Skywards

Yes I have had a look at the flight restrictions in effect - Not too bad actually. Much tighter around TT week and motoGP but wouldn't really cramp one's style. The 16mile route to scotland would be on a broadly similar flightpath to a flight by Eastern Airways but as it doesn't run every day it shoudln't be too much of an issue either. PS - I've lived on Jersey too and the Isle of man is four times the size! The reason I've not flown off island for training is essentially self employment - opportunity cost of not working makes taking time off a difficult to arrange and a much more expensive thing! Simon - That'd be *brilliant* would love to find some folks on Island that could at least get me started to reduce the amount of time I'd need to spend off island to learn

Still interested. Got only one lesson in as I did it when flying down to Essex to visit a friend. Not knowing anyone to teach me on the Isle of Man has been the stumbling block. I've resisted the urge to buy kit and attempt to learn from youtube videos etc - I'm sure that'll be a dangerous way to learn and I'll risk making rookie errors! If you know anyone locally on island Manxean I'd be very grateful of being pointed in the right direction. Not really keen on parawaiting as the posters above were saying. For me it's about having the most amazingly awesome mode of transport. As regards the 16 mile trip across the Irish Sea to Scotland, I gather the key thing is going to be glide ratio as regards whether one can get high enough to be able to glide far enough to safely do the trip. I'm not sure if that's a practical possibility without significant risk. Anyway very keen to find someone that can show me the ropes, preferably a trainer but if not just someone with the experience and skills willing to teach!

Seems the only tutor here is a paragliding tutor who doesn't offer PPG. He didn't seem too pleased when I suggested taking just ground handling lessons from him and travelling to Swindon for the PPG/flying stuff! (I didn't say anything to put his back up particularly - think he feels going straight to PPG without doing regular PG is skipping a step.).

Guessing if there were other people on the island interested I'd have had a reply by now! Anyone from off island able to add anything?

Hi folks, Since learning about pramotoring it's fast becoming an obsession. Keen to get myself some very good kit and find a tutor mentor as I can see that safety is king and there are some lessons I'll need to learn. I'm ultimately interested simply in gaining altitude and cross country distance covering (admittedly that's likely to be the UK as the Isle of man is tiny! (Is it safe to fly the 16 miles to Scotland in appropriate weather with enough experience and good altitude so you don't end up getting wet! - needless to say wearing a lifejacket!). The only school I've tracked down on the Isle of Man nolonger seems to offer PPG lessons only offering traditional paragliding (which interests me a lot less as I could only do it near mountains rather than on flat terrain and using it to commute or travel when weather permits is out. I would also be keen to purchase kit imminently and at the very reasonable prices would be going for new stuff (given how cheap it is better not to have something that's already got some wear and tear on it). I weigh about 60-70kg and am a little shorter than average. Would want to be able to climb but super fast climb rate isn't essential - covering greater distance on the fuel tank is preferred. Wing wise I'm looking for something noob friendly that won't collapse easily - from what I've read that means something without quite as good handling and potentially slower max speed (although this likely impacts on tank range?). One other thing I'd consider in the future is tandem launching with my partner (although from what I read this may very well require a separate motor given the increase in weight). All advice re which brands/models are most appropriate and would be comfortable during longer flights and also someone to point me in the direction of all important safety training preferably without having to fly off the isle of man! Should say Im not seeking formal qualifications! Just the joy of flying and a way of fair-weather commuting that will be the envy of everyone I meet! Thanks all!