- A PPG Flyover at Sandy Neck Trail 6 -
 *  PPG Guys, please look at the number at the beginning of each photo caption and email me the caption numbers you are in, your names with a description of which wing you are by color, etc. and I'll work you into the caption. I just don't know any of your names... thanks - jim.duarte@comcast.net  
 
   On the morning of September 27, 2014, my good friend Mike Cabbage, his friends Pete Brown, Ron Petrie and 4 of their fellow PPG Pilots, took off from Chapin Beach in Dennis, MA for a morning of flying. For those who don't know, a PPG is basically a Powered Para Glider or parachute with a motor strapped to your back. For those of you who frequent Sandy Neck Beach, you've probably seen Mike and his buddies fly over. Sometimes one or two, sometimes 3 or 4 but I have never seen seven... there were even two more who chose not to cross the channel and stayed over by Chapin... which would have made nine! Michael texted me the night before and told me they would be coming so I got my Nikon D-80 ready for the morning and picked a good spot to set up.
 
  We were camped at the "Stop" sign at Trail 6 so there were no other vehicles beyond us... great for some good photographs. Patti and I got up at 7:00, had some coffee and awaited the flight... Mike texted me just before he took off, so I went outside and got ready. It was a little hazy over by Chapin so we had trouble seeing them at first. Suddenly, there was one down close to the ground, barely visible against the shaded shore and dunes of Chapin. Then another... and another until you could see a bunch of them flying around and getting the engines warmed up. Finally, we could see them forming up in a group to make the channel crossing. What an awesome sight... they looked a little like a fleet of Klingon Bird's of Prey. O.K., enough with the Star Trek crap... here they come! Check out the following photographs and enjoy... we sure did. Thanks guys!!!
 

September 2014 Flyover

After getting everyone and everything running properly... my Friend Mike Cabbage

 and six fellow PPGs headed over from Chapin Beach to Sandy Neck!  

September 2014 Flyover

They headed over the channel that enters Barnstable Harbor for Sandy Neck Beach.

September 2014 Flyover

I had a heads-up from Mike so got my D-80 Nikon ready for a photo op... 

September 2014 Flyover

...and boy, what a photo op! These things are COOL! 

September 2014 Flyover

The Lead Pilot, Pete Brown, came straight at me, and really low... 

  September 2014 Flyover

...I mean LOW - I could count the number of eyelets on Pete's boots!!!

 September 2014 Flyover

(2)   One by one, they streamed by...

  September 2014 Flyover

(3)  ...some low, some high...

  September 2014 Flyover

Top center, Ed Mockler... low left, Jim Ellsworth and right center, Mike Cabbage.

  September 2014 Flyover

 These guys, (l to r) Ed, Jim and Mike, really know how to maneuver these birds!

  September 2014 Flyover

Hey, is that Mike... with Pete up above him?

  September 2014 Flyover

Really colorful to watch... that's Pete Brown again, the guy that led them in.

 September 2014 Flyover

(8)  ...as they looped back and swung around for another pass.

  September 2014 Flyover

  Cut it out Mike, I almost fell over backwards!

  September 2014 Flyover

Pete with the morning sun behind him... made for some nice shots... 
September 2014 Flyover 
...or is that a headlight on Ron Petrie's PPG? :-) 
September 2014 Flyover 
Johnson Qu sand surfing, PPG Style?
September 2014 Flyover 
(12)   Four PPGs headed back down the sand bar towards us... 
September 2014 Flyover 
(13)   ...no worries about getting too close to the ground with these wings! 
September 2014 Flyover 
Beautiful shot of Ron Petrie's rig! 
September 2014 Flyover 
Mike actually dropped in (literally) to say "HI" and chat for a while... 
September 2014 Flyover 
(15) 
September 2014 Flyover 
(16)   Another close up pass by ? 
 
Michael's Take Off after his visit!
Beach Take Off
Beach Take Off
Beach Take Off
Beach Take Off
Beach Take Off
Beach Take Off
Beach Take Off
Beach Take Off
Beach Take Off
Beach Take Off
Beach Take Off
Beach Take Off
 
 

[My Truck] [Friends] [Home] [Offroad] [Customs] [Links]

Questions, comments... suggestions - email us!