Flying an 80cc engine to 14,875 feet!

[@MarkHuneycutt]

Couple of things a lot of people will come to the comments for: 1) YES I have ADS-B Out meaning other aircraft and ATC can SEE me on their radar. I also have ADS-B In so I can monitor other aircraft myself. Yes, it's rare for a paramotor/ultralight pilot to have ADS-B Out but with the way I fly, I found it necessary to take the lengthy/expensive steps to make the air safer for myself and more importantly others. 2) I'm fully aware of the dangers of hypoxia. Everyone's body deals with the lack of oxygen differently. I monitored myself closely and accepted the risks. 3) Why am I so pumped that I went to 14,875 feet when I've been over 17,000 feet? I did it on an 80cc motor this time instead! 4) Gear - The paramotor is a Skytap Raptor with a Vittorazi Atom 80 engine, 140cm Vitto Helix prop, and the paraglider is a 22m Ozone Viper XC (The same full setup I flew for 7hrs 53mins straight with 4.6 gallons). I'm using Foreflight and Sentry Mini for ADS-B In. I'm using the Uavionix Ping 2020i for ADS-B Out. FUN FACT - I literally had a full tray full of Arroz con Pollo in that Scout Adventure Bag the whole flight that I didn't eat :( I picked it up right before the flight because I was hungry. With my gear setup, turbulence, and how involved with the flight I got, I just ended up eating it after.

[@kimosabbe50]

Wow. Amazing flight / footage ... thanks for this 👍

[@MarkHuneycutt]

yessir

[@jerrydelyea5820]

That was a sweet one Mark. Doing it on a nice unstable day is cool. I mean the clouds are beautiful. I have flown my PG to 14,777 feet once on a blue thermal day here in the Rocks in Canada, that was a fun one. Highest on my trike so far is 12,200 Cheers✌️🇺🇸🇨🇦

[@AndrewGlobus]

Great flight Mark! There are portable oxygen systems without cylinders, called Aithre, that make flying at this altitude much safer. The fact that the Atom 80 survived 150 min in full power mode is really impressive.

[@verve6000]

Another phenomenal adventure from you Mark, many thanks 🪂🪂

[@davidmack7018]

Mark Thank you climb every sky altitude perhaps some O² bottles to really get it up there perhaps once @ least hydrate potty and climb are you running premium fuel probably. Love seeing this Mark describe how accomplishing this makes you feel. Best David

[@lupnasty]

Epic flight. Also, you are a crazy person. In a good way. Side note: would be interesting to get a deep dive on your ADS-B set up.

[@dkumpula001]

Especially what you needed to do to have the Ping2020i make you visible to other air traffic without being placed in a category that gets automatically weeded out from their nav systems.

[@paramotorhead]

Another great Huneycutt vid. You’re one of the last oldschool pilots still regularly putting out content, I appreciate that Mark. I just got a Viper xc 20m, now waiting for a good weather window to test it, could be a while here in the UK.

[@MarkHuneycutt]

Appreciate it. That's the next size I'd get! I sold my 22m the other day and my buyer is very happy with it.

[@ParamotorNC]

It was incredible to watch the cloud development from above!

[@MarkHuneycutt]

Yea buddy

[@adibabi]

Love the vid dude, temps are going down because your mixture is richening as altitude increases

[@MarkHuneycutt]

Thanks man

[@skyflux]

You're my hero. Also, your old AC Revo is still running great!! Today it got its first evening flight now that the crazy Florida summer weather is over! Zoom!

[@MarkHuneycutt]

Awesome! How many hours have you put on it?

[@kevincollins8014]

Great video with some absolutely beautiful scenery. I'm pretty sure you're really close to where I used to take a motorcycle trip once a year St Rt 129 Called the Dragon. Anyway I'm glad to see you back on here posting regularly again and having fun.

[@jamesschaeffer1770]

Awesome adventure, Mark, thanks for taking us along!

[@user-tn1vc1xz5d]

I love your high altitude videos 😮

[@claverton]

great vid, wonderful images, it's like we were up there with you

[@csleclerc57]

Wow, spectacular views of those boiling Cu. Good job.

[@Maestro4862]

So awesome! Doing my usual, living vicariously through you ;)

[@Trike.]

It was cool to see how fast that cloud was building when you flew by it , nice aerial footage, and not look at me and being reckless. I always like your adventures .

[@MarkHuneycutt]

I appreciate it. I sped the cloud videos up so you'd really be able to see them building

[@78JCarter]

Really well done video. I appreciate you putting this together. I also run an Atom 80 and want to max it out.

[@iKenFlyPPG]

Being the clouds thousands of feet away from the earth is surreal and other worldly, something that can only be truly appreciate on a paramotor because there is no cockpit (no visual obstructions) combined with the slow speed, nothing else can give you the same effect.

[@markszostak5808]

Really awesome Mark. Amazing you were able to climb so high on an Atom 80. Are you giving paramotor flight instruction?

[@MarkHuneycutt]

Yes

[@michaelbartlett1589]

Love it!! Keep up the great content!!

