Saturday, September 30, 2006

Feel Like Flying Sky High? Take Paramotor Lessons!


Introduction to Paramotor or Powered Paragliding by Paramotor Association

Need:

  • No fear of heights
  • At least $15,000 for new equipment (second-hands can be cheaper)
  • Training cost depends on local paramotor school
  • Flying Suit
  • Boots
  • Helmet
  • Fit & Active
  • Good coordination & an alert, reasoning mind
  • Good Health
Flying courses:
Usually around 7-10 days long (aspiring paramotor pilots with no paragliding experience)

Full Flying Course covers:
  • Launching a canopy
  • Airspeed control
  • Turning
  • Approaching
  • Landing
Once learnt, instructor will turn to:
  • Power unit
  • Assembly & Disassembly
  • Starting
  • Throttle Control
  • Fuel Mixing
  • Maintenance
  • Torque
  • Thrust Effects
  • Essential Cautions
Will also be taught on:
  • Basic Principles of flying
  • Meteorology
  • Aviation Law
  • Navigation

What is Paramotor:

  • Simplest of all powered aircrafts
  • Consists of small 2-stroke petrol engine to drive a propeller, worn like a backpack under a paraglider wing
  • Relatively easy to learn to fly with a paramotor
  • Can be flown from an open field with no need for a hill site & strong wind
  • Also easily rigged and de-rigged and once dismantled, can be place in the trunk of a car
  • Engine can be stopped & restarted in air so pilot can adapt his flight to prevailing conditions
  • With paramotor disconnected before take-off, the wing becomes just another paraglider thus offering the freedom & excitement of engine-less flight!
Information extracted from BB, Saturday 30th Sept 2006 (Article written by Muhammad Abdullah)

No comments: