FAQs

Common Inquiries

DO YOU NEED A LICENSE TO FLY A PARAMOTOR?

In most countries, if you're flying a foot launched paramotor you do not need a license. This includes flying in the UK and US, but you will need an ultralight license if you fly in Canada

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET INTO POWERED PARAGLIDING?

Powered paragliding isn't cheap, but it is within reach of most people. For a new paramotor and wing you can expect to spend around $9500. The cost of training will be around $2500, and there will be a few other things to buy like a helmet.

CAN YOU FLY A PARAMOTOR ANYWHERE?

You can fly a paramotor almost anywhere! In the US we have a massive amount of freedom, and we can fly in most places without the need for ATC clearance.

HOW FAR CAN YOU FLY WITH A POWERED PARAGLIDER?

with the right paramotor, wing, and weather conditions, you can fly a paramotor over 200 miles on a single tank of fuel! This will vary with your engine type and size, your choice of wing, and the wind speed. An average burn rate on the moster 185 motor is about 1 gallon an hour.

HOW SAFE IS POWERED PARAGLIDING?

Powered paragliding is very safe, and statistics show that it's safer than riding motorcycles, or flying light airplanes. We've discovered that poor training, and complacency are two of the biggest causes of injury.
You may be surprised to discover that most paramotor accidents actually happen on the ground.

DO YOU NEED TRAINING TO FLY A PARAMOTOR?

In the US paramotoring is unregulated, which means you do not legally need training to fly a paramotor. There are pilots out there that have skipped the training, and although some do OK, many have been seriously injured, or worse!
Find an experienced instructor, and aim to get at least 10 solo flights before completing your training. Training will be very short, and most of your time will be spent ground handling and flying. This means even the best schools will not cover a great deal of important theory, and this will be left to the students to find out in their own time.

HOW FAST CAN A PARAMOTOR FLY?

The speed that a paramotor can fly depends on the wing, the wind, and the pilot + paramotor weight. The top speed will vary, but you can expect to fly at around 35 mph if there is no wind, and up to 60 mph with a strong tail wind.

HOW HIGH CAN YOU GO ON A PARAMOTOR?

The current UK paramotor altitude record is set at just below 25,600 feet. Although it's possible to fly this high with special ATC clearance, and an oxygen supply, it's not common for pilots to fly over 10,000 feet.

Flying to this height will burn a lot of fuel, and the climb takes a long time, so most pilots cruise around between 100 and 2000 feet.

IS THERE A WEIGHT LIMIT FOR PARAMOTOR?

There is a weight limit for paramotors, this is the weight of the machine without its pilot and fuel. In the US your machine can weigh up to 253 lbs. this means most wheeled machines will be legal.

HOW OLD DO YOU HAVE TO BE TO FLY A PARAMOTOR?

There is currently no lower or upper age limit for paramotor pilots in the US. But most schools and instructors will usually set their own lower age restriction at 14 years or age. If you're under 14, you can still get yourself a training wing and practice ground handling until you're old enough to fly.

WHAT IS REQUIRED TO FLY A PARAMOTOR?

All you really need to start paramotoring is a wing, a paramotor, a helmet, and some ear protection. Although these things will get you off the ground, it's recommended that you get yourself a few more things to keep you and your paramotor safe in the air, and on the ground.

WHO INVENTED THE PARAMOTOR?

Mike Byrne from the UK designed and built the worlds first paramotor, coined the name, and took it for it's maiden flight in Essex, during the summer of 1980.
Just 8 years later, the German built Pagojet paramotor became the first ever production machine, with a throttle that was controlled by biting down on a pressure sensitive mouthpiece.

CAN ANYONE FLY A PARAMOTOR?

Paramotors require about the same level of concentration as driving a car, so if you can drive you can learn to fly. If you have any kind of disability you shouldn't rule yourself out, as there are many disabled pilots.
If you have back problems, or if you're an amputee, a wheeled machine will work perfectly. If you can lift 50 lbs. and run with it, a foot launch paramotor may suit you best.

CAN YOU TAKEOFF AND LAND A PARAMOTOR ANYWHERE?

You can launch and land a paramotor anywhere that you have permission to do so. A simple knock on the landowners door is all it takes to get permission, if they refuse, move on and try somewhere else.
There are some places that you will be able to launch and land without permission, like some beaches for example. If you plan on doing this, always check that it's legal before attempting to do so, and always keep a 500 foot distance from people and animals.
Another thing to check is the airspace. When you find a place to launch or land, take a look at the airspace chart to make sure you will not be flying into restricted airspace.

WHAT IF THE PARAMOTOR'S ENGINE STOPS?

If the engine suddenly stops, the paramotor will continue to fly just like a paraglider would. If you have enough height you will be able to attempt a restart.
If the engine won't start, you will simply glide down to a safe landing spot and land as normal. This is why it's essential to always keep an available landing option within gliding distance.
This is the most frequently asked question on this list, but don't worry; I experienced an engine failure during training and it was easy to deal with, even with just a few short flights under my belt.

IS PARAMOTORING SCARY?

Paramotoring can be scary in the beginning. Most people have a fear of heights, and it's totally natural to feel this way. When you take your first paramotor flight you may feel nervous about the height, but the height really isn't an issue as you know you cannot fall, and that you have total control. This fear will usually go away after a few flights.
Many pilots, myself included take a long time to get over a certain fear that paramotoring can bring. This fear will go away eventually, so don't let it put you off learning to fly.