I am currently buzzing my face off.......

Hodders · 17 Aug 2015 at 17:00

About 2 years ago my dad died. I wanted to use it as a catalyst in order to do something out of my comfort zone - to live a bit.

My brother saw a demonstration of paramotoring and it ticked all the boxes. Scary, a new skillset and it looked amazing !

So we started training. After loads of ground handling the wing and practising launches with no motor (aka running around pulling the wing around). We were ready....

So ladies and gentlemen:

I proudly present "Hod's First Flight". A triumph of two stroke engineering over not inconsiderable gravitational forces:

Now the takeoff is optional, but the landing is inevitable.... Aparently it was a good first landing - nice flare just forgot to run.....

Anyway, I'm just buzzing - amazing experience.....

Also cheers Dad :-)

Jono · 17 Aug 2015 at 17:01

What an awesome way to remember him

Ayahuasca · 17 Aug 2015 at 17:03

Looks like great fun

gradyhawks · 17 Aug 2015 at 17:04

Looks like good fun! Would love to do it sometime.

beachBOYken · 17 Aug 2015 at 17:04

Nice belly landing.

Looks great fun.

Liquiduk · 17 Aug 2015 at 17:05

Posts like this really make me feel warm and reassured of some really good people in this world!

Hodders · 17 Aug 2015 at 17:06

Jono said:
What an awesome way to remember him

I agree - everytime I fly I'll just be reminded of the role he played in my life and the gratitude I have.

Ayahuasca said:
Looks like great fun

To be honest, I was concentrating so hard on not dying :-)

that I mostly forgot to find it fun. But it still hasn't sunk in that I actually did it. WOW !

Sliver · 17 Aug 2015 at 17:07

I fully endorse this documentary/movie.

Glanza · 17 Aug 2015 at 17:09

Glad you enjoyed yourself, glad to see you made it aswell seen too many videos of these on fail videos

spookywillow · 17 Aug 2015 at 17:15

Is it your own equipment or a schools? I've always wanted to do this but money was a problem.

robfosters · 17 Aug 2015 at 17:51

Superb dismount

Looks great fun, but a bit scary for me.

William-Mathew · 17 Aug 2015 at 17:53

Looks great fun

doofer · 17 Aug 2015 at 18:14

I have often wondered if you could use a Para-Motor Motor to propel you along on a bicycle on Public Roads as technically you wouldn't be using a Motor Powered Vehicle as it is directly attached to you not the bicycle. I know there's a YouTube of a guy in another country using one in such a way and he gets some serious speeds out of it. :eek:

Hodders · 17 Aug 2015 at 19:04

Wing is mine, motor is the school's.

Wings vary from about £1000 to £3500 depending on new/second hand/make model etc.

Motors again from £1500 to £6000

As for using a motor on a bike - it would work fine, but it does turn into a giant blender *very* easily.