BASIC PARAMOTOR TRAINING

BASIC TRAINING How Does It Work?

Check your calendar to see what days work for you. We’re ready to start PPG training you as soon as you’re ready. Contact Us to see how soon you can get started.

We encourage students to buy new paramotor gear before, during, or after training. You can learn on our school gear before you buy your own gear. We sell some of the top paramotor brands: Airfer, Polini, Vitorrazi, Sky Engines, and Cors-Air We also sell some of the top paraglider brands: NIVIUK, BGD, GIN, and OZONE.

Plan on training in the mornings or evenings for the best flying conditions. We will work with you to ensure that you progress quickly and safely in the sport. Get ready to experience some incredible views from up above!

After your training, you’ll continue to learn and develop your skills on your own. You will ALWAYS be a part of our family and welcome to come fly with us.

Common Questions About Gear

No. We’ll offer you rental gear (paramotor and wing) for you to learn on. We are proud to be an Airfer affiliated school and we use the incredibly popular Explorer2 and Explorer3 for training. We have the gear to accommodate any pilot from 100 lbs to 200 lbs. If you weigh less than 100 lbs or more than 200 lbs, you may need to purchase the appropriate wing size and motor suitable for your weight.

This is one of the most important decisions you will make. Let someone help you! The right motor and wing will depend on your weight, the altitude where you takeoff from (sea level is easier than up in the mountains), and of course your budget. Don’t just buy something you find on the internet. Talk to other pilots, or to an instructor and get their advice and opinions. Some pilots and instructors will feel like used car salesmen when it comes to talking about Paramotors. They will swear that their brand is the best and all the others are trash. The truth is that there are A LOT of good brands and models out there.
 
Motors: Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the stronger the better. You want the motor that is strong enough for you and that’s it. If your motor is too strong, you will battle with unnecessary weight and unwanted torque (you’ll learn about this in training). We’re happy to help you choose something, even if it’s not something we sell, like something used or a brand we don’t carry. Our main goal is to help you get into this sport so you can enjoy the miracle of flight that we enjoy so much!
 
Wings: Wings come in various sizes and styles. You want to make sure you get a wing that is just the right size for you, not too big and not too small. This is all based on weight. You also want to start on a beginner or intermediate wing and not on an expert wing. Wing are generally rated A, B, C, and D where an A wing is for beginners and generally slower and safer to learn on. Again, please talk to other pilots or to an instructor to ensure you get the right wing. Don’t just pick a random wing cause you found a good deal on the internet.
 
In short, reach out to us and we’ll help you, even if it’s just giving advice about a wing you are buying from somewhere/someone else (used or new). We just want to make sure you don’t regret what you buy.

When you purchase new gear, you’ll know the full history of what it’s been through and what it hasn’t been through. If you want to feel confident in your gear, you can’t beat new gear. If you’re looking to save some money, used gear can be a great way to do it. The key is to avoid buying something used without consulting with an instructor or at least a seasoned paramotor pilot first. You don’t want to end up buying something that won’t work well for you. Your weight, skill level, and flying style are all factors that need to be considered when purchasing gear. We’re happy to help you with that process (even if you don’t buy from us or train with us).

Frequently Asked Questions

There are inherent risks associated with all forms of aviation but these risks are mitigated by operating your Paramotor and wing within the guidelines outlined in the owners manual and within your skills and limitations. The short answer is YES (honestly, it’s as safe as YOU make it to be)…It’s one of the easiest and safest forms of flight. The #1 key to safely enjoying this sport is good decisions making skills. You need to understand the glider and it’s limitations and your skills and their limitations as well. A good training program will help you to develop the skills and habits to enjoy this hobby for many years to come.

Fortunately, you are flying a glider…so you just glide down and land. During training, all of your landings are done with the motor off, so you will be used to coming down and landing without your motor. As long as you fly within gliding range of a safe landing spot, engine failures are nothing more than an inconvenience.

Yes and No. There are two forms of Paramotor flying: foot launch and wheel launch. Foot launch is where you use your feet as the landing gear to run and takeoff and also to land. You must be able to run with the weight of your motor on your back until you takeoff. Paramotors generally weigh between 45 – 80 lbs depending on the brand and size.
Wheeled launch is where you use wheels, like on a trike or quad. This is a great alternative to foot launch depending on your age and physical abilities. Wheeled launch units can weigh much more but since you’re using wheels, it doesn’t matter as much.
We teach both Foot AND Wheel launch depending on what is best for you.

No. Paramotoring in the United States falls under Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) part 103. It states that no license, medical certificate, registration, or training is required to fly. You are required to fly during daylight hours (sunrise – sunset) and stay away from congested areas and you can’t carry passengers without a waiver. Your ground school training will go in-depth on general regulations and airspace rules.

Almost anywhere… AVOID congested areas, busier airports (don’t fly within 5 miles of an airport with a control tower), and you can’t takeoff/land in national parks and some state parks. You will learn all the details in ground school. There are many Facebook groups of local pilots who can indicate where the best local launch sites are and where to fly locally. Be courteous to neighbors and land owners to minimize complaints.
 

We generally fly in the morning and the evening when conditions are calm. Experienced pilots can fly in stronger conditions. Weather and wind limitations also depend on where you are. Coastal winds coming off the water are smooth and stable while winds in the mountains or over land may be turbulent and unpleasant to fly in. You will learn about weather and wind conditions in ground school.

It mostly depends on your schedule. The more frequently you schedule your classes, the faster you’ll progress. Most people who train with us will be ready to fly on the 3rd or 4th day of training. After your training, you’ll continue to learn and develop your skills on your own.

In mild conditions, you will generally do a Forward Launch. You run facing forward while pulling the wing up behind you. You’ll generally run 5 – 15 feet before you are in the air.
 
In stronger winds, you will do a Reverse Launch, where you face the wing and your weight to inflate the wing, then spin around and take off.

Yes. Paragliding or free flying is when you fly with your same wing but a different harness (without the motor). It can be a lot of fun! You’ll need a mountain to launch from or some kind of ridge where you can get lift.

No. Routine seasonal maintenance like cleaning/changing the spark plug will keep your Paramotor running smoothly for a long time. Most of us end up learning as we go. There are vast resources in each community and online to assist with any mechanical or maintenance issues. Learning these things is part of the fun, but if you don’t want to learn it at all, there is always someone who can do it for you if you’re willing to pay, just like with your own car.

Generally, the same type of gas you use in your car but mixed with 2-stroke oil. It’s recommended to use the highest octane possible, like premium. We use 91 Octane Ethanol Free in our school motors. Several gas stations have the right gas. You just mix it with the oil that is available online or at most motorcycle or recreation shops. It’s really easy!

A truck is convenient but certainly not necessary. Many people transport their Paramotor using a cargo trailer hitch as pictured below. Others use a trailer.

Paramotors burn just under 1 gallon of gas per hour, so you can average the cost with oil at about $5/hour. Other maintenance costs would include new belts, spark plugs, and other minor things at 25, 50, or 100 hours of flight. Paramotoring is one of the most cost-effective ways to enjoy a flight. The initial cost of training is $1500+/-, new gear motor/wing will range between $8000 – $12,000. Used gear will range between $6000 – $9,000. The only other expenses to factor in are helmet ($100 – $400 with comms), reserve parachute ($500+ highly recommended), gloves ($15), radio to communicate with other pilots ($35), GoPro or other cameras to capture your epic adventures ($200+).

Taking a passenger or “tandem” flying is possible with the correct equipment and training. A special license is required.

Contact Us to see how soon you can get started.