paramotors

[Condi]

Anyone fly them - they look to be the cheapest way of achieving powered flight?

Care to tell me how much it costs? Also anyone know how the courses work, you dont need a licence yet some people will do you in a 3 day course then others say even after a 6 day course you are restricted on how far you can go, which seems a bit daft when there is no licence needed?

[naturals]

Condi said:

Anyone fly them - they look to be the cheapest way of achieving powered flight?

Care to tell me how much it costs? Also anyone know how the courses work, you dont need a licence yet some people will do you in a 3 day course then others say even after a 6 day course you are restricted on how far you can go, which seems a bit daft when there is no licence needed?

I don't fly them but I fly paragliders and plan to get into PPG in due course. To try and answer your questions in as un-biased a way as possible.

Cost - training I would guess around £1,200 ish for proper training from complete beginner. Sure, by law you don't have to have any but you'd have to be a proper tard to not get any. You don't seen to save a great deal by going straight to paramotor so I think a lot of people go paraglider then PPG as there are more benefits.

Equipment costs - £2k or so for a wing, anything from £800 (eBay special) to £5k+ for the motor. It depends on what you want really.

In terms of the restriction, I think within the industry the basic qualification only lets you fly within visual range of take off. After that you need a qualification to go cross country. Again, it's not mandatory but if you end up in controlled airspace by accident the few hundred quid it cost for proper training will appear a bargain in comparison to the fine you'll be receiving.

[jjones]

as above
and check out http://www.paramotorclub.org/forum/index.php

read the blogs some good stuff there

[Justin Cyder]

Have a look here.

http://www.bhpa.co.uk/paramotor/index.php

I'm a retired paraglider pilot & I endorse what's said above & emphasise heavily the advice to train formally. You can buy the gear & go and find a field to take off but you would be a class 1 fool to do so. The BHPA training is carefully developed to build your skills & keep you safe but you should treat the licences as you would a driving licence I.e. you really only start learning once you pass the courses.

You must have the utmost respect for flying, it is not forgiving of people who make mistakes. Having said all that, it's brilliant & if you have the itch, it's an incredible thing to do. One thing to bear in mind, the paragliding side of things is usually club based & can be quite sociable.

Powered wings however are often not welcome because of agreements with site owners over animal welfare and so on. Few farmers want their animals spooked by noisy paramotors, so it can be a relatively lonely activity in that sense.

[Scotfox]

Can only agree with what's been said already. Used to paraglide as well. Get properly trained and that way you won't kill or paralise yourself, or worse someone else.

Great fun though and very very addictive.

[naturals]

If in doubt, YouTube "paragliding accidents" - that's normally a pretty good way of convincing yourself the proper training is worthwhile.

[pherlopolus]

Ex Paraglider here also, and echo all of the above and then some.

I know when I learnt I borrowed the school gear until i got to a certain point, not sure if it works the same for motors, but the school will generally have manufacturer links so dont rush in with your cheque book.

[jenkotvr]

Ex (due to funds) Paramotor pilot here; can't recommend it enough:

Ready for takeoff:


Over llandudno taken off from the Great Orme:


ParaJet Volution Paramotor
Apco HP Wing

[Justin Cyder]

If we're doing piccys, that's me at the Dune de Pyla on the blue Gradient a few moons ago.

[Condi]

Looks good fun, i'll have to get some training booked I think!

[Justin Cyder]

And another at the Dyke. I ended up in Uckfield that day IIRC.

[Caruso]

I did paragliding for a few years and seriously considered a paramotor. However, the low airspeed of them limits the conditions in which you can use them, which together with full time employment severely limited the number of days I would be able to fly. Also you're never going to go very far in one. Although on the flip side you can put them in the back of the car and drive to where you want to fly quite easily.

[jenkotvr]

Caruso said:

Also you're never going to go very far in one.

Not true. We have flown from North Wales to Barlaston in Staffs, 90 miles.
We have also flown from Staffs to Leicester.

If you pick a 10-15kt tail wind, you'll go for miles. The new reflex wings when trimmed are fast, check out the Dudek wings.

With regards to training; a friend of mine Kev decided go alone :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlZ8nOvdfy4

Get professional training, respect mother nature and you'll have one of the best hobbies going

[Justin Cyder]

Speaking of idiots with insufficient training, common sense & judgement...


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2236857/Da...

[jenkotvr]

Justin Cyder said:

Speaking of idiots with insufficient training, common sense & judgement...


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2236857/Da...

Folk like this will end up getting the sport regulated and spoil it for everyone.

[Condi]

Holy thread resurrection, Batman.

A total of 9 years after starting this thread (which I had completely forgotten about and only found it via the (occasionally working) PH search function), I now have finished my training and are the proud owner of a flying machine.

Ummm, so aside from the people who replied before are there any others who fly this way? Certainly the cheapest way of getting airborne and controlling your own direction, but not cheap cheap.

[renmure]

I don’t, although I do fly microlights, but a bunch of my mates all regularly fly paramotors. I live out in the countryside and have even bought a windsock that I put up in the garden if I hear them in the neighbourhood or if they give me a phone call en-route and land for a coffee. It seems a bit too much of a fair weather activity for me although I guess an early evening bimble around the area might be appealing every so often.

[Dan_The_Man]

Spent quite a few years doing it with the paramotorclub (Simon Westmore etc) and had some brilliant flights. Best ones were warm summer evenings after work, chasing combine harvesters & hot air balloons then watching the sunset from 3000ft.

[CrutyRammers]

I paraglide,there are a few others on here, don't know any motorers though. Congrats on finishing the training, just in time for winter...

[some bloke]

Used to paraglide; I would suggest learning to fly PG, get a couple of seasons/50hrs under your belt, then add the extra hazard/complication of a power pack.