Airparamo GRAZhopper Owner's Manual - page 8
GRAZhopper Owners Manual
Version 1.3, Updated on June 2010
©2007, Airparamo LLC
www.airparamo.com
Page 8 of 10
ATTENTION:
The original bearings in the Rolleeze wheels are designed for walking pace
speeds only. If you go faster than a walking pace for more than a few seconds, the bearings
will heat up and potentially melt the housing.
NOTE:
A bearing upgrade is available to replace all the original nylon bearings to all steel
bearings.
Here are a few tips to help you in flying a PPG
trike:
•
WARNING:
Always preflight your gear
prior to launch. As the famous saying goes,
it’s better to be down here wishing you were
up there than up there wishing you were
down here.
•
ATTENTION:
Airparamo LLC strongly
recommends a strong motor cage for any
PPG trike flying, preferably one with a
double ring cage. A weak cage with a single
ring cage is a recipe for expensive
equipment damage.
•
WARNING:
Beginners should only fly in calm conditions with winds not exceeding 8
mph. Skilled and experienced trike pilots can push these limits as they progress within
their capability as pilots.
•
WARNING:
Always loudly announce “CLEAR PROP” right before starting the motor.
•
WARNING:
Always wear a helmet when you fly the GRAZhopper or any PPG trike.
•
WARNING:
Always take-off and land into the wind. Cross wind take-offs are to be
done only by skilled and experienced pilots.
•
ATTENTION:
On the initial inflation, be careful to not whiplash the lines too hard with
lots of thrust. This could flex even the strongest motor cage and cause the prop to come
into contact cage or wing lines.
•
WARNING:
On the initial inflation if the wing is oscillating, reduce the thrust and
either abort the launch sequence or attempt to get the wing under control. If the trike
shows any hint of rolling, abort the launch and immediately shut off the engine.
•
WARNING:
Assume your engine will quit any time during the flight. In other words,
always have at least one place to safely land.
•
ATTENTION:
After landing, shut the motor off as the wing falls behind you.
•
WARNING:
If the wind picks up past 12
mph while you are flying, on landing try to
get the wing to come down straight behind
you. If the wing falls to the side with winds
exceeding 14 mph, there is a strong
likelihood of rolling the trike, physical injury,
and getting dragged.
•
WARNING:
The GRAZhopper has a wide
wheelbase and a low center of gravity. It is
difficult to roll over the GRAZhopper.
However, if the trike begins to roll over,
quickly bring your arms inside the roll bar.
The roll bar may protect you from physical
injury if you are dragged or rolled. However,
if your arm gets caught under the roll bar as
you are flipped upsidedown, it could cause immediate and painful injuries to your arm,
including broken bones.
•
WARNING:
If you decide to use a reserve parachute system on the GRAZhopper,
have a knowledgeable rigger who is extremely familiar with reserve use and
deployments install or do a safety review of the reserve mounting system. Also, if you