I've been a skydive instructor for eight years, and started flying paramotors in late January. I've got 130 flights with several aborted takeoffs (including one like you describe where I had to replace a prop). All of my landings have been great, though. Something we see in many new canopy pilots is a tendency to "reach" when encountering a crosswind gust. We feel like we're getting pushed to the side, which we are, and our natural reaction is to stick that hand out to "catch" ourselves, which causes the wing to turn in the direction of the "fall," which exacerbates the problem. In skydiving, we teach "landing priorities." Number one is land in a clear area free of obstacles. Two is "wing overhead," meaning not in a turn, but also staying under the wing as you land: If your wing goes to the left, apply a bit of right brake to get yourself back under its center. The final two (skydiving) landing priorities, in case you're curious, are always flare at least half way and be prepared for a PLF or parachute landing fall. Obviously, a PLF would kinda suck with a paramotor on, lol. Best of luck in your continued advancement!

Nice! I am going the self training route myself. Just can't see giving someone $3500.00 for two days of kiting practice and then flying on your third day with them just saying More Power, left right, hold, FLAIR. I went to a training hill Saturday and the student paragliders were all ready flying pretty high up, but when they were taking off and landing, their kiting skills were terrible. Failed launches after failed launches and then when kiting after landing (for practice or fun) they just couldn't keep the wing up at all. I was kiting near them and it was almost embarrasing how bad they were compared to what I learned from books and videos. It was an eye opener to see what paying sometimes gets you.

@JustOutHereTinkering

Жыл бұрын

I feel like bad training is worse than no training. If you get top notch training from someone like Eric Dufour or Kylo O you will probably come out ahead and I don't think anyone would regret getting that training. But having experienced friends around you to help is important as well. They help me realize when I'm doing something wrong and don't know it

@coloradocj243

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOutHereTinkering Yeah. There are around 5-6 local paramotor flyers close to me, one just down the street. When the time comes, I'll ask one of them to be on the radio with me for the first flight.

Hello all...I'm in the process of self training also, kiting was simple to learn. Next spring will start on motor work, ground handling n hang check stuff. If anyone is in Illinois or close n wants to hang out, swap knowledge n such, give me a hollar. Proly will also go do a lil hill training at lookout first too, their prices are much more tolerable than the typical ppg schools. Anyway hit me up if your close by!

Me and my brother self trained. He helped me and I helped him, but it was stupid not to at least find someone who has been flying a while to tutor us for a week or so. There was so much we didnt know and had to learn the Hard way.

@JustOutHereTinkering

Жыл бұрын

My brother and I are learning simultaneously as well, but he has had our friend help him who went through training. I'm 5 hours away so I've just been talking with my brother and reviewing every flight (Also I've found an experienced group to meet up with, but weather just hasn't allowed me to meet up with them!)

I estimated I watched 60 hrs of ppg content and performed 22 of kiting practice before my self taught first flight. I'm still learning, just like anyone who paid thousands doe training, there is a lot to learn once you start flying. With that, paying for training only gets you so far because it's only foundations you learn.

I would have to stay at a hotel for a couple of weeks or more, but even then, am still leaning toward flight training. Learning how to fly is easy. Learning to recover from challenging situations, not so easy, methinks.

@JustOutHereTinkering

Жыл бұрын

I would certainly recommend that route for a majority of up and coming pilots. Not to toot my own horn but I have a very good basic understanding of aviation and I'm very coordinated and my natural instincts are very good and generally happen to be right but not everybody can rely on that! I would definitely recommend training for 98% of people

@MichaelVanecekAuthor

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOutHereTinkering Agreed. I have had flight training and have flown 152s and Piper Warriors, but paramotors are a different animal altogether. Though I am looking seriously at flying trikes with tandom capabilities. Kudos on surviving your DIY approach, however. :)

Wow this video turned out so great

@JustOutHereTinkering

Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

The manual for the wing should tell you where to put the trims for launch or landing. My Apco Hybrid seems fine trimmed in for both. @15:00 - @ 19:30 Idled for over 4 minutes. I was taught (in a C172) to give the motor a smooth little rev up every couple minutes to keep it warm while your gliding down. You do not want it stumbling on that go-around! I don't know if this applies to paramotor engines but I don't want to find out the hard way. Good landing ;) Maybe just mistimed the flare. A bit early or a bit late and you can get dumped. I ended up with skinned knees a couple landings ago (very rocky/weedy LZ surface). It was a very long flight for me and I think I just forgot to start running.

