paragliding suicide bombers

[Graeme Gilroy]

there was an article in the times today about the authorities in India have intelligence on the terrorist group responsible for the Mumbai attacks that they have purchased 50 paragliding kits from europe and believe they are going to be used for suicide attacks, WHAT EVER NEXT i ask, talking about getting the sport a bad name.
any xc gods out there be careful if you happen to overfly sedgefield ( tony blairs constituency and home) you will prob be shot out of the sky no questions asked LOL.

cheers
Graeme

[GlennP]

So it was one of these muppets who bought my 1995 Harley Sirrocco for £180 off Ebay! Good luck to them if they could ever get off the ground on it and that crappy old SupAir harness.

I bet half quit training before getting their CP because paragliding just isn't for everyone and they ll soon realise there aren t 70 virgins waiting for you after a mission. When I land after a 'mission' no bugger stops for me never mind a car full of virgins.

PMDs.......Paragliders of Mass Destruction , whatever next?

[ron freeman]

Ebay is not the answer when getting rid of your old paraglider & equipment. Cracker jacks (who don't have a clue...) are having accidents with cheap clapped out equipment from Ebay.

As pilots we all should have a duty of care to the buyer of your old flying equipment, if they are not undergoing training or qualified DON'T SELL its just not worth it for a hundred quid in your back pocket...

[GlennP]

so if I sell my car on Ebay and the guy turns out not to have a licence and has a prediliction for drink driving and knocking people over is that my fault for selling him the car?

By your logic Ron I would be the one up in court not the person who committed the act?????

I ve never bought anything off Ebay where the seller has insisted I prove my bhpa credentials. They are usually very very overpriced tat compared with whatever else is out there.

I would trust somone with 100% positive feedback for 50 transactions on eBay than some random off Skyads. I recently bought a wing off Skyads that was advertised as excellent. I went as far as calling UK Airsports to trace the history and Aerofix for info on the repairs and all the while the guy assured me it was a great wing.

When I opened the box I discovered it had more holes than a tetley tea bag. Ended up costing nearly £70 in courier fees for a bag of sh@t Ron.

So much for the honest pg pilot.

I went back to Ebay and got a 3 yr old wing with only 2 demo flights on it and a current porosity check with a new bag manual strap and patches for less than I paid for the wing off SkyAds.

I better phone Carlo and tell him that it's his fault if I do anything stupid.

[colin keightley]

So by your logic glenn does that mean the dealers should just sell any wing to anyone as well as its not there responsibility.

Just remember if this sport gets hit with rules and restrictions because of the irrisponsible behavour of a few pratting about with equipment they dont really know how to use, then you as someone who is selling the equipment without a care of who he is selling to are part of the problem.

It doesnt hurt to ask a few questions and withdraw a sale if you dont think they will use it responsibly.

[Fingers]

This is another one of those, "I am not responsible for my actions" again.

Wings are sold over the internet by dealers, do they see any proof of qualifications before sending out? Is it there responsibility, I don't think so.

Same as the car dealer who does not ask to see any proof of licence when selling a car.

If someone wants to take to the air with or without the aid of a wing, umbrella or hanky, that's up to them. Same as its up to someone who throws them self off a big building.

I would also ad Ron that if your going to be the "are you qualified police" your going down a path that could leave the door open for the lawyers to sue you.

[John Wallis]

I would bet a lot of people buy wings without any knowledge of flying give themselves a fright then end up going to a school to learn. I bought my first hang glider out of the evening chronicle in 1978 and the guy said do you have a licence I replied yes only he didn't know it was just my driving licence. My mate hurt himself so we ended up going to the Windlord School in Northumberland where he crashed hard on the 3rd day and never returned. I almost gave up but so glad I didn't.

[colin keightley]

Im not saying not to sell it through these channels just saying is worth a little effort and not just selling to anyone, and im not sure how dealers selling gliders on the net works but i know a few people who have had trouble getting there hands on a 2-3 glider

[ron freeman]

Glenn, to save yourself a lot of worry and trouble buy from your local school get proffessional advice with a guarantee it also protects out sport.

[GlennP]

My Gin was from a guy down South who did his CP at a school ran by one my colleagues and it sat in her house for ages.

I bought my demo glider from a dealer Ron, only it was via Ebay from the Windtech importer Flybubble.

I bought my harness and reserve from Patrick at UK Airsports with full gurantee.

Got my helmet from UK Airsports too.

Vario off Bill Scott.

Radio off Geoff Wilson.

Flying suit from UKPPG.

Checks and repairs by Aerofix and the Loft.

Gloves from RAD Aviation.

Boots by Innov8.

So as you can see Ron the paragliding community does alright by me.

Caveat emptor.