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Here's what you need to know
Paramotoring
Power Source: Uses a motor attached to your back (foot launch) or on a wheeled cart (wheel launch) to provide thrust.
Where do people fly? A paramotor is capable of launching from flat grounds thanks to the motor. You will see people flying paramotors almost anywhere, in any terrain.
Control: Generally easier to control in calm conditions due to the motor.
Flight Duration: Can fly for extended periods, limited primarily by fuel capacity.
Learning Curve: Typically quicker to learn due to less dependence on specific wind conditions and launch points.
Gear Weight: Heavier equipment due to the motor and fuel.
Regulation: Operates under FAA's FAR 103 in the U.S. (or similar regulations in other countries).
Cost: Generally higher initial cost because of the engine and additional equipment.
Paragliding
Power Source: Relies solely on wind currents, ridge lift, and thermals to stay aloft.
Where do people fly? Requires elevated launch points like hills or cliffs. Common to see in mountainous or coastal areas.
Control: Typically more challenging to control due to reliance on stronger wind conditions.
Flight Duration: Duration is dependent on finding thermals or ridge lift to extend flights.
Learning Curve: May take longer to become proficient due to the need to understand weather and meteorology along with higher wind launch techniques.
Gear Weight: Lighter equipment, easier to carry.
Regulation: Regulated by FAA FAR Part 103 and also governed by USHPA in the U.S. and requires different levels of certification.
Cost: Usually less expensive initially, as no motor is required.
Paramotoring
AKA - Powered Paragliding
Paragliding
No Motor
Training Information
Foot Launch vs Wheel Launch
We offer both foot launch and wheel launch paramotoring lessons. However, our 10-day boot camp courses only cover foot launch. If you want to learn wheel launch, you can enroll in our hybrid session training, which is only available in Utah.
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 only train foot launch pilots since we only sell foot launch gear.
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.
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.
The good news is that there are A LOT of good schools and instructors out there. The usppa.org website is a good place to start in your search for an instructor or school. Keep in mind that a good pilot doesn't necessarily mean they'll be a good instructor and vice versa. You want to talk to your potential instructor and get a feel for their style and approach. You don't need a Nascar driver to teach you how to drive a car and you don't need a daredevil pilot to teach you how to fly. If you want to learn crazy acrobatic tricks, then pick an instructor who can eventually teach you those tricks. if you want to fly calm and slow, pick someone who can teach you just that. In the end, the instructor/school will only get you to the point of flying confidently alone. After that, you develop your skills on your own and you can attend further training like SIV courses but it's mostly you alone with time developing your own skills. The search for a school/instructor can feel frustrating at first because some places feel very pushy or belittling of other brands or schools. Keep looking! There are lots of good instructors and lots of good options out there. Search for local facebook groups of paramotor pilots in your area and talk to them, go watch them fly and try to meet people in person before you make a decision. If you have any questions at all, feel free to reach out to us. Even if you don't train with us, we'll give you our honest opinions about used gear or tips for picking wings or things like that, even the brands we don't sell because the truth is that almost all the brands of wings and motors are good. Good luck with the search and we hope see you soon in the air!
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.
We cover all the basics in our 10-day training course (weather permitting). Most people 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. Check out the video of several of us free flying in California.
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 - $2500 (depends on if you buy gear or rent), 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. FAR 103 restricts us from flying tandem unless it's done with a written exemption from the FAA. We have this exemption and we can help you to legally fly tandem using this same exemption. You'll need a lot of skills and experience before you can fly tandem.