| Everybody dreams of being able to fly at some point | | | | opportunity to stay airborne When all the thermals of |
| in life, running across a grassy field and soaring over | | | | the day had finished or even before they had started. |
| houses, streets and countryside. The wind in your face, | | | | These units are very popular in Thailand, they |
| cruising like a bird leaving all your worries and stress on | | | | development of paramotoring over the last 20 years |
| the ground. It is no longer just a dream but a reality | | | | has seen the Units get lighter, more powerful and less |
| with the aid of a paraglider and paramotor. | | | | expensive each year. The training times are similar to |
| Things have come a long way since the triangular | | | | paragliding and there Is a huge choice of new and |
| Hang-gliders of the 1970s, the development of the | | | | used paramotors available. They can be easily |
| Paraglider has made foot launched free flight an | | | | dismantled, will fit in the boot (trunk) of a car and only |
| extremely popular sport today. The paraglider was | | | | require a small soccer field as a take off area. Prices |
| first conceived in the late 1970s by parachutists foot | | | | range from 10,000USD for a full tandem outfit including |
| launching Ram Air Chutes from the Alps in France, | | | | Wing, reserve parachute, two seater trike and |
| over the years these chutes have been modified and | | | | instruments to 1000USD for a used solo unit. |
| improved into a very Efficient wing giving the pilots | | | | There are dangers involved in these sports, they are |
| performance more like a fixed wing glider. | | | | classed as extreme sports but with a sensible attitude |
| Flights of over 200km are common just using thermals | | | | Many pilots have enjoyed decades of safe flying up to |
| and the pilots skill to find lift and stay aloft for hours on | | | | 12,000 feet over some of the most beautifull |
| end. Training in most countries will see you airborne, | | | | countryside In the world. There are saftey courses |
| solo within a few days and it is possible to have a | | | | available to deal with collapses from flying in turbulance |
| basic licence within a few weeks. The equipment is | | | | and all pilots carry A reserve parachute. It is easy to |
| relatively cheap, a new glider, harness, reserve | | | | enjoy this sport at your own pace, evening and early |
| parachute, Boots, helmet and variometer will see you | | | | morning flights in smooth Air watching the sun rise (or |
| safely in the air for less than 4000USD! With many | | | | fall) are a popular with some, whilst others enjoy the |
| second-hand equipment available, less than 2000USD | | | | strong lift from midday thermals. |
| for an aircraft is not impossible!! | | | | If you are interested in either of these sports why not |
| During the late 1980s motorised backpacks started to | | | | nip down to any Sport flying club you can see |
| arrive on the paragliding scene and the name | | | | paragliders and paramotors in abundance, chat to |
| ?Paramotor? was soon adopted. These units gave | | | | some experts and if you can even have a taster flight |
| paraglider pilots the opportunity to get in the air from a | | | | on a tandem paramotor. |
| flat field rather than have to find a hill or mountain to | | | | A few other facts: If the motor fails you are still on a |
| start their flights. The alsogave these flyers the | | | | glider, no problem! |