pulling it with the throttle handle increases the risk for lines catching. Having the cable next to the reserve handle can also increase the possibility of the cable accidentally getting caught in the rescue handle and accidentally releasing the reserve. The risk of these two scenarios are small but they are there. What are your thoughts regarding my concern?
It's good to see someone taking the time to look out for others. I think they should put some kind of D ring as a stop on the main lift web for the cable to run through so if it pulls then the trigger mechanism will only go as far as the d ring. However thank you once again for the video.
Over not under thank you great video. I'm thinking of purchasing a paramotor in a half a year or so and I'm trying to get as much experience and knowledge with paramotors before I start training classes.
I stuck the speakers to my ears and listened intently. I then ran out and tried this on my Fresh Breeze Simonini. Very cool but couple of differences: - First and probably most importantly, my throttle cable is so short that a single loop of it can (just barely) not reach the prop if the grip is pressed up against the cage, even considering prop flex at full power. The machine in the video has what to me seems to be an excessively long cable but I'm guessing (?) that that may be necessary on that machine to allow the cable to reach all positions of the brakes without pulling. - Secondly, there are no long vertical gaps in my cage netting but there is a horizontal gap between the upper and lower cage quarters. While it's still possible to get the cable through that slot, it's not very likely to go through at that angle. But assuming the cable actually went through, and then assuming it actually reached the prop, I believe the hand holding it would not fit though the gap and, depending on the motor speed, would probably cut the cable. Not sure of the forces involved and any hand subjected to such an event would certainly be injured badly but would probably not result in the horrific wound we saw. So I don't think the risk is much on my particular machine. But still .... Putting the throttle over my arm makes the stop button much more reachable and reliable, just as you describe. While I've never had problems finding that button when I needed to (something I practiced until it has become automatic), I have had situations where it got accidentally bumped or touched briefly by other parts of my gear. Having it protruding up from my hand as is described in the video feels much better, keeps it up in a reliable position where I can get to it and out of the way of other stuff. Can't wait to try this in flight but would also like comments from other FB Simo owners. Thanks!!
Great points on machine specific application. Don't discount the size of the space versus your hand though. At high speed you hand could easily pull through the gap. The resulting injury, even if not struck by the prop would not fun. Until that cable cuts your hand would be going on a journey. Now, that being said, it again depends on the machine and as you stated there is a lot less likelihood of the cable going through your opening due to the angle and position.
Excellent advice for that type of hand accelerator/cable system. The kill button is not ideally positioned. What if you run and attached the cable into and through the harness, so it's between the harness and your body?
Good call. Thanks. Must admit I have been surprised the prop isn't completely netted in, front and back; and that throttle cables aren't clipped in to a guide.
So, I'm not a paramotor pilot. I am consuming info to decide if it's for me. As I watch this video it occurs to me that a device used from scuba diving (in which I am a divemaster) may be the solution altogether to avoid throttle going into the prop. A retract lanyard which is used to keep octopus regulators, and things like slates (for communication underwater) streamlined. Retract lanyards can be found with varying tension that would keep the pilot from being fatigued when the retract is extended, and would pull it back to the pilot in the event it fell out of the hand. Just an idea!
The question may have been asked already, but why isn't there a more rigid protection at the back, like a steel mesh instead of what looks like a rope net?
Excellent advice. Thank you for sharing. Like you I've also flown everything from paragliders thru to B747s. Currently a 777 driver and recreational PPG and Yak 52 flyer. I've experienced a throttle cable passing back through the gap. It was not my motor and the throttle cable was too long. Fortunately it happened in the landing flare and I had pushed the kill switch moments before the loop passed back through the gap. The cable was nicked by the spinning prop and I did not know about it until after. I have a miniplane. The manufacturers should address the gap in the netting. Another real danger is a stray toggle getting sucked back there. That would potentially collapse the wing if it was not severed. I will adopt your throttle technique. Could you perhaps post a video on a suggested modification to the cage to close the gap? A poor mod may introduce potential debris into the prop of it come loose.
this flimsy netting with big gaps in it really puzzles me.it really is nonsense when the solution is so simple,,i am referring to the Skytap that has 400lb test carbon thread in place of that fish net and closes those gaps
Why is that particular throttle cable made so long in the first place? seems looking at it there that it is guarenteed to go through the cage and into the prop? The one on my HE is routed over the shoulder as you suggested but it is also a lot shorter. Thanks for posting the video.
I have to agree the low volume is an issue. That aside the advice is very sound (sorry, couldn't help myself). Sometimes all it needs is somebody to make you stop & think. I'll happily give this a go the next time I fly.
its kinda funny woody is why ive been getting into paramotoring and i ran across this and he already commented on it. this is really smart tho togasrs glad i could have seen thank you :)
Thanks for the important warning. May I ask a question? Why is there a dangerous gap in the netting? Is there a reason why that gap can not be closed? It just seems that the risk could be totally eliminated with proper netting, and appropriate attachment points for the netting at the motor-mount and frame junctions.
ken1139, most paramotors have gaps in the netting in that area. This is not significantly different to any other.machine. Yes, something can be done but similarly we can all do something in the way we hold the throttle too. The fact that it places the kill switch in a different position is a further reason for following this procedure.
Thanks for the kind comment Rob. I never planned this video as such. One day I was feeling glum about the fact that someone in my community had become yet another accident statistic that I just grabbed my iPad and spoke to it with whatever came into my head. In fact rather surprisingly it is all unscripted and done in one take with no cuts. Unfortunately I didn’t realise the limitations of the microphone on the device so it is rather quiet. It is possible to hear it clearly if you do 2 things... firstly turn the device volume up and secondly turn the app volume up. It seems that if the viewer doesn’t realise this and only turns one up then many would rather diss the video rather than realise they were actually the limiting factor themselves! When I made this video 2 years ago I expected it to be seen by maybe 50 people tops. If it saves one person from hurting themselves then it was worth taking the flack from those who can’t work out how to control their audio!
Dam if Woody likes it I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR IT..not just watch it..Okay I got the room real quiet and I agree with what you are saying this is why i love youtube..Thanks but repost if you can wit a higher volume Tanks mate.