@JustOutHereTinkering

Жыл бұрын

You can't hear it real well on video but I do blip the throttle a little every 20-30 seconds. I'm not 100% sure it's necessary but most 2 strokes don't love idling for extended periods of time.

If you can, get someone to video your takeoffs and landing. Very helpful in figuring out what went wrong. Good luck.

@JustOutHereTinkering

Жыл бұрын

I have since done that. I have found o have a tendency to drop my left hand just slightly more than my right on my flare. This causes me to drift left. This time was a kind of bad instance and what was worse is I tried to correct it. That created a bigger oscillation

I'm just setting up in the UK to start Paramotoring. I would not feel safe without proper professional training as an older complete novice. Thanks for your thoughts and for posting.

@JustOutHereTinkering

Жыл бұрын

Ya for a majority of people I think training is the way to go for sure. But I certainly don't look down on training or those who do training. It's honestly the smarter decision!!!

Could you elaborate on how you got your lines in the prop on a taxi? Did your wing drop? I was watching a video from "Paramotor Steve" where his lines got hit by the prop and I still dont understand how the prop hit them. The wing was always either up or forward. I am self training myself (just kiting now) and am trying to get an understanding on what to avoid regarding this subject. Additionally last year Kyle-o got his lines in the prop and cut one of his fingers off.

@JustOutHereTinkering

Жыл бұрын

So I didn't have a clutch and my prop was always spinning. The wing came up about halfway and then fell back behind a little. The lines got a little slack and that's when they hit the prop. The prop sucks them in with a quickness. If you have a clutch just make sure that the wing is up above you and stable before you throttle up at least while you're learning and then you will learn to throttle up earlier and earlier and when it's OK to do it and when it's not. If you don't have a clutch you need to be careful. If anything doesn't go right, kill the motor. I'd much rather set up again than break something.

@kentdelahay2336

Жыл бұрын

@@JustOutHereTinkering Good advice, thanks

I just bought my first paramotor complete setup yesterday a Blackhawk airmax 220 with a 25M velocity edge. I have a lot to learn. I’ve been wanting to get into paramotoring for about 3 years or so. I stumbled on a great deal last week the unit has low hrs 25 same as wing. I would like to get some training im in no rush. I would like to locate somebody in my area in Franklin Va that could help show me the way.

@JustOutHereTinkering

Жыл бұрын

Congrats man! For now until you get training or someone to help you along, I recommend watching the Aviator ppg videos on basics and kiting and find a few videos on kiting. Then get out to a field and start kiting your wing! The more time you spend learning the wing and kiting it the more comfortable you will be flying

Although paramotor schools are hardly viable. (Not many can take off for 2 wks and stay out of dtate while training.) I Do NOT recommend self training in this sport. The self help videos only give you small tidbits of info. And this is not a sport that forgives stupidity....impact is a bitch. It's the things you don't know that you need to know thst will hurt you bad. I have seen long time pilots loose fingers and get hurt bad from dumb mistakes tgat should have been avoided. I do not promote schools. But I highly suggest you find an instructor. There are so many variables in this sport. Do not take it lightly. That being said I look forward to flying with you.....

@JustOutHereTinkering

Жыл бұрын

It's a bit of a sticky wicket isn't it lol. But I've found a good group of guys that I've been flying with recently that have a lot of experience and have already improved my flying! However in the end nobody will ever know everything about this sport. You just need to make smart decisions and you will probably be ok