[@lennyspurr790]

Absolutely beautiful up there, a lot jealous!

[@jonathannelson5618]

Cool video. That's serious altitude! Glad you didn't "biff the landing." :)

[@MarkHuneycutt]

You and me both!

[@FlyBabyFlyPPG]

Mark Amazing adventures and always solo, you doing great Dad.

[@PontusEgnell]

Beautiful views from up there! :)

[@BlackGryph0n]

What's your loading on that ViperXC? I have the 20 but I weigh 300lbs all up and I don't think I climb very well on it...

[@MarkHuneycutt]

I weigh about 155. I'm light right now. If I have no gear then I can be underweight on that wing. I just sold it. If I get one again, it'll be a 20m but I got the 22m to carry a lot of gear.

[@BlackGryph0n]

@@MarkHuneycutt Ah! We should have traded, haha! I want to get a 22 and I only have two flights on my 20!

[@MarkHuneycutt]

@@BlackGryph0n dang it! It sold within an hour of posting for 3900

[@1978sjt]

Love the Atom 80, and the Moster guys in my class are starting to see why. Carry it around on my back all day since its so light, Fill it to 3/4 for a cross country lesson, and i'm landing with 1/4 reserve, while the Moster guys are either empty, or being picked up by the support vehicle :p Everyone see's power, climb rate, youtube video's of experienced pilots doing barrel rolls etc, and want the big engine. I just want to fly comfortably. The upcoming EFI Moster may flip the script (other than being able to carry the thing around for hours on the ground), but for now Atom 80 is still the cross country king in my inexperienced opinion :D

[@AndrewGlobus]

With EFI, the Atom 80 can become even more fuel efficient.

[@1978sjt]

@@AndrewGlobus With EFI, the Atom 80 would loose its weight advantage, which may negate the gains in efficiency the system brings. Guess we'll just have to wait and see what Vitorazi come up with.

[@56932982]

BTW: Congrats to the three of you to the arrival of your little new family member. 🙂

[@MarkHuneycutt]

Thank you!

[@MrBrandoncal]

Crazy high man, congrats!

[@CalebJohnsonlivingca]

Legendary! Also, the mixture goes rich as you climb which also lowers temp. You might be able to get it higher if you can pre-lean motor on the ground (or rig up mixture in flight).

[@MarkHuneycutt]

I've thought about leaning it first, but I'd prefer to grab one of those inflight adjustments. I was impressed how the rpm barely dropped on the Atom 80 around 15k'. On my Nitro 200 at 17k, I lost almost 2000 rpm and had a very rich plug. I've always wondered what has the biggest effect on CHT, losing 50 degrees in ambient air temperature, or the richer mixture at high altitude slightly cooling the engine and bringing RPM down - I'm sure they both contribute but who knows which is greater.

[@CalebJohnsonlivingca]

@@MarkHuneycutt in that case, prolly mostly ambient air temp.

[@PeterCiesla]

Outstanding! 🤙

[@paramotorIRL]

stunning! ....the flight too!

[@rule1dontgosplat]

I keep coming back to this one and your 17000 foot flight. I got into paramotoring from skydiving and totally love the idea of being 3000 feet and above. I’m going to try 10,000 feet tomorrow. It will still be above freezing. In my A wing I should have plenty of lift.

[@MarkHuneycutt]

Sweet! Consider throwing up FlightRadar24 app and watching it for air traffic. I went to 8.5k yesterday and that's what I did.

[@rule1dontgosplat]

⁠@@MarkHuneycuttNever made it up this morning. The cloud base that was supposed to be 70% broken, never broke. Solid overcast at 2000 feet until 10:00. Also, realized during preflight I cracked a bracket when I butt landed last time. In addition to all that…. i started having a stomach bug at the airport. I’m so glad I didn’t get to 10K feet and have the squirts. That would have been a LONG glide back.

[@MarkHuneycutt]

@@rule1dontgosplat 😅

[@rule1dontgosplat]

@@MarkHuneycutti think i would have just had to replace the seat… 😂😂😂😂

[@oiyecant720]

Amazing dude. Fly safe

[@Superkuh2]

Wow. I had no idea clouds un-moving clouds could be so dynamic and changing like at 1:13

[@MarkHuneycutt]

I sped those two clips up so you could see them developing faster.

[@Superkuh2]

@@MarkHuneycutt Oh! Okay. That makes much more sense. Really cool regardless.

[@DAS-Videos]

It's seems crazy being in jetliner altitude on a small piece of cloth. What a view from up there.

[@paramotortheory]

Hope you do a video on the ADS-B out setup.

[@taylorgardarian]

Watched and saved.

[@scotthall3816]

Epic is all I can say

[@FLYNRYAN1978]

Love it!

[@MrBigjoecincy]

Sick. I'm always worried my atom 80 is overheating when I hold full power that long. I should get a temp meter for it.

[@SnoDawg]

KAVL !

[@DarthVapor151]

Hey Mark! How is that APCO Footrest? Makes your flights any better? I am looking into getting one, but have no idea how to mount it.

