What is it?
The Grampian mountains from the North-East:
One of the great views as seen from a paramotor!
In a nutshell,
paramotoring is flying a motorised paraglider.
Paramotoring is the safest, cheapest and most fun method for the average person
to get airborne. Powered paragliding is the technical definition of the sport,
usually referred to as either paramotoring, ‘motoring or ppg for short.
Safe – Because the pilot is effectively flying a parachute under power, via a motor engine contained in the back harness (the power unit) - even if the power unit should inadvertently stop or fail, the pilot still has full directional control over the aircraft (with the means of getting back to earth already open above his/her head); also, the sport is suited to calm weather conditions with a stable airmass, which differs distinctly from free-flight (ie un-motorised) paragliding, where the pilot relies on either a strong ridge-lifting breeze or dynamic (inherently unstable) thermal-generating air conditions to stay airborne. Moreover, once committed to landing, there is no turning back with a free flight paraglider, whereas with a paramotor, should circumstances dictate that you should best abort the landing attempt, this can easily be achieved, simply by powering up and going round again for another attempt, or flying to another landing site;
Cheap - A new power unit and wing combination is available from around £3,500, rising to around £6,500 for top of the range new equipment, whilst good second-hand equipment may be acquired for roughly half the above figures. Once he kit has been acquired, the actual flights cost you only the price of fuel (and any in-flight refreshments!). At roughly £5 per hour flown, this compares favourably with all other forms of powered flight;
Fun – What could be more fun than taking a few paces and literally walking into the skies? Have you ever wondered what the birds see from up there? Well, now YOU can too! Moreover, the sport is currently exempt from pilot licensing requirements, so there is no need for endless, tedious paperwork or examinations, though that is not to say that proper training is unnecessary, indeed one would be extremely foolhardy to “take flight” without first undergoing training in the various aspects of flying these machines and understanding Air Law, Meteorology and other related topics. This being said, it is a simple enough learning process for most reasonably co-coordinated, able and alert-minded folk, and still represents the easiest method of the average person to get into the skies under their own direction and will. The average duration of these flight-training courses is from one week to ten days, with competent students often progressing to powered flight in as little as three days. Training provides a good basic grounding in these aforementioned subjects (and others) for any prospective pilot who is seriously considering the sport. More of this later though.
Warm work!
Whilst
the sport is similar in many respects to free-flight paragliding (indeed, much
of the equipment used and on-the-ground training learned is compatible with both
disciplines), it differs in several crucial aspects:
The air conditions most sought and used for ppg flight are when the air is
inherently calm and more stable than that required for free-flight, where
dynamic, thermally active air (i.e. lively and bumpy!) is required to keep the
free-flight paraglider aloft for more than any simple top-to-bottom hops or
relatively short flights using lifting air to soar along hill ridges. With the
addition of the power unit, the pilot is not reliant on ridge-lifting air or
thermal activity, and thus the potential reach of the craft is much greater.
One may take off any land from any open and reasonably level piece of land or
field (with permission), unlike free-flight paragliding, where one must launch
from either a hill or mountain side, or be towed into the sky by another
aircraft or specialized winch;
Upon making one’s
final approach for landing, should something be amiss, or you are not 100% happy
about either the approach or prospective landing area, one has the advantage of
being able to abort the landing attempt and either going around again or finding
a more suitable landing site; this is not an option when free-flight
paragliding. The take-off and landing are always the most potentially
dangerous periods in ALL forms of flying, be it in a paraglider or a jumbo jet.
Ready for the fist flight
Though it is perfectly possible for a prospective ppg pilot to take to the skies without undergoing any formal training (some have even done it by watching video footage of other pilots!), it is of course desirable that a thorough basic training course is taken, in both the interests of the safety of oneself and others, and for the good name of the sport in the wider context. One is still subject to Air Law (as well as the Laws of Gravity, Murphy, etc!), and I personally consider it as essential for any potential pilot to undergo a training course under the watchful eye of an experienced instructor. It can be expensive as well as dangerous to skimp on this vital aspect, yet it is often the area where potential pilots seem to think they have an instinct for flight – if that was the case, the Good Lord would have given us wings!
Having said all that, it is perfectly feasible for a reasonably competent person to be flying within a couple of days, within the structured syllabus of an ongoing training course. I was personally flying “under power” on the third day of the course I attended, which is probably greater testament to the skills of my instructor than the abilities of his pupil!
Topics to be learned within any training course should include:
Theory of Flight
Basic Safety in Flight
Basic Meteorology
Ground Handling Techniques
Air Law
Navigation
Care and Maintenance of Equipment
This list is by no means an exhaustive list, and the thoughtful pilot will analyse every flight he/she makes in a bid to gain useful experience for future reference.
Specialist paramotoring training schools operate in both the UK and abroad where the basics may be learned.
Training School Links:
Although there are currently no officially recognised
paramotoring training schools in the UK owing to insurance indemnity issues,
there are coaches throughout the country able to advise pilots on training matters. Herebelow are some of the more reputable companies:
The class of 2002!
Airways Airpark - Derbyshire based firm, offering training overseas
Backbone - Training in Southern France
Northern Paramotors - Yorkshire based company arranging training through Backbone, France
Parajet - Training in Cyprus;
Paramotoring - Training in Slovakia
Paramotorschool - Training in Western France with British pilots
Paraventure - Welsh company offering training in France/abroad (Adventure units)
Sperwill - Training in South Africa