WHAT IS A PARAMOTOR?

A Paramotor is a motorizied paraglider.
It is not an airplane and does not fly like one.The motor fits on the back of the pilot.

DO I NEED A PILOT'S LICENSE?

No not in the UK, although a minimum training is required to become proficient in the proper use and operation of the Paramotor.

HOW DOES THE CHUTE INFLATE?

Simply remove the chute from its tote bag and lay it out behind the craft. As you begin to run, the forward motion, in combination with the wind, if any, and the prop blast is enough to quickly bring the chute up overhead. Next, squeeze the throttle and gently lift off.

Safe? Absolutely!
You're flying a parachute after all! What could be safer? A paramotor almost flies itself - due to the pendulum effect created by your hanging (like a pendulum) under the canopy. Even if you run out of fuel its a breeze to land a paramotor. After all, skydivers don't need an engine to land safely, do they? And you never need to worry about your chute opening because it's impossible to leave the ground unless your chute is already up! 

Exciting?
You bet! Any pilot will tell you that flying "low and slow" is where the real fun (and the best view) can be found. 

Affordable?
Yes indeed! You can pick up a used paramotor for under £3,000 and a wing under £1,500

Easy to learn?
Absolutely, after a good session of ground handling with the canopy parachute, its time to get that engine on your back and get airbourne for that first solo circuit. You really can do it!  

Paramotors are available in varying sizes. Although the configuration on each is pretty much the same. Each normally with a single cylinder engine mounted on a frame with a propellor mounted normally on a reduction drive unit. The wing is attached to the harness using very strong links. Some paramotors have whats called solid hangpoints this adds to the stability normally when taking off although some pilots claim better 

Absolutely NOTHING is easier to fly. Steering is accomplished by pulling on a line attached to the outside trailing edge of the chute. The lines are attached to hand loops; so to turn left you pull on the left loop and to turn right you pull on the right loop. Increasing or decreasing your altitude is as simple as increasing or decreasing the throttle. Therefore, increasing your engine speed does not increase your airspeed, it simply causes you to climb. Decreasing your engine speed causes you to descend. Weird, but true! 

To take off you simply lay the chute out on the ground behind you, start your engine and begin to move forward. The air flowing over the chute from your propeller and your forward motion causes the chute to pop up off the ground and rise above your head. Once the chute is overhead just a little more forward speed will lift you quite quickly (typically 200-400 FPM) up into the wild blue yonder. Take off distances are amazingly short (depending upon conditions), ranging from 15-25 feet. Landing distances are even shorter (and can even be zero!), typically running 50-20 feet. Grass runways are used to keep abrasion on the chute to a minimum, but all you really need is a grass field 500-1000 feet on a side to serve as your landing strip. 

Noel Whittals book, "Paramotoring From the Ground Up", is a "must", for those who already take part up in the exciting sport of paramotoring. "or " is a "MUST READ" for anyone seriously interested in taking up the sport It's available for £19.95 from Airlife Publications Ltd.