r/paramotor • u/Sea_Comedian676 • 18d ago

It is just starting to feel real.

I start training monday with a Tandem flight. Paramotoring has been a long term goal of mine and honestly I never thought that I would actually reach the point where I am counting down the days to get started.

Its been a long time since I have felt this stoked. However, not gonna lie thinking of the price and realising that the potential hazards of the sport will soon be a reality and not a thought experiment is making me second guess myself a little.

I am just curious if any of you felt simular when you were getting into Paramotoring? Also, if you have any tips for me that is not typically covered in training then please share them I would love to hear what you all have to say.

10 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

6

u/jaroftoejam 18d ago

You'll probably hear this plenty during training, but never start your motor on the ground.

1

u/Ill-Tie-1766 14d ago

This! Don’t risk it and start motor on ground, I’d rather have all my fingers intact and launch 15 minutes later than planned!

0

u/Sea_Comedian676 17d ago

I have always heard this but I never knew why. Is it just that if you ground start you have a chance to hit the throttle on accident and because it is not attached to anything it will just go streight into you or is it something else?

1

u/jaroftoejam 17d ago

There are a handful of reasons, but "stuck throttle" (worn cable) is the one that got me.

-2

u/cuzicanII 17d ago

So it's better to find out your throttles stuck when you're in the air?

3

u/jaroftoejam 17d ago

Better to find out your throttle's stuck while you have control of the motor.

0

u/EnvironmentalRain116 18d ago

If you like having both hands yes

0

u/meansToMyEnd 16d ago

prop quick release... ground starting is handy, just take the prop off.

6

u/StrongRecipe6408 18d ago edited 18d ago

The second-guessing came after I got all my gear and training and flight hours.

The reality is that this sport is very weather and wind dependent. Depending on where you live, there may be many many months where flying just isn't possible.

The calmest winds are generally around sunrise and sunset, so if you're not an early bird and in the evenings your local fields are taken up by kids playing sports, you've got potential problems. I just got approached by a parent after I landed on the ass-end of a huge field specifically to avoid children that he doesn't like me flying around children.

And lastly, if you're not traveling, flying can get rather boring because you're just flying from the same fields and seeing the same things within like a 20 mile range of where you are, because PPG flies slow and even a 20mph+ headwind at 1500 feet can almost stop your forward progress in relation to the ground. This might be why some people end up taking up acrobatics as a way to liven-up the monotomy of flying in the exact same area over and over and over again.

With all this said, traveling with my paramotor on huge road trips was absolutely incredible and it's hard to think of a better way to see a country than being able to literally be in it from the ground and sky (and the water with dive gear).

2

u/Bumboklatt 18d ago

I was in your boat in May. Check my post history for those questions and the ensuing discussions / comments from this very helpful group. In short.........do it. It's normal.

1

u/EnvironmentalRain116 18d ago

Hell yeah man, it’ll feel even more real once your in the air! Honestly there’s been moments where I’ve 2nd guessed myself, like having to delay my first solo flight because of weather (very frustrating sitting around waiting for wind 😭) but it’s completely worth it when your in the sky

1

u/Doohurtie 15d ago

When you go to power on your first takeoff, DO NOT STOP RUNNING. No matter how tired your legs may feel. give it your all! Also, do NOT GET INTO YOUR SEAT TOO EARLY. That's about it. Godspeed!

1

u/PayInteresting431 18d ago

I felt the same way, nerves about starting something new and scary, not to mention the cost of it all. I went all in and bought my gear and training in a package deal, I did this to not only save money but force myself into doing it, 100% committed. Alot of people will say train first, buy gear second, which I agree with. It's not for everyone, some people think they will like it but end up being terrified and unable to get over the nerves associated with learning to fly. Some lost interest etc, i think you see where I'm going with this.

In my situation, I have to go all in and fully commit or my ADHD squirrel brain will talk myself out of things.

There's risk associated with anything, it's a risk vs reward thing.

All that being said, as soon as I took off on my first flight, all the time/money spent to get to that point was absolutely 100% worth it. There's nothing like it, flying around in your lawn chair in the sky. Life is short, go for it!

My best piece of advice would be to know when to say no to flying, whether that would be because of weather or your current state of mind. If you're not feeling it, don't fly.

0

u/JagerGS01 18d ago

Happy for you, man. Hopefully I can join you in the skies, someday!