[@MarkHuneycutt]

Get one! Super easy to mount and comfortable. Helps on long flights for stretching and preventing cramps. Really affordable too on skysportsusa

[@DarthVapor151]

@@MarkHuneycutt Thanks I will def. get one.

[@Dishcanfly]

I’ll be up there soon.

[@adibabi]

What's do you weigh against the 22 viper xc. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the wing mark 👍

[@MarkHuneycutt]

155lbs. I'm very lightly loaded on the 22m. I did have 4.6 gallons gas and maybe 10-15lbs in the Scout front bag for this flight. It's an awesome wing all around. I sold it. When/If I get another one, I'll probably size down from my previous 22m to a 20m but even lightly loaded, you can throw it around and have fun. It was a great, stable XC wing.

[@Stellerex]

👀 Icarus 🙌☁

[@MichaelOnFire]

Is this a new flight or the same one as you did a couple months ago? How long did this flight take?

[@bobflyman]

That was truly awesome Mark. I was wondering about hypoxia, but you answered all the questions already! Some of that cloud development looked scary, but from what I could see no excessive turbulence above it. Amazing. Fly safe buddy! (I fly Atom 80, they ROCK!) PS What's the app you use on your tablet?

[@MarkHuneycutt]

Thanks! Foreflight

[@mikebrady2073]

How cold was it ??? lol

[@407-Driver]

Nice. What time of day did you launch??

[@MarkHuneycutt]

3:14 PM

[@tamir8224]

You forgot to buckle the helmet strap. Did Alayna stop flying?

[@MarkHuneycutt]

Yes, because she got pregnant

[@tamir8224]

@@MarkHuneycutt congratulations to both of you. Had a feeling that was the case.

[@CloudWalker33]

Nice one🤙🤙

[@AirForceFamily]

If someone (myself) wanted to start out in this and because of multiple back surgeries wanted to get something like a Xenic Trike to start out with with school is that the wrong way to approach entering the sport? I know that is not the cheapest way, but it looks like a great, safe setup. Any ideas are much appreciated. Great Video Mark! Thanks for the inspiration to get into this. I can’t wait to be part of this awesome community!

[@MarkHuneycutt]

That sounds like a great way to get into the sport! That's a quality trike as well. I wouldn't buy the gear first, though. Go to a school like One Up Adventures in Florida and they'll provide you the gear during training. You'll get to see everything and make sure it's what you want. A benefit is your instructor, One Up, also sells Xenit Trikes, if you were to go with them.

[@AirForceFamily]

@@MarkHuneycutt Thanks Buddy! That’s exactly who I have been watching and thinking about for school. I have some Cesena 172/182 Experience and also was on a hot air ballon crew for a few years. I am ready to do my own thing and enjoy life! Thank you so much for the great videos and just your authentic kindness. Been watching since before you guys got married but never commented haha. I wanted to watch and learn before taking that next step so I have an idea what to expect. Thanks again!

[@MarkHuneycutt]

@AirForceFamily Thanks for being a supporter for so long! One Up is a great choice. The prior experience will help with rules and comfort in the air for sure

[@lam19bo]

Is that a gopro hero 12 on your helmet ?

[@MarkHuneycutt]

9

[@rule1dontgosplat]

literally one of the first things i want to do is go to 10,000 feet lol

[@blainesellars1548]

Dude you love to get high well done sir top g of getting high 😅

[@scotthall3816]

How can I contact you sir i have huge interest

[@MarkHuneycutt]

[e-mail]

[@Theiliteritesbian]

What if you get mistaken for a jihadist? Hellfire.

[@davidmack7018]

Mark people commonly climb Mount Rainier in Washington state 14,411ft with no significant hypoxia problems though exertion can cause shortness of breath @ higher elevations , Duh. But you are fit I don't think the whole 2hrs above 12,000ft is a big thing especially for some young fit man like yourself with no cardiac problems.

[@MarkHuneycutt]

Right

[@davidmack7018]

@@MarkHuneycutt Mark, funny thing I just read your reponce;, time you gave it was exactly 2 hours ago to me that is our Father in heaven's sense of humor to us both "you gotta Love Him." Blessings David Me being a Scotsman my favorite humor dumb pun & innuendo. Well done Dad , our Father who's in heaven

[@davidmack7018]

@@MarkHuneycutt specifically referring to 12,000ft 2hrs or less test with O² sensor on finger can you make a flight plan & go to 17,000ft perhaps a small bottle of O² with or 4 I've seen then size of home depots bottles in plumbing section. Great day be sure you have good glucose and hydration on such.a day. I'd think with your experience you might go higher fresh oil in reservoirs perhaps AV gas or super high octane fuel check to see if specifics on running 2 cycle engines with higher octane fuel so no rub with engine. If I could I'd carry a scuba tank with O² and set up high flight wear warm gear use hot hands on camera so at freezing temperature they'd stay working.even hot hands for feet or in gloves. As per need. You are smart an experienced pilot so you have more snap then most, if you weakness take precautions. If your interested I do believe it would get plenty of views be sure several back up cameras if in where body warmth will protect malfunction.

[@Theiliteritesbian]

I'm higher