Is it worth THOUSANDS of dollars? Is it everything I would hope it'd be? Am I strong enough to launch and land a paramotor? Is the gear safe? Is it scary being so high up? Do I live in an area that is good for flying?

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - INTRO
01:15 - COST (Worth it, but overpriced!)
03:37 - PARAMOTOR TRAINING (Are you ready?!)
07:26 - IS THE EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE TODAY SAFE?
08:53 - PHYSICAL & MENTAL REQUIREMENTS
10:05 - CAN I FLY ALL YEAR? (Flying Seasons)
11:19 - FOOT LAUNCHING HURTS... sometimes
12:27 - DO YOU LIVE IN A GOOD PLACE FOR PARAMOTORING?
14:55 - PLEASE HELP ME WITH MY GOAL :)

PARAMOTOR GEAR
So long as you purchase any known brand, you’ll almost certainly be using equipment that is up to snuff. Most notably, gliders have become significantly safer over the decades. They are less prone to collapse, and recover much faster if they do. In the event that it’s unable to recover, you’ll have a reserve parachute that has a success rate that is considerably higher than reserve parachutes in the past. The paramotors have improved as well, though they still have shitty 2-stroke engines that are very loud and problem stricken. Advancements have been made by bringing the weight down to average of 50-60 lbs; However, the weight of a unit should not be the deciding factor on which paramotor you decide to purchase. I’ll touch on considerations like this in just a bit. On the topic of paramotor gear, the market appears to be very trustworthy, though I’m strictly referring to the quality of the equipment.

FEAR
If you feel like you have any fear of heights, whatsoever, find an instructor that can help you mitigate the risks affiliated with a fear of heights. Without a doubt, there are individuals out there who may not require this extra consideration. While some people will have an excellent experience at larger paramotor schools, the size of them do not allow for one on one training that is common in general aviation. Granted, paramotors are not nearly as complex to learn as flying a Cessna; However, your first flight in a Cessna isn’t a solo flight like it most commonly is in paramotor training. The consequence of panicking during your first flights is unlikely to kill you, though it absolutely has the potential to scare you out of the sport as it has done for several individuals that I know, including my wife. I believe that drop outs can be reduced if instructors accommodated their students in a way that allows them to feel safe. Being USPPA certified is not enough to qualify someone as a great instructor. The best instructors not only teach the technical aspects of flying, but strive to learn more about you, considering themselves invested in your longterm success.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL FITNESS
Most individuals watching this will want to foot launch a paramotor. This is to wear the engine on your back and take off and land using your legs. The alternative to foot launching is wheeled launching with either a trike or quad. Having one of those allows the pilot to avoid using their legs. Foot launching is very physically demanding. Foot landing is even more physically demanding. Ever since I started flying paramotors, I have periodically experienced sharp pains shoot up my legs.

Foot launching has it’s advantages though. I am able to takeoff and land in shorter distances which allows me to fly from smaller locations. I am also able to attempt landing and landing in areas that would likely damage a wheeled unit. For example, I recently flew to a remote location where the ground was covered with waist high shrubs. Granted, I still ended up damaging my paramotor while attempting to takeoff.

My actual airtime experience with a paramotor is likely better than average considering that I live in an area without many airspace restrictions. I can takeoff and fly any direction for any reasonable amount of time. I realize that some individuals enjoy referencing aeronautical charts, but not me. Though paramotoring is the biggest part of my life, aside from my family, I don’t take it very seriously. Don’t get me wrong; Paramotoring demands respect. There are potential hazards to yourself and others if you ignore the risks; However, some people treat paramotors as though they follow the same rules and regulations that general aviation aircraft do. While there are rules to follow (as outlined in Part 103), they’re loosely written because the FAA feels as though extremely lightweight flying devices do not pose a substantial threat to anyone in the proximity. By flying in non-congested areas during daylight hours, I’m free to fly my paramotor however I want. It’s freedom at it’s finest. If you live near any large airports, there’s a chance that you’ll need to travel outside of controlled airspace in order to abide by part 103.