FAQs

IS THIS SPORT DANGEROUS?

The easiest and most accurate answer to that question is its as safe as you make it.  It is aviation so there are always risks but if you respect the sport, do proper equipment checks, respect the weather, don’t engage in dangerous flying activities, it is quite safe.  Statistically in terms of injury the most dangerous part of this sport is on the ground during launch, which is what makes proper training so important.

HOW PHYSICALLY FIT DO I NEED TO BE TO DO THIS SPORT?

That question is dependent on whether you want to foot launch or go to a cart.  To foot launch you need to be able to carry 60 pounds on your back and run down a field(although the wing once above your head, immediately begins to take some of the weight off your back), while cart launching is much easier as the cart takes the weight of the engine.  Having said that there are many middle age people learning to foot launch(I learned when I was 50) and I have seen people in their 60’s and 70’s learning to cart launch.

WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT TO LEARN TO PARAMOTOR?

This question is again dependent on whether you foot launch or cart, as well as how quickly you catch on to kiting(which means controlling the wing in the air while your still on the ground). Typically in a cart you would be soloing your third day of training, while foot launch would take a couple days more. The other influencing factor is weather, we need the right weather for training, as well we only fly mornings and evenings when the air is stable. There is also a component of ground school that must be completed, so you should budget at least a week to complete training. For people that are far away from me, we can train hard one weekend, send you home with your wing to practice, get your skills to a place where you come back and hopefully get you in the air the second weekend and get a bunch of flights in.

WHAT DOES IT COST TO DO THIS SPORT?

It typically costs between $15000.00 and $20,000.00 to get into paramotoring.  The paraglider wing is about $5000, the paramotor is about $9000 and lessons are about $3000.  From there you will need some accessories such as helmet, comms, etc.  After you get setup, costs are minimal and your gear will last a long time if you take care of it.