Pilots discover paramotors

Paratour a leader in training techniques

Paratour, a Canadian ultralight training school, has perfected a teaching technique that helps paramotor students to solo after just two days of training.

The technique uses a new invention called training bar, developed by Paratour's chief instructor Eric Dufour.

Dufour's idea for the training bar came from his desire to make paramotor training as safe as possible. The bar helps the student and the instructor to work together.

During a student's first solo foot launch, the instructor can correct body position, and can even keep the takeoff under control by pulling on the bar if the student is not generating enough power, or pushing on the bar if there is too much power. A kill switch on the training bar is used if a bad inflation occurs or if a student does not react quickly enough. The training bar is installed on the paramotor cage, and may be removed after a student has enough experience.

HOW A PARAMOTOR WORKS

A paraglider is attached to a harness on your shoulders, with the motor on your back. You lay the paraglider on the ground behind you, facing into the wind. As the pilots runs forward, air inflates the glider overhead. Power is added and the pilot continues to run until he is airborne. Generally, less than 50 ft is needed to take off.

Once in the air, the pilot adds power to go higher, reduces power to go down, and steers right to go right, or left to turn left. Landings are done into the wind and are achieved by pulling both steering toggles after the pilot has descended to a height of about five feet above the ground.

Eric Dufour, the chief instructor at Paratour, developed a new paramotor teaching aid called the training bar. The bar helps students to solo after just two days of training. Here, Paratour instructors use the training bar to help a student takeoff.

The most difficult part of flying a paramotor is the takeoff. It demands a physical effort with good coordination, but the technique becomes easy with practice and training from an experienced instructor.

The first paramotor was flown in Canada in 1991. The paramotor is considered an ultralight, so a license is needed to fly it. Students must complete five hours of flying time and a written exam to get the license.

PARAMOTOR HISTORY

The paramotor was born in Europe in 1987. At the time, they were heavy, noisy and unreliable. After more than 10 years, the product is steadily improving - now it has more power and is lighter, more reliable and relatively quiet. Certain cages break down in two or four parts within minutes.

You can store a paramotor in the trunk of your car. It weights approximately 45 lbs (20 kgs), and is easily stored.

The first paramotor was flown in Canada in 1991. In this country, the paramotor is considered an ultralight so a license is necessary. Students must complete five hours of flying time and a written exam to get the license.

There are about 25 paramotorists in Ontario, where the sport is becoming popular. There are less than 20 paramotor pilots in Alberta and British Columbia, and just a few in Manitoba and Nova Scotia. In Quebec, there are close to 140 paramotorists.

For eight years, Paratour has been teaching people how to fly paramotors. For students who would rather go up with an instructor, the school offers tandem teaching. No prior experience is needed.

Paratour has taught over 350 pilots, including a few instructors, and sold over a hundred paramotor units. Paratour's instructors have come up with one of the best paramotor training curriculums available in North America. Every winter, Dufour goes to the U.S. to promote and demonstrate the sport of paramotoring.

With the proper training, paramotoring can be one of the most enjoyable ways to fly. It is certainly one of the cheapest ways to stretch your wings.

For additional information on paramotor training contact Paratour: Tel.: 352-461-6723; E-mail: paramoteur@paratour.com ; or visit their web site at www.Paratour.com .