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We stand on the shoulders of giants. Please read the 2005 account by Stefan Obenauer of the first crossing of most of the state of Michigan by paramotor. Inspired by their achievement, below is our account of the first water-to-water and (to date) the longest crossing of the state by paramotor.
Paramotoring Across the Mitten - Lake 2 Lake 2018
September 29th, 2018 - Holland, MI to Port Huron, MI
The pilots, at FlyMIPPG, ready to go on a rainy Friday - image courtesy of Heather Rathburn
Mike Cotter, Jack Rathburn, Terry Williamson, and I took off at about 7:20 a.m. from Holland’s Park Township airport with Jack’s wife Heather serving as our intrepid support driver.
Four takeoffs, full of anticipation - images courtesy of Heather Rathburn
We wanted it to turn out differently, with 4 paramotor pilots and one daring support driver all crossing our great state of Michigan in one day. We all knew, however, that for one reason or another we each might be that pilot who wasn’t able to complete the journey. In fact, we knew that in this kind of effort, usually one or two pilots have to drop out at some point, and there was a good chance that weather would keep us all from the goal. We each knew it could be us, and we hoped beyond hope that it wouldn’t be. We also knew that we’d each do what we could to make the day a success within the limits of safety. We would get at least some of the group across the line and fly a paramotor from Lake Michigan to Lake Huron in one day as long as safety wasn’t compromised. And in the end, this team of five did just that, but not without more than a little heartbreak.
In NASCAR, someone signs up to be on the pit crew. In football, someone signs up to be the assistant coach. In tennis, someone signs up to be the ball runner, and they can feel good to be part of something awesome even though they’re not the one at the checkered flag, or scoring the winning touchdown, etc... But our pilots each wanted desperately to be the one crossing that shoreline on Lake Huron.
Shortly after Jack launched, he found himself back on the ground as the loaner motor (the manufacturer shall remain nameless but it was their exhaust system that had necessitated a loaner motor in the first place) just died and resisted all future attempts at running it - including after four hours of work on it midday.
Bitterly disappointed, Jack put his own self-interest aside and spent the next 16 hours working tirelessly alongside Heather supporting and providing transport for the remaining pilots, helping them each to get as far as would be possible.
After a bumpy and slow flight to the coast of Lake Michigan (near Tunnel Park) to ensure that this effort would truly link the lakes, Mike, Terry and I caught a good tailwind, passing Holland to the north, swinging south under Grand Rapids, avoiding GRR’s airspace, and coming back north again to land at Walter RC Park. Mike had called ahead and the owner was a gracious and welcoming host with an impressive operation. Jack and Heather met us there with fuel, and we soon took off again.
The coast near Holland, MI
Terry Williamson aloft near Holland, MI - image courtesy of Mike Cotter
Sunrise near Holland, MI
Mike and Terry passing Grand Rapids, MI
Mike and Terry passing the Steelcase pyramid
Mike landing at Walter RC Park
With our host - image courtesy of Heather Rathburn
Takeoffs from Walter RC Park enroute to FlyMIPPG - images courtesy of Heather Rathburn
Mike enroute to FlyMIPPG
Terry enroute to FlyMIPPG
Stop #2 was Forrest Hills Airport, home of Michigan’s own FlyMIPPG (an Aviator Alliance paramotor training facility) where Mike Cotter, Justin Fox, and Bob Harris have now trained dozens of students.
Landing at the awesome facilities at FlyMIPPG near St. John's, MI
After lunch and a concerted but ultimately unsuccessful effort to get a motor working for Jack, it began to emerge that perhaps we had not set our mid-day destination far enough. If only we could have gotten further, but the bumps had been coming hard and fast when we landed at 10:40 in the morning. We still had 115 miles to go... 3-4 hours of flying depending on the tailwind. As 3:30 approached, we knew that the winds were still high and our 4 hour window of opportunity before last light was closing.
The morning route to FlyMIPPG
To remain legal for part 103 operation, an ultralight can not exceed 5 gallons of fuel. But to save on weight, most manufacturers put about a 3 gallon tank on their machines. This usually means that 2 hours of flying is what you can expect with some reserve. 3-4 hours would require a refueling stop, burning precious time. It wasn’t clear that there was still time to include a refueling stop even if we could have launched at 3:30. It was now 4 p.m.
The day before, I had installed a 4+ gallon tank on my homebuilt. Made from a commodity plastic jug, it was as ugly as could be, but it held the promise of not having to stop for fuel. If the thermals would just die down, and if the westerly winds would hold, there MIGHT still be a chance.
As we looked up, a laminar sheet of clouds was rolling in from the west. This could be the key that would take the sun out of the equation and kill the thermals. The clouds were high, and racing east. Now they were over us, casting a smooth shadow.
The team was supportive. Jack thought a quick decision-making launch would be a reasonable move. I would take off, and if it was too bumpy, I’d land immediately. If not, I’d head east, skirting Flint’s airspace and heading direct to the coast. Everyone weighed in and ultimately gave me the thumbs up. I know that this was a sacrifice on their parts. The window for a refueling stop had closed, and now a direct flight would be the only way to go all the way to the coast today.
