I Believe I Can Fly

My good friend Jim Childs captured me flying over Salton Sea, few minutes before my accident.

After a successful surgery, I am recovering very well. It seems I still have a couple of weeks more with crutches, which means no flights or updates here (my development computer is upstairs and it is hard to go up and down, or stay sit for such long time).

Meanwhile, I am still thinking and studying about my best trike options. I like several designs (like the TrikeBuggy Bullet) but I am probably going to buy the GrassHopper from Airparamo, as I like the portability and overall features. Any comments or suggestions here are welcome.

Regarding the site, I am pretty happy with the current numbers and with so many pilots joining from outside the US. Also, thanks for the feedback and good words about it. Please keep sending your wish list to me!

Safe flights to everybody!

Alex

  Tom Scott flying around, few days before the show. Photo: Alex Souza

After almost a day and a half driving with my friends Josh and Jim, we arrived at Salton Sea on Sunday, 17. Although tired, we had time for a good 1h flight.

Following days were horrible with high winds and raining never seen before in California. I was able only to fly twice in 4 days.

Last Saturday, a week before the Paratoys fly-in starts, I flew about a hour. Unfortunately, it seems I got cross winds in my landing, hitting hard the ground, which turned in a broken leg. Sadly, my vacations stopped before the beginning of the fly-in. I thought I had a bad knee in the past. Now I know I DO have a bad knee.

With my friends support, I flew back home the following day. Now, I am waiting for a surgery next Monday.

Meanwhile, thanks a lot for your support. PPG Places has already more than 50 places shared and almost 100 pilots have joined!

Safe flights,

Alex

Photo: Alex Souza. The PPG Places logo decorating my new trailer. 

Weather still wet and cold here in the Pacific Northwest. As you already know, not able to fly since last October, I am very excited for my 2 weeks trip to Salton Sea (Paratoys fly in) with some friends from here. I am hoping to start my 20 hours driving time Saturday, 16th or Tuesday, 19th, according Josh’s agenda (he is a friend who is going to share the trip with me).

To make the trip more “exciting”, I bought a trailer and a vinyl cut machine to decorate it. You can see my first result in the above picture.

Regarding PPG Places, I am very excited with the last days. Few weeks ago, I was interviewed by Wil Jones, from Talking PPG Radio, a great Internet show at www.talkingppgradio.com. The interview will be posted in a few days, I believe. Also, the number of registered pilot increased substantially in the past days. We are almost 90 pilots at this moment. Nice!

With the increase of pilots joining, I think I will spend more time with new updates and features. In fact, I just enable a basic one few minutes ago. Now, all new members will receive a welcome email when they enroll. More to come!

Thanks you all and happy new year!

Alex

A beautiful beach in La Push, WA. Photo: Alex Souza. 

Hello all,

Today I just started my experiences with Facebook development. Although I am still figuring out what is happening wrong sometimes, you can now share the places you like with your Facebook friends.

At a place page, on top of the map, click the Share button and let the world knows a good spot to fly.

I hope I can fix the bug (sometimes, instead of the picture and info about the place, no picture appears and the message is wrong) and implement new Facebook features.

Meanwhile, no flights from here due the weather condition (cold and rain). At least I could meet another friend in person last week. I traveled to Forks (no vampires there) and visit Tom Scott, from Olympic PPG. He helped me with some cables for my heated glove (which I hope I can use soon).

No more news at this time besides the countdown to the Paratoys fly in in January. California baby!

Fisher Island, near Miami South Beach. Missing the warm weather. Photo: Alex Souza. 

No flights from me since a few weeks ago. The weather has been wet and cold, and I am not brave enough to face it. However, I am preparing myself for my new conditions. I have bought already a heated glove (man they are expensive) but, I am still waiting for a rectifier arriving from Germany (the thing to connect the gloves).

For the next weeks, I am planning to travel to Forks (no vampire stories, please) to meet Tom and having him unbend my frame. More raining days, for sure…

Meanwhile, the great conversation topic here is the coming soon Paratoys fly in in California, next January. I am planning to go and spend a week or two there.

Regarding PPG Places, I am postponing everything till I install Windows 7 in my computer. Also, I have to admit I am re-thinking if it is a worthy effort as I was expecting much more traffic at the website. Why bring more features (I have a cool list) if people are not coming? If you are reading this, let me know what do you think.

Saying that, enjoy the weather, wherever you are!

Alex

Pat Hund flying over Snohomish fields. Photo: Alex Souza.

