Hang point question

Frame
1

I’m still a new pilot with 11 flights on the SP140 and have a question about the hang point. I was at 15 degrees but due to trouble getting into the seat we moved it back to 19 degrees.

How much efficiency or flight time am I sacrificing by moving the hang point from 15 to 19 degrees? Thinking about moving it back to 15 because now when I land, it feels too bar reclined and have trouble landing on my feet.

2

The hang angle is more about safety than efficiency although it does impact both. Reclining too far can create line twist from the propeller torque. I suggest learning better techniques and harness adjustments for getting into your seat and move the angle back to 15 degrees…specially if you are struggling with your landings now.

3

Trouble getting into your seat: you could use the same option paraglider pilots use which I adopted for Paramotoring long ago, and that is to use a semi retractable foot-rest. Note that by doing so, you can slightly vary the cage/hoop angle in flight. If you push all the way out, knee caps locked (cruising mode) the hoop will be vertical and when released the cage will ■■■ a few degrees back. It is an advantage to have depending on the situation. Need to do a hang-test first to find the correct angle and practice getting in and out of the harness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_TuB6SxFig

Watch this video as well where you will see me back paddling to grab the foot-rest. The stirrup has be heavy enough to stay in place behind your calfs during the running phase. It may take a few tries to hook it with the back of your shoe. You then can push yourself all the way inside your harness without having to wiggle your butt or let go the toggles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuhYRYAZZdE

4

Chris, I am a new PPG pilot, too, and had initial trouble getting into the seat.

My shoulders also felt squeezed vertically by the harness.

Changed to the next size larger harness and both problems were solved.

My trainer (Bryan West @ Austin Paramotor) teaches to stow the righthand brake, then use the right hand to help push the seat under your butt. Sometimes giving a sharp pull-up with the knees and the seat naturally slides almost completely in to place.

5

Getting the legs straps the correct tightness is critical to allowing no hands seat placement after launch, too loose sounds like your issue, keep tightening them an inch at a time until pulling your knees up pulls the board under you.

6

All good replies so far. I will add another couple solutions for you to try:

  1. Depending on your arm length and torso size, you can push down with the underside of your upper arms to help with “boost” yourself into the seat. Do this very gently at first to make sure you are not pulling too much brake. For most people, you pull little to no brake doing this because your hands are straight up in the air and only going down a couple inches until the underside of your upper arms contact the riser bars. This is the technique I use.
  2. Practice wiggling into the seat with this drill (thanks the Launch PPG out of Idaho). Pretend you are on the edge of pool with your butt only on the edge an inch or two. Without using your hands, rock slightly side to side and backwards until your legs touch the pool edge. You can practice this on most countertops in your home. Just don’t cheat and use your hands, as they can’t be used unless you stow your brakes. Stowing a brake can be scary for a raw beginner, so the butt wiggle technique is good to learn.

I will re-iterate what others have said regarding safety:

  1. Don’t have an over inclined hang point. It is very dangerous for riser twist potential.
  2. Don’t freak out in the air and start jerking on the brakes trying to wiggle into the seat. For new pilots, jerking around in the seat while jerking the brakes, all while close to the ground is a recipe for disaster. Stay calm, remaining hanging in your leg harnesses, gain some altitude, then GENTLY begin working a plan to get into the seat. You can fly just fine for minutes or an entire short flight just hanging in the leg straps. It’s not the most comfortable, but it surely is better than a hard off field landing or crash because you jerked the brakes getting into the seat.
7

trick is to adjust your back strap on harness in flight. This will make you sit more upright and push you back forward . this way easier to land. note you can not relaese the strap in flight and it is not nice flying to upright so adjust back to orig setting after landing so you also go easy into the seat