The powered paraglider wing folds up into a 30 lb. pack in about five minutes and, along with the motor pack, can be easily transported in a small vehicle. The powered parachute, due to its weight and dune buggy-style undercarriage, must be transported in a trailer.

It's somewhat easier to learn to fly a Powered Parachute. It takes more physical agility and stamina to launch a powered paraglider than it does a powered parachute. A powered paraglider weighs anywhere from 35 to 100 lbs., and is carried on your back, in contrast to a powered parachute which you sit in and takeoff on wheels.

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4. How is powered parachuting different from paragliding?
Paragliders are usually flown without engines, from hills or mountains, or can be towed aloft using a suitably designed winch. In order to extend the flight, the paraglider pilot needs to find rising air (lift) in the form of warmer air rising in "thermals", or ridge-lift, where the wind is deflected upward by mountain slopes. Finding and using lift to stay aloft is known as soaring. Without this lift, a paraglider will glide, gradually descending until reaching the ground.

The Powered Parachute, is flown from level ground, without the need for hills, mountains, a winch, wind or thermals.

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5. What can you do with a powered parachute?
You can fly about two hours at a speed of between 20 mph on one tank of gas. You can climb thousands of feet in the air. Or, you can staying between 500 and 1,000 feet above the ground as many pilots do. A large field, clear of obstructions, is plenty of room for you to land and takeoff.

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6. Is powered parachuting safe?
You can make powered parachuting, like most adventure sports, as safe or dangerous as you want. You can enjoy years of injury free flying as long as you follow basic safety guidelines and use well maintained equipment. Ways you can make it safe are to receive instruction from a certified professional and use safe equipment -- professional schools will create as controlled a learning environment as possible.

Powered Parachuting is an outdoor sport and Mother Nature is unpredictable -- weather is always a big consideration. The primary safety factors are personal judgment and attitude. You must be willing to learn gradually and use good judgement and have an appropriate attitude. If you don’t, then you can get injured or killed; if you do, then you can powered parachute until you’re 90.

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7. Is powered parachuting scary?
Powered Parachuting is the easiest forms of aviation to learn and one of the most accessible ways to fulfill your dream of free flight! Even if you have a fear of heights, it will rarely be a factor, since there is no sensation of falling. You will not fall from the sky if the engine stops.

Your solo lesson will require more effort (physical and mental) than your tandem lesson, but it lays the basic groundwork necessary to becoming your own pilot.

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8. Who can do powered parachuting?
Powered Parachuting is about finesse, not strength. As in rock climbing, women often do much better than men because they don’t try to muscle the powered parachute around. The undercarriage weighs approx. 50 to 100 pounds, so you will need some physical fitness. But more important than physical conditioning, is being physically and mentally alert and prepared. To be a successful powered parachuting student and pilot, you need to be able to think clearly and to listen well.

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9. How much does a powered parachute cost?
    How long does a powered parachute last?
A undercarriage, engine, and wing can cost about $15,000 or more. $10,000 for the engine and undercarriage and $5,000 for the wing are typical approximations. You can spend more or less depending on what you buy.

After four years of fairly active usage and exposure to UV light from the sun, a powered parachute wing is generally in need of replacement. This of course varies with how you care for your wing. It’s easy to test your lines and sailcloth for strength and thus determine your need to replace your powered parachute wing long before it becomes unsafe. Engine maintenance is crucial to long life. The undercarriage should last indefinitely with good care.

Good used equipment is often available for half as much though it will have a shorter life-span. In addition, because the sport is evolving rapidly, newer powered parachutes can have significantly better performance and behavior than older ones. You will need expert help in determining the suitability of the used gear for your needs, and how airworthy it is. Good deals exist but you will need to be able to carefully evaluate what you are looking at. It is important to understand that not all paragliding wings make good wings for use with a powered parachute. Paraglider wings are generally designed for performance, while powered parachute wings are designed for durability because of the extra stress of the added weight of the undercarriage and engine. Equally important is how well the used equipment was cared for. You are going to use this equipment to take you high into the air so you will want to be sure of it's condition before you buy it. Unless you know what you are looking at, that you should have expert help in deciding before you buy.

Once you have your gear and have completed training your next cost is for gas and oil. These consumables are not very expensive. A few gallons of gas and some two cycle oil will not break your budget.

You will also need a helmet and a few other small incidentals. These can add an additional $300 to $500 to your bill. For well under $20,000 you can become the owner and pilot of your own personal and portable aircraft. Most pilots who get into the sport also purchase a two-way radio for an additional $500.

