Getting Started with Paramotors - 5 Ways to Start your Journey Under $250 

been waiting 5 years after finding Tucker...Tried to get training in Florida a few years back, but life took over and I had to cancel....heading to Kyle O's place in 20 days to finally train. So excited to finally get to it.

As a teen I would buy private airplane and motorcycle magazines at the used bookstore near my house, I'd even ride my bike there to see what they had. I'd dream of flying just like I'd dream of riding, but all I had was my little 4 HP Tecumseh engined minibike. That lead to a dirt bike, eventually a Honda Shadow 500, VF500C Magna, Ninja 750, VFR800 Interceptor, even a fun Elite 150 scooter. But about 10 or 15 years ago I went to a bike & car night (hundreds of cars, dozens of bikes) and this machine flew overhead, couple weeks later they were back. I was fascinated. I believe now they were a powered parachute (PPC) but I still had young kids and no way to justify anything beyond my motorcycles. Fast forward to a few months ago, I found a video of a guy in the UK on a trike, talking about his unexpected engine outage and semi-crash landing. A little searching and I found Tucker, Anthony Vella, Kyle-O, PPG Grandpa, Dell (oops!) and so many more. I can just run into the sky? And it's probably safer than riding a motorcycle (sharing roads with people texting and taking selfies!) So I'm on my way to becoming a beginner PPG pilot. Joined all the Fb groups, got the bible, watching and learning as much as I can. Appreciate all the people sharing their experiences and knowledge online!

God, I have never wanted to do something so bad in my LIFE as I do this. This is my dream!

I became aware of paramotoring from Tuckers Mcdonald videos and other like it. But it was your videos with the calm and realistic attitude to the sport that made me decide I could and wanted to get involved in the sport myself. I have been flying paramotors for over two years now, I started when I was 61 years old. Your recommendations are spot on ! Great meeting you at Bad Apples, hoping to make it again this year.

Excellent information. Thanks for the shout out!

I'm just now seeing this one. One of the best! It was great to meet you at Bad Apples!

Great advice!! Go get around the stuff, most instructors are happy to show you what it’s about if they are a reputable school to learn from. 💪🏼

One of the best intro discussions I've seen.. thanks Ben!

Ben this was your best most informative video yet. Great job.

Nice and informative video!!

BEAUTIFUL FLY

Nicely done Ben. Great advice to the would-be pilot on the fence.

I was about to buy a wing and engine tomorrow, start alone, no training just hooked. I think ill wait and get some training first. Thanks for sensible advice.

Great video Ben.

bravo! really cool

I'm just starting my training at Mojos, hope to see you out there someday.

Good Info. Hope people listen.

Great recommendations 👍. Might need to upgrade your running sneakers 👟 for cold weather flying 😅

I'm doing it! Training this spring. Got the PPG Bible Over Christmas. Bought my wing in January with a loan from the credit union. Just paid it off. Buying my motor March 1st... Talked to a LOT of schools and instructors, even motor manufacturers. Already working on my wing handling so I can get a head start on instruction. I AM getting helpful hints on my kiting BY the instructors I'm going to use, so I minimize creating bad habits.

Great video! I was one of the guys that bought a wing prior to training. I had no intention to fly PPG with it. I think I spent 300$ as a "kiting wing only" and at the time it was 4 years old with 200+ hrs on it. I read a ton, and watched many, many of kiting videos. I likely spent 50-60 hours working with that wing in the wind down in FL. I got the the place where I felt comfortable in laminar winds up to 18-20 mph wing (pretty sure Ryan still doesn't believe me lol). I will say I took my fair share of bumps and bruises, but I really do think it was very helpful now that I fly PPG (with Mojos too). I sold that wing for the same price I paid for it with the same disclaimer so I was out nothing. I will say I really think it takes the right type of person to do that. However, I would NEVER consider PPG without an instructor looking back. The motor adds SO MUCH more complication, and the consequences for error are much higher. It took me a while before I wasn't afraid of the motor. I think the idea situation would be to take training in FL with constant wind to really learn the wings behavior in wind, AND train in a place like NC where we have no wind and only do forwards. This just isn't possible for most ppl however.

