Skywards Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skywards Posted May 21, 2016 Author Share Posted May 21, 2016 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cas_whitmore Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 I was working there last year . Stunning scenery would love to of seen it from the air . I was asking around if anyone was flying there , seem to be all paragliding. I didn't meet anyone who was active though . If I get to do more film work there definitely taking my motor and wing . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skywards Posted May 24, 2016 Author Share Posted May 24, 2016 (edited) 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.). Edited May 24, 2016 by Skywards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cas_whitmore Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 Skipping taking time off work and para waiting . ? Cas. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
admin (Simon W) Posted May 24, 2016 Share Posted May 24, 2016 parawaitng (read gliding) SW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_k Posted May 31, 2016 Share Posted May 31, 2016 If you are interested in greater distances then 4 stroke is the way to go with the motor. There is a bit of a weight penalty but once you are used to it it's not a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manxean Posted January 1, 2018 Share Posted January 1, 2018 On 21/05/2016 at 11:32, Skywards said: 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! Hi their is a very small number of people with paramotors on the island and the paragliding club also has equipment for its members to use. Currently no one is flying the motors down to changes if life thrown are way. If your still interested let me know and I will try to point you in the right direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skywards Posted January 23, 2018 Author Share Posted January 23, 2018 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shorehambeach Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 (edited) Skywards - Why don't you simply travel and take a course like most of us folks do ? Theres plenty of overseas courses. It looks like you've been waiting for a long time for a local solution - even I couldn't find one and i'm on the South Coast. Once you've taken the course you will have a better idea of the equipment you'd like to buy and whether the 16m trip over water would be a good idea..... Have you looked at what restrictions to flying a paramotor there are considering you're on a small island and you've a busy airport ? Edited January 24, 2018 by Shorehambeach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
admin (Simon W) Posted January 24, 2018 Share Posted January 24, 2018 There are at least a couple of people on the island that fly Paramotors as we have taught them let me dig out details and see if it’s OK to share contact info SW 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skywards Posted January 26, 2018 Author Share Posted January 26, 2018 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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