The northwest winds were stiff and the takeoff at about 4:15 was relatively short. I didn’t know what to expect, and a nearby tree line made me suspicious of rotor. But the climb out was relatively smooth, even smoother than our approach to FlyMI that morning. I gave a thumbs up to the crew, and headed east.
My takeoff from FlyMIPPG - image courtesy of Mike Cotter
Much of the first hour was smooth. But just as I’d be tempted to take my hands off the brakes and trim fast, another thermal would kick in. At some points, I was climbing with almost no throttle input. At other times, I’d be at full throttle to just stop the sink. But it wasn’t the worst turbulence I’ve ever been in, and the temperature continued to drop.
Despite being bundled up pretty well, that’s when I began to realize that leaving a layer behind and bringing my smaller gloves was not the best idea. It had been warm on the ground at 3 p.m. but now a thousand feet in the air, I was beginning to shake. I could have dropped down to find warmer air, but the winds aloft were pushing me along with a solid 10 mph tailwind. I had to use that. 115 miles would take only about 3 hours at 40 miles an hour.
Lansing passed by far on my right. Soon, I caught a glimpse of Flint, as a sun ray illuminated it briefly before it disappeared back into the haze to the north. To the south, the air was clear, and soon, I could see Detroit, some 45 miles away, standing clear against the sky. That had to be one of the most breathtaking sights I saw the whole trip. Jaw dropping, in fact.
Detroit as seen from Fenton. The Renaissance Center is visible at left.
As the air smoothed out, and I passed near Fenton, I was able to trim fast and head northeast. A flight of three hot air balloons were out for an evening ride. I didn’t fly too close or circle them, but I did drop low and watched as they began to descend for their landing in a field ahead. The burners lit up the darkening sky beautifully.
A flight of hot air balloons out on an evening jaunt.
Soon, a horizontal sliver appeared on the horizon. The Lake was finally in sight. I don’t remember much of the last half hour, except that there was a tanker just offshore near the point I was flying towards.
Port Huron and the Blue Water Bridge came into view as the evening lights were coming on. Gorgeous. The St. Clair river met Lake Huron, meandering between Michigan and Canada.
The goal in sight...
...and achieved.
Stefan Obenauer and Roger Alford get the credit (along with Edwin Manion and Bill Malossi in the chase car) for the first ever cross-Michigan paramotor flight back in 2005. Back then paramotors were even more finicky than they are today. Today's effort would simply be the longest crossing to date, and the first ever water-to-water crossing of Michigan. As with so many things, we simply stand on the shoulders of giants. Someday, I hope to be in the chase car when some of my friends complete a North-to-South water-to-border crossing of the state - once again expanding the realm of what is possible with a paramotor.
The final lake-to-lake GPS track
As I passed over the coastline and out into the expanse of blue that is Lake Huron, I texted my wife Andrea to share the moment. She sacrificed a lot to let me make this trip, and I wanted to share the experience with her.
Soon it was time to start descending and find Mike’s parent’s home on the shoreline of the lake. I hadn’t really thought about this part of the trip. All the attention had been focused on just getting to the lake, which earlier had seemed improbable. Google Maps to the rescue! As soon as I got close, I saw that Mike Sr. and Mary Ellen Cotter were waiting outside with the floodlights on to mark the spot.
The Lake Huron shoreline, after crossing
The beach landing was far less eventful than it should have been given that it was only 25 feet between the trees and the water. Mike’s Mom caught it all on video.
Landing on the beach - Lake Huron - images courtesy of Mary Ellen Cotter
As I was landing on the beach, Mike, Terry, Jack and Heather were busy searching for an alternate landing spot for Mike and Terry. They had pressed forward to Davison Michigan, and covered a full 3/4 of the state, cruising very efficiently north of Flint’s Bishop airspace and following a narrow passageway south into Davison, due to surrounding neighborhoods and trees. When Mike and Terry were three miles out from Davison, Jack and Heather found the primary landing spot at Williams Memorial Airport to be inaccessible, so they switched plans and arranged for a landing near the high school where homecoming was in full swing. As Mike recounts it “They were all over the parking lot. Cars were filing in non-stop and there were thousands of people standing outside of the high school gymnasium waiting to get into their prom. There was so much activity going on that it was a little nerve-wracking trying to find where Jack and Heather were. With a lot of eyes on Terry and me, we both shut motors off and glided in for our landings and with 2000 eyeballs on us, we both spot landed smoothly!”
Davison students got an eyeful as Mike and Terry cruised to a landing on the nearby soccer field. Mike and Terry hoped to complete the last 60 miles to the coast in the morning, but the weather prevented it. They’ve now made it their goal to finish what they started with Jack. My wife and I have already volunteered to drive the chase car for when winds are right for wherever Mike, Jack, and Terry decide to go next!
I’m thankful to our team. To be sure, I was given the best seat in the house for no better reason than that I had a little more gas on board. But none of us could have done this alone, and for that reason, I say that WE just crossed the mitten, lake to lake by paramotor.
Watch the video here: