unwind-protect

I don't know how big your props are but I don't think I'd ever manage to use 30m of the stuff!!

You can get it in much smaller rolls - OK technically it's 8671 rather than 8672, but it's the same stuff, only thicker.

https://www.vikingtapes.co.uk/products/bike-protective-tape-3m-8671hs-polyurethane-protective-tape-short-rolls-25mm-x-3m?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&gclid=Cj0KCQjwruPNBRCKARIsAEYNXIjVkkfc6hFMBeNsF1uN-nuS5kNnr-qdVJ0o-t0bjiLtpxYL7iQNbwMaAkDGEALw_wcB&variant=34688318791

On 18/06/2017 at 13:55, OldFart said:

Conventional private aircraft don't by law require insurance in the UK either

Er?

https://www.caa.co.uk/Aircraft-register/Registration-information/Mandatory-insurance-requirements-for-aircraft/

It used to be specified here:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/3015/schedule/5/made

Schedule 5 seems to have undergone a major overhaul in the last ANO and, as mentioned by Powerlord above, it seems to have been removed now.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/765/schedule/5/made

I noticed that the website was offline about Wed/ Thu last week (was interested in the paramotor in the classifieds) - sent them a message on Facebook on Friday morning, but have had no reply... No phone... no email... no website... doesn't look great

Hi Balidey

I'm coming from a microlight background where I shared a plane, so I have a few thoughts on the subject.  Some of this is from experience and some of it is speculative as I've not had any real exposure to paramotoring yet.. so please forgive me if I've made some assumptions that the more experienced of you disagree with!

I think you're absolutely right about the number of paramotors sitting idle in sheds and closets.  I know with our plane, even with the quite large weather window we had it could go months without either myself or my plane partner using it.  Even with the much narrower weather window of a paramotor most people have other things in their life that sucks up their time.  There are some things to bear in mind, though.

First, your partner is key - both their reasonableness and their skill/ dedication as a pilot and to taking care of the equipment.  I don't think sharing between more than two would be worth the hassle it would cause in coordination.

Second, access - you need somewhere convenient to keep the kit.  If you're happy for them to have a key to your garage and turn up at short notice in the middle of the night or while you're away to pick it up for a morning flight you're set.  You really want it to be somewhere close or you'll never go pick it up to use when the weather is suddenly perfect.

You'll need a damage policy.  I get the impression that paramotor damage is a not uncommon occurrence (even if it's just bending the prop cage), whereas damage to a plane is the exception.  Unless you can get "full hull" insurance, if you manage to write it off you'll still have to find the other half of the money to buy out your partner.  You might be more comfortable with sharing one part (probably the motor), and having the wing be the individual pilot's responsibility.

With microlights, the initial outlay is pretty modest - 3-9k can get you a great secondhand plane,and they hold their value well.  The training is frankly fantastic value.  The big costs are the ongoing costs of hangarage (if you can't keep it at home), permitting and insurance - all that added up to about £2k, which was normally more than we spent on actually flying!  With a paramotor you get a lot less for your money (performance wise), but very few ongoing costs as long as you don't prang it - and I have to say I love the idea of being able to chuck it in the back of your car to take it on holiday with you!

It's certainly something I wouldn't rule out. Where are you based?