It's been so long but I am finally at a point in my life where I have funds to be able to do this without hurting myself in any way. Going for my first tandem in May. Super excited.

I am watching from Nepal. I like your video very much

I live in washington and was wondering if you knew of any schools there? great video!

I'm just did my 8th skydive but unfortunately my ears/head can't handle the constant altitude changes over and over again. After that 8th jump in 3 days I had a bloody nose, my head hurt like hell and it took 3.5 days for my ears to finally open up again. I was worried I caused permanent damage for a while. I only got into this sport for the canopy flight. I was starting to get used to the jumping out part lol but was still terrified. Sounds like paramotoring is perfect for me.

Love the landscape where is this brother?

Thank you, that was some good info. Yes, the money is the only issue holding me back but I'll look into the one day thing. Where are you in NC? I'm in Winston-Salem :)

I'm in NC and I've trained and bought equipment, but I'm still looking for a place to launch and people to fly with. My parents live there near you in the Matthews-Indian Trail area just inside Union County. I'm at the coast now. I'd love to get together with some of you guys sometime and fly.

Self training: You dont know...what you dont know. Pretty much sums it up. Its like handing your keys to a kid with no driving experience who watched youtube racecar videos and some Fast and Furious episodes then goes down a one way street, sees a cop coming, yanks the ebrake handle then slides into an old lady crossing the street who does not expect your car to be coming the wrong way.

i think a major portion of the video you left out in paramotoring is what are the requirements and weight limit n stuff. i dont think i would be able to do paramotoring since i weight 310-315lb which is over the limit for indoor and outdoor sky diving so i kinda assume it the same for paramotors

My first and only thought when I first learned about this was, “I want that.”

I’m about an hour north of atlanta, Georgia and I’m having a tough time finding a school

I’m in Hickory, what part of NC are you? Looks flat lol.. I’m looking to get into this for a while now. Thanks

I’m “afraid of heights” which is why I flew planes 😂😂 this video has me wanting to do this. I’m in Rhode Island. Is this a thing that folks do in the Newport area alone the coast or western MA?

The areas you fly are they designated so as to not come into conflict with aviation/airport and so the areas have no air traffic. can you fly on your property given its large enough like 200 acres or something?

If I can do this affordably, I'm just gonna teach myself. I've got space and time.

This is is dumb question but do you need to be able to skydive before training on a paramotor?

MM sure can fly, but I regretted traveling to train with him on day 1.

most passive way to Paraglide

Hang on a minute, you launched with no GoPro and pole on your foot, then in the next scene its there...talk to me about how you did this sorcery

Do you know anyone toronto area?

In all paramoters are just a perfect example of how reaching for the skies is not impossible 👇

Ive been to two paramotor schools to check them out. Neither charged me anything. They were welcoming and offered me coffee. Showed me around and BS’ed for a couple of hours. Charging a potential client $250.00 to show them around, watch and ask questions is rude🙄. Which one was that, so I know not to go there.

IM NOT DOING IT BRO lolololololollol

Just buy learn

Kiting is SIMPLE!!! If you can't do it yourself, you haven't studied near enough yet to do it safely let alone know which size to buy. That's not rocket science either "the manufacturers list weight ratings on wings" if you don't know that before you buy then its not sad you just cost yourself money by not doing your research first. Watch mark leavesly or fly with greg, tgey will actuallyteach you the most important thing you need to know before kiting! How to kill the wing if the wind gets the glider or you feeling unmanageable!

There is NOTHING that is funner than flying PPG nothing!!

You kinda look like Vince McMahon if he wasn't such an asshole

That video is what keeps me doubting about paramotoring. It is such a stupid things I have seen on a ppg. With all the great places and things to fly over, that is the most american. thing in the world.

Lol i can only imagine if motorcycles were recently invented how everyone would treat them just like this. It's super dangerous, very a super expensive trainer. Thanks but no thank you

Tucker is a disgrace to the sport. He put people in danger for clout. Hes not liked in the community and is literally laughed at by all of us. I wouldnt use him as a reference in your videos

Simple. Just like pilots license. People are scared