After 4 or 5 flights in my new state, I am starting to feel home. The camaraderie I have found here is awesome. Jim, Pat and Doug have been great friends. Together we are still cruising the skies in every opportunity we have.

If friendship is warm, I cannot say the same about the weather. Coming from Florida, flying temperatures below 60F has been a challenge. My air time record is less than a hour, with average of 45min. I have bought some heated gloves but now I need to buy and install a rectifier in my engine. I will keep you posted about it.

Regarding the updates in PPG Places.com, my new job has been so intense that I could not seat and start to code several ideas I have for this site. To be honest, I have asked my self if this is a worthy effort or not. I know we have 40 places and almost 75 pilots registered but, what about the several hundreds that we have only in the United States? Is this site a good thing for the community? I keep asking it to myself.

If you are reading this blog, let me know you thoughts.

Thanks a lot,

Alex

My first flight in Washington state, registered by Jim Childs.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet 3 pilots nearby, amazing people, like mostly in this community. Doug and Jim were able to fly with me. Pat joined later, just to introduce himself (very kind).

As I was expecting a forward launch, I didn’t bring my camera with me, so, no pictures at this time.

The place we flew is a huge air model field, surrounded by farms. Wind was around 5 mph. After a bad tentative, I got airborne with a reverse in the second time.

Nice views included a railroad, an elk, lots of horses and cows, several parachutes and 2 balloons, and gorgeous corn fields.

After 40 minutes, getting cold (it was around 60F), I landed (I miss the weather and the soft sand from Florida!).

We are planning to return there late this week as the weather seems to be warm. Next time I will bring my camera with me.

Thanks a lot Doug, Jim and Pat for the welcome reception.

Javier (yellow glider in the left), from Aerolight, and Carlos Segnini, flying towards the beautiful Shell Island, during the great Panama Beach Blast 2009. Photo: Alex Souza.

Dear friends and users,

Things are a little slow right now as I didn’t get my computer (in fact I am still in a temporary house till mid September), neither my equipment. So, no flights nor website updates.

Although I cannot update anything at this time, I would like to thanks several suggestions I have received from some pilots. Most of them are in my next versions list.

Meanwhile, keep collaborating with the site (next release will bring even more collaboration tools) and help the community to fly safe no matter where.

Thank you all,

Alex

Marcelo (blue glider in the left), Carlos (red one close to the camera), Mike (red one below Carlos) and Juan (blue one in the right), flying Fort Lauderdale with me. Friends that I hope to see again soon. Photo: Alex Souza.

Besides the weather and the amazing beaches, the thing I will most miss in Florida is going to be the friendship I made with other paramotor pilots.

I am fortunate to meet great people but, my words in this posting are going especially to Carlos Segnini (my instructor and friend) and Simon Jimenez (friend and “pilot model” from most of my pictures). These guys are more than fellow pilots, they are true friends.

I have had great moments flying with them but, last Sunday I had the opportunity to participate in a farewell fly-in Carlos promoted to me.

Around 10 pilots took-off and joined me in a beautiful flight around Dania, Fort Lauderdale, and Pompano Beach. Carlos and Simon (who was not flying that day due problems with his engine), did even more, having lunch and some (in my case, non-alcoholic) beers with me.

The beauty of fly is nothing comparing the joy of make friends like Carlos and Simon. They promised to visit and fly with me in Washington, and I hope than can make it. It is going to be a blessing having them up north.

Talking about my new home, I am counting days to meet other pilots there, especially Jim Childs, who has been a great buddy via email.

Looking forward for the news that I will post here. Meanwhile, have safe flights wherever you are!

Alex

  Photo: Alex Souza. A view of Dania Pier from the sky. This was my last flight in Florida with a bunch of pilots.

Several small updates were done since last posting. Here goes the list:

1. Interface fixings (yes, too many browsers in the market, but many of us still using old versions of Internet Explorer);
2. Print and Directions to a site starts now with your city, if you are logged (in the past the directions started always from Florida);
3. Points system track your participation in the site, as well as allows you to change points by advertisement (I hope to make some partnerships with vendors in order to share prizes besides only free ads). To check your points:
   1. Login (if you are not logged yet);
   2. Click Your Account;
   3. Select tab Points;
   4. If you have more than 100 points you can contact me and ask a 1 month free Random Ad.
4. Search results includes pilots besides places (one of the top priorities for many users);
5. Trike info is requested now for all new places. Another request from the community, this will help trike owners to check whether the place is trike friendly or not.