We have a varied group of people on here..... Any of you fly paramotors? Thinking about getting into the sport and wondered if anyone here could share their experiences?!¬

Thats two of us then, done hang gliding got my PPL microlight and PPLA but they are all too much of a faff. I'd like to just walk down to the field at the end of our road take off and have a tootle around and not have to mither with hanger charges having a 2 hour round trip to the field etc etc.
Cheers,
Bob

[Edited on 8/5/12 by splitrivet]

I have PPL(H) and agree, the thought of cheap(ish) flying is very appealing!

Seems to vary from website to website as to what you have to do in order to get flying... seeings as there doesnt actually appear to be a license requirement as such I dont want to have to pay to do "ground school" on the subjects that were covered in quite a lot of depth at PPL...Just want to learn how to control the glider... and get up there... How hard can it be?! :p

As far as Im aware its unregulated but as you say its handling the wing, remembering back at seeing old accident reports wing deflation can leave a bit of a crimp in your day.
Cheers,
Bob

Yes, I have been watching some interesting videos on youtube that highlight the fact you need to know how to handle the wing....

This video is amazing though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTOlP19QWCc&feature=related


A lot of the "schools" I have seen seem to indicate that you have to do various stages to get an unrestricted "license".... I think more time spent with the wing would be better than more time spent learning air-law.... Thats old hat anyway :p

I was into it, still have the motor and the wing, got as far as my first solo buzz at 20 feet off the ground and had to quit out of illness, I could go back now and really want to, the people I learn with were the biggest toŁ$ers (the I've got money brigade) I've ever met though and are the only ones for 100 miles or so I will go back one day!!

@Tegwin: I bought a cheap paraglider and harness to practice chute control to get a head start, the guy I bought it from used to fly it but one of my instructors wasn't overly keen on me using it for powered flight, this may well have been because he then sold me a suitable one for a hefty commision no doubt : You are however welcome to have the old chute to get a feel of if you wish? (no harness though, but you can buy cheap training harnesses).

[Edited on 8-5-12 by flibble]

Fibble. I guess its like any sport... there are the elite with all the gear etc. How hard did you find it to learn?
Which motor did you get?

Would be very interested in the glider for ground practice before I commit to buying a "proper" one. What sort of size is it? I am fairly light so dont want to get blown away :p I guess if anyone asks, its just a big kite

quote:

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Originally posted by tegwin
Yes, I have been watching some interesting videos on youtube that highlight the fact you need to know how to handle the wing....

This video is amazing though:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTOlP19QWCc&feature=related


A lot of the "schools" I have seen seem to indicate that you have to do various stages to get an unrestricted "license".... I think more time spent with the wing would be better than more time spent learning air-law.... Thats old hat anyway :p

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or in bits !

I looked at this a few years ago, and like a few of you, i have a lapsed PPl,

But while watching a guy in one whos engine cut while going over st austel bay at about 100ft, he landed ok, after he had to dodge all the kiddies etc, he then got a lot of flack from angry adults for his actions, but most kids loved it

he had to lug all the gear, a long way back off the beach

I seemed to have lost interest then

steve

quote:

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Originally posted by steve m
or in bits !

I looked at this a few years ago, and like a few of you, i have a lapsed PPl,

But while watching a guy in one whos engine cut while going over st austel bay at about 100ft, he landed ok, after he had to dodge all the kiddies etc, he then got a lot of flack from angry adults for his actions, but most kids loved it

he had to lug all the gear, a long way back off the beach

I seemed to have lost interest then

steve

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I've got a "FlyPower 90" (I think), and I found it relatively easy to learn. Even a few days running about a field with just the wing was v helpful and within a few hours could keep it airbourn and run around a bit, although, I seemed to have to look at it to see where it was, never really did get the hang of 'feeling' what the wing was up to
I must admit thar running around for practise with a 25kg motor on your back, dragging a bag of air on the single hottest day of summer did nearly kill me though

A lot of schools seem to want to give you an expensive paragliding course, then a paramotor conversion at more money, I'd avdise against that and go for a straight motor course of 3-4+ days. I got to know 2 people on the british para team and know the guy who sold me the old wing very well + a few more regular fliers and all of them say the 3-4+ day courses are all you need. In fact it seems popular opinion that ground control is far far harder than actualy flying the things!

The wing you can have is quite small, as both me and the guy I got it from are lighweights (11st). No idea how much postage would bebut its a fairly big rucksack size.

I've got nothing againt people with all the gear etc, just people who scoff and snigger at you for not having a brand new rangerover for your gear etc..

[Edited on 8-5-12 by flibble]

At the end of the day I guess they are just trying to make a living out of the courses. With no "set rules" in terms of what you have(nt) got to learn its open to interpretation.

Its almost a good thing that the hardest part is the ground handling.... Less distance to fall :p

Will drop you a U2U

Thats it made me mind up having one, just got to have a chat with the missus a new wing seems reasonable REDUCED New Paramotor Sunglider ANFOR DHV CERTIFICATED WINGS FREE DELIVERY | eBay.
Cheers,
Bob