When we saw the SPOT satellite personal tracker we just knew it was perfect for Paramotor pilots who venture away from their home field. It’s all our worst nightmare, crashing in a remote location where there is no mobile coverage. Now you can get peace of mind should you find yourself in this situation anywhere in the world. With SPOT you can contact 911 for emergency assistance, call for help from your designated friends or simply let them know you are OK. You can also use its 24 hour tracking feature, which allows others to follow your whereabouts over the internet.

SPOT is available now at www.xcshop.com at a special introductory price until the end of March.

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The Tip-to-Tip 2008 www.tiptotip.co.uk has its second confirmed sponsor to
join The Channel IT and Hewlett Packard combined wing!

The second sponsors ‘Solutions for Interiors’ www.solutionsforinteriors.co.uk specialise in the design and manufacture of bespoke furniture and bespoke items for individual and specialist projects. They are to brand one of the six wings for this event. (more…)

Famous for blowing its own head off in 1883, Krakatau lies in the Sunda Strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra. On a trip that runs from 18th April to 2nd may 2008, Paragliding Indonesia are now offering the opportunity to get up-close and personal to this amazing volcano. You can choose to make this flight part of a trip that crosses the archipelago from Sumatra, across Java and on to the smaller island of Lombok, taking in the landscape, culture and breathtaking buddhist and Hindu temples on the way.

For further information contact Anten Wisata at anwisata@cbn.net.id or visit www.paragliding-indonesia.com

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SPOT is the name, safety is the game. A satellite messenger and tracking system for XC pilots. You can 911, send an OK message home (or wherever), or send for help (non life threatening). It also has a 24 hour tracking feature to monitor your GPS track to anyone (you give permission to) with an internet connection for anyone who wants to monitor your progress.

The price on their website is US $169.99 with free shipping (to the US). It is coming soon to Europe, so watch their website for when this happens. A satellite service subscription is also required.

Check it out at www.findmespot.com

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The Mondial paramoteur show 2008 will this year take place at Basse-Ham, NE France from June 27th - 29th. In this its 5th incarnation, 10 000 visitors are expected to convene to see the latest industry offerings and watch the ariel shows, and to enjoy the 10 hectares of space set aside to fly and try out products. This year’s attractions are to include the first ever electric paramotor endurance competition.

The competition will test endurance of electric paramotors on a predetermined course between 2 markers. It will take the format of a linear flight without the help of ascendant airflow, until the motor quits. Control and timekeeping will be done by ground and in-
flight judges. Flights will be monitored through a technical rule; equipment will be weighed and wing loading adjusted accordingly. Rankings and awards will be given to all the participants. The event organisers invite all pilots from around the worlkd to come and present their inventions, their research and their models.

To date there are no electric motors on the market, but it’s coming! To keep up to date with progress on that front, keep an eye on www.electricppg.com. For further information on the Mondial paramoteur 2008, go to www.mondial-paramoteur-2008.org

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Paramania are newly aboard the Tip to Tip mission, and will be providing wings for the adventure, as well as helping with overseas media support. Several other sponsors are also confirmed, but more are still needed. If you would like to get invoved in this high-profile event then please see www.paramotorclub.org/tiptotip/get-involved.php.