Paramotor Flight #48 11-29-20 Taylorville Small Park Midday!

Got in a lucky midday flight yesterday! The wind forecast was showing strong winds picking up shortly before sunset, so unless the day was overcast for earlier flying it didn't look like yesterday would be flyable.
But around 11am I noticed it had been overcast so far the whole day, and it didn't look like there was much cloud breakage. Maybe once every half hour the sun would maybe try to peak out, to where you see the slightest hint of shadow on the ground. But then it would go away again.
It was around 45 degrees, and a bit more chilly as you gain altitude, but I have decent Winter gear now, so I've been comfy for the most part.
I decided, heck yeah...I'm gonna send it! I was able to make it to this LZ around 12pm...took my time setting up to carefully watch the overcast situation and feel the wind and watch the windsock. Everything still looked great. Cloud coverage was heavy enough all over the sky that it didn't look like there would be cloud breakage anytime soon. At 12:52pm I sent it!
Oh man, it was awesome! I had some wind to help launch, but once in the air it was that smooth buttery goodness air...no gusting at all. Had a great 19 minute flight. I decided to stay in the area, just in case the sun decided to suddenly pop out unexpectedly, because even though it didn't appear it would happen doesn't mean it wouldn't happen. The weather has got to be the weather...and you always have to treat it as being unpredictable.
I kept the flight short because I wanted the landing practice, which by the way I totally nailed and might be my best landing yet. I thought I'd be able to do more flying until sunset, and I needed to do something at home, so I packed up and went home to take care of things and fully planned on going back out to do more flying. But I also remembered the wind was supposed to pick up strong shortly before sunset.
I checked all the apps at home...and it looked like the strong wind was coming sooner than originally expected, and my flying was done for the day. I'm really stoked though that I was able to get in that awesome flight.
People in my area love seeing paramotors. Always waving, or stopping to watch. It's a great feeling knowing that you may have brightened up someone's day and maybe sparked a little interested in this fascinating and wonderous thing we get to do, flying a paramotor.
Even though I said I have decent winter gear, I'm about to receive an upgrade. I ordered a really nice flightsuit...which will keep me flying through the Winter. Oh yeah! Send it!

[@torqdoff]

Nice landing. 👍

[@sandorrendeczky8549]

Thanks, Greg! It's a great feeling when you're finally regularly nailing your landings.

[@jeffleisz8042]

What part of the country are you flying out of?

[@sandorrendeczky8549]

This is a small park outside Taylorville, Illinois....which is basically Central Illinois.

[@flierbill]

oh man that's nice, I flew my trike at the Para-Party this past weekend, and flew my friend's Macfly Atom 80, that thing is so light , I have got to get one, I don't have time after work to get a flight in these days. So happy for you, glad you are able to fly midday. peace !

[@sandorrendeczky8549]

Yup, the Macfly with an Atom 80 is really light. And as a matter of fact, I think my Pluma with an Atom 80 is even a couple pounds lighter than the Macfly. Mine weighs in at 42 pounds dry. The only downside is the climb-rate. But I was happy to sacrifice that, for the overall ease of handling of a lighter motor.

[@flierbill]

@@sandorrendeczky8549 Wow ! That will make me look more at the Pluma,

[@MikeSparamotor]

Nice one! Gotta get a microphone...I know you’ve got to be talking to yourself up there LOL!

[@sandorrendeczky8549]

LOL, actually I usually have music playing. The helmet I have isn't set up for commentary while flying, and the helmet I'd love to have is too expensive for me at the moment. It's probably still gonna be some time before I can start making videos like the other KZbinrs.