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10. What do you need to know when purchasing your first powered parachute?
First, you need to know how to fly. No would-be pilot should purchase a wing before learning at least the basics of powered parachuting. A reputable dealer will make certain you are properly trained before he will sell you any equipment. In most cases the dealer is also an instructor. Or, he will refer you to an instructor who can properly train you. It is your instructor’s job to help you select your first wing. Different powered parachutes have different characteristics and require different skill levels; your instructor will match the powered parachute to your particular interests, strengths, weaknesses, and skill level. Develop a solid relationship with an instructor you trust before purchasing equipment. "Good deals" generally end up costing the naive new pilot a great deal of money. Most instructors rely on referrals and repeat business so they are very determined to help you make the right decisions. When purchasing equipment, a responsible dealer will always require some proof of certified rating.

It may be necessary for you to purchase the equipment that you will train with. While this isn't always true there are some advantages to it. Training on the equipment that you will eventually fly with eliminates the transition time that it will take to get used to flying different gear. While most equipment functions in a similar way there are differences in technique required for different models of aircraft. Each has both advantages and disadvantages over the other.

No matter where you buy your equipment you must consider service after the sale. Mechanical devices will have parts that can, and do, fail. There is also the reality that as part of your learning curve you may damage something. This is not uncommon. Where the parts will come from, how much they cost, and how long it will take to get them may play a big role in your purchase decision. So will the actual work of replacing them. Perhaps you are sufficiently mechanically adept that you can do most repairs yourself. You may also have all the tools necessary to do the job. If you are not comfortable with this type of work you will need to consider how you will get this accomplished if needed. When you buy new equipment you can usually have this work performed by the dealer. When you buy used gear you may be on your own as warranties are seldom transferable and the original dealer usually has no obligation to support you.

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11. How do you get started?
The best way to start is with a tandem introductory flight. This gives you a taste of flying. Once you have seen what it is like then you can sign up for an Introductory Course. Under radio supervision, you will fly solo from the training field and progress to higher flights, all in two days. The basic techniques of powered parachuting -- takeoff, turning, landing -- are fairly easy to learn. The length of the course is designed to compensate for weather constraints and different learning curves. If after your introductory flights, you want to continue with powered parachuting, the next step is to enroll in a Novice Certification Course which will teach you about micrometeorology, different launch and flying techniques, safety procedures, etc. It is best to complete the Novice Course in a concentrated period of time.

Check out the DVD Starting Powered Parachuting

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12. Do you need a license to fly?
Powered Parachutes are regulated under the Federal Aviation Regulations Section 103 and therefore a license is not required to fly a single seat powered parachute. If you wish to, however, fly a two seat powered parachute, then you must obtain an instructor certification.

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13. How long does it take to learn to fly?
You can be airborne in as little as three days. It all depends on your ability to learn the techniques involved in launching and flying. How long it takes, also depends on your background. If you are a licensed pilot, have paragliding or powered paragliding experience, or other aviation training, you may progress more quickly in certain parts of your training, since there are areas in your training that may be very similar.

Three to four consecutive days of training are often adequate. Your first few flights will be under very controlled conditions. Your instructor will be making most decisions for you. You will gradually begin to develop your confidence and skills, as you progress in your flights. You will also begin to make more decisions about your flights yourself. By the time you finish training, you should be able to takeoff and land without assistance, as well as, make most of your own decisions about flying. It may still take several more flights before you feel really ready to fly on your own.

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14. What should you look for when signing up for a lesson?
When selecting a school for powered parachuting instruction, realize there are no established training standards, or certifications. The FAA does not require a license to fly a single seat powered parachute, nor do they require someone to be licensed to train others to fly a powered parachute. Things to look for include:

• Make sure that you can both communicate clearly with each other. The best pilots sometimes make the worst instructors, as they are not good communicators.

• Do the instructors have any ratings with any organizations?

• How many instructors are at each class, what is the student to instructor ratio?

• Are the flights radio supervised?

• Ask how they will conduct the training?

• How much of the training is hands on versus theory?

• Do they have simulators for you to practice with?

• Will they show you video tapes and slides?

• Are they going to provide you with written material to study?

• Do they have access to a training field? Does it accommodate more than one wind direction and thus more flying days?

• What is the safety record of the school and of the instructors?

• How many students has the school taught, how many of its students receive certification each year?

• Does the school operate full-time to fit your schedule?

The FAA classifies a single seat powered parachute as an Ultralight. Since there is no specific PPC instructor rating, some PPC instructors have obtained their BFI (Basic Flight Instructor) rating or equivalent from one of these organizations listed below. You may contact them to find an instructor.

EAA - Experimental Aircraft Association
USUA - United States Ultralight Association
ASC - Aero Sports Connection

Training is usually contracted for on a daily rate. Fees for a day of training cover a wide range but $150 per day is typical. Many dealers will either discount training or include a limited amount as part of an equipment purchase package. Group discounts may be available.  Allow at least $1,000 in your budget for training.

Do not scrimp on training! Find the best instructor that you can and get the most training that you can. If your budget requires you to make compromises, training is not the place to make it.

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