With budget of Euro 5.000.- or so you’ll be able to buy new equipment and cover the cost of a training course. Second hand equipment will reduce that figure considerably you’ll also need a flying suit, flying boots and a helmet and many consider, other equipment as you progress. Running costs are minimal, making paramotoring perhaps the cheapest form of powered flying available.
Courses take around seven to ten days for would be paramotor pilots with no pparagliding experience, as some time is needed to train them in the safe control of paraglider canopy. A full course would cover launching and controlling the canopy safely on the ground with these sills under your belt your instructor will then turn to the power and train you in assembly and disassembly (for easy transport this, not a major strip down!) starting, throttle control, fuel mixing, torque and thrust effects and certain essensial cautions. The two elements will then be put together to teach you powered flight. You will also be instructed in basic principles of flight, meteorology, aviation law (quite severe airspace restrictions apply to paramotor use) and navigation.
Yes. Most of definitely. The paramotor or powerchute has been specifically designed to be a one person endeavour.
Simply remove the chute from its tote bag and try it our behind the craft. As you begin to run, the forward motion. In combination with the wind, if any and the prop blast is enough to quickly bring the chute up overhead. Next, squeeze the throttle and gently lift off
Using hand controls, pull left to go left and right to go right. While in the air the paraglider / parachute wing will turn proportionate to the amount of pressure you apply to the steering controls.
Steady winds of less than 15 km/ h for beginners no more than 25 km / h for experienced pilots.
Although actual flight times will vary depending on pilot weight and atmospheric, the average time ranges from 1 – 2 hours.
This depends on your paraglider’s speed. A good speed is less than 40 km / h and less than 48 lm / h with accelerator.
Directional steering is controlled through the canopy, therefore not dependent on engine power. The pilot steers the same way with or without power.
Absolutely! You’re flying a parachute after all. What could be safer? By its very design a powered parachute is virtually impossible to stall, roll, dive or loop. A powered parachute almost flies itself – due to the pendulum effect created by your hanging (like pendulum) under the canopy. Even if you run out of gas it’s a snap to land a powered parachute. After all, skydivers don’t need an engine to land safely, do they? And you never need to worry about your chute opening because it is impossible to leave unless your chute is already up.
You bet! Any pilot will tell that flying “low and slow” is where the real fun (find the best view) can be found.
Yes indeed! You can pick up a used powered parachute for under USD 4.000.- and newtop of the line unit with full instrumentation will only run about USD 14.000.-. If you compare that with the cost of buying a snowmobile, jet ski or motorcycle, I think you’ll agree that flying is now with in the price range of just about everyone.
We are not kidding. You can Solo in powered parachute after one afternoon of instruction! Hey, thousands have already done and so can you!
Powered parachute are available in two basic configurations: single and dual seat units. In both configurations you sit in a frame work of aircraft grade steel alloy and aluminium tubes – some what a kin to a three wheeled go kart with propeller mounted on the back. The parachute is attached to the airframe on short out riggers to provide added stability. Absolutely NOTHING is easier to fly., Steering is accomplished by pulling on a line attached to the outside trailing edge of the chute. The lines are attached to foot bars, so to turn left you push on the left foot bar and to turn right you push on the right foot bar. Increasing or decreasing your altitude is as simple as increasing or decreasing the throttle. A peculiarity of the aerodynamics of the chutes used in powered tyoically around 28 MPH. There fore, increasing your engine speed does not increase your airspeed. It simply causes you to climb. Decreasing your engine speed causes you to descend. Weird but true!
To take off you simply, lay the chute out on the ground behind you, start your engine and begin to move forward, the air flowing over the chute from your propeller and your forward motion causes the chute to pop up off the ground and rise above your head. Once the chute is overhear just a little more forward speed will lift you quite quickly (typically 500 – 700 FPM) up into the wild blue yonder. Take off distances are amazingly short (depending upon conditions), ranging from 50 – 300 feet, landing distances are even shorter (and can even be zero!).
Typically running 50 – 200 feet, grass runways are used to keep abrasion on the chute to a minimum but all you really need is grass field 500 – 1.000. feet on a side to serve as you aedodrome.
It is becoming widely recognize that powered parachuting is going to be the next. BIG THING so what are you waiting for? Don’t be left behind check out these sites to learn more about powered parachuting safety, aerodynamics, FAA regulations, magazines, FAQ’s