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Welcome to the newest and most exciting flying sport; Motorized
Paragliding! Motorized Paragliding, also know as Para motoring, is
by far the least expensive, and the easiest to learn form of powered
flight.
Motorized paragliding is great
fun and expands the conditions and circumstances for flying. With
the gas-fueled motor unit attached to the pilot's back by means of a
special harness, it is possible to paraglide in areas and at times, when free-flying sites or conditions are limited or non-existent.
The sports closest to Para
motoring such as hang gliding and free-flying paragliding (no motor)
rely on the environment. You need to jump off a hill or mountain and
then find updrafts, thermals or the rising air surrounding a
landscape in order to stay in the air.
Powered Paragliding is
different. It's more like the parasailing done behind a boat; only
instead of being pulled by a rope, you are pushed by a propeller
powered by a back-pack mounted engine.
Here, however, the pilot has
complete control. Two handles attached to the wing control steering;
pull on either the right or left to turn in that direction. Flying
is very straightforward though learning to take off requires
learning some skills and practice.
Para motoring altitude is
controlled with the throttle; squeeze the handle to speed up the
motor to go up, allow the motor idle to glide down and somewhere in
between for level flight. To land, idle or shut off the motor, then
glide to the landing area, pull on both break lines to slow the
descent just above the ground to come to a smooth and gentle
landing. A Para motor can still fly long distances without the motor
running, because it is basically a paraglide with a motor attached.
The best part is a totally free
feeling... Take off with your Para motor from a beach or open field,
or pack the Para motor up and take it on vacation. The whole thing
folds up into a bag that fits into a car trunk or can be checked in
when taking a commercial flight to a favorite holiday destination.
With thorough training, a Para
motor pilot can also use the motor to launch at the bottom of a hill
and then spend the rest of the day ridge soaring or thermal ling;
re-starting the motor only when necessary to keep from landing. The
other great feature of powered paragliding is that you can also
choose to free-fly by launching at mountain sites using the same
harness and wing without the motor attached. |
