anyone fly powered parachutes?

[Anvilbrother 0]

Im talking the backpack design. A coworker and his dad bought one and is going to Florida for training this weekend. They look cool up to 3 hour flight times, 0-13k operating range(conditions right), no ratings required. I like the idea of not having to drive 2.5 hours to the dz, and can do it out of my front yard during the week. A couple of radios, and a good sunset canopy ride whenever you want!! They cost about 6-8k with about 10 dollar per hour operating costs. I wonder what the drawbacks to them are?

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[bfilarsky 0]

Quote

Im talking the backpack design. A coworker and his dad bought one and is going to Florida for training this weekend. They look cool up to 3 hour flight times, 0-13k operating range(conditions right), no ratings required. I like the idea of not having to drive 2.5 hours to the dz, and can do it out of my front yard during the week. A couple of radios, and a good sunset canopy ride whenever you want!! They cost about 6-8k with about 10 dollar per hour operating costs. I wonder what the drawbacks to them are?

mild case of death?

[freefallfreak 0]

I've kinda' been wondering that, too. Other questions I have are - How hard is it to launch/land? What about physical health? Are there restrictions on places to fly? Cost is a concern, also. Can one be used as transportation for short flight times? Say, maybe 60 miles?

TripleF

"Upon seeing the shadow of a pigeon, one must resist the urge to look up."

[Darius11 12]

Have been looking into it for years just don’t have the $$ yet to get stuff. I even thought about selling my Skydiving gear to get in to PPG. I live on a Sod farm so perfect area to fly.

The guys I talked to all recommend getting Risk & Reward a video.

Also here is the PPG site lots of good information on it.
http://www.americanparagliding.com/

Also

http://www.usppa.org/


You have the cost right and I believe training will cost just about as half as much as AFF maybe a little bit more then half.


Edited: Because i can't write

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[freefallfreak 0]

Quote

The GAYS I talked to all recommend getting Risk & Reward a video.

Uhh, I have revised my thoughts concerning this...

TripleF

"Upon seeing the shadow of a pigeon, one must resist the urge to look up."

[Darius11 12]

LOL


Oh man. Wish I had better writing skills.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[PhreeZone 15]

Get to know a rigger. I've seen more then one of those come to the local lofts since the material gets pulled into the fan.

We used to have one of the guys come out to our DZ to take off, it looked fairly easy to do, no worse the foot launching a regular paraglider.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[DougH 270]

I bet one of those would be great for looking for cutaways.

"The restraining order says you're only allowed to touch me in freefall"
=P

[Anvilbrother 0]

The weight limits are huge, 0-5 mph wind it said 15 steps/jog to launch 5-15 almost no effort. The guy that I know that deals for southern skies in florida is doing the training for free if you buy from him. I was told no ratings, stay 5 miles from a-c airspaces? not over congested areas. They go 25-35 mph and if you know what a tail or headwind would do to your groundspeed.

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[squirrel 0]

my friend has the Black Hawk ppg. it seems pretty cool, and i was thinking of going this way too, but then got into a weight shift trike instead. it folds up, and i have an old camper converted into a toy hauler that i drive to fields to launch. the ppg does fit in the back seat of a normal car, or even in the trunk, so much less of a transport issue. but it was the cruising speed that i did not like, and the restriction of fuel amount (if you follow the rules). i am more into "going" somewhere, the flying back home.

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[Anvilbrother 0]

It has a 2.5 gallon tank, and can go 3 hours. I dont know where they get 3 hours from if it was sitting on a huge thermal facing the wind at idle, or actually climbing and using the throttle at least half

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[PeteW 0]

If money is a problem just get a regular non powered paraglider. I launched last weekend from a 1600 foot mountain and flew for almost an hour. I could have flown longer but i came down because I thought the winds were picking up.

I thought about PPG but then I moved to the mountains and live 15 min from a 4000 foot mountain we fly off.

[Anvilbrother 0]

I live in louisiana, the highest hill with in sight of my town is an ant hill approx elevation 8 inches!

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[PeteW 0]

Gotcha. scratch the unpowered idea! I did do a few tow line launches as well. Out of a flat field. That was cool.

[squirrel 0]

Quote

It has a 2.5 gallon tank, and can go 3 hours. I dont know where they get 3 hours from if it was sitting on a huge thermal facing the wind at idle, or actually climbing and using the throttle at least half

would really depend on the engine. i have a 582 Rotax, 65 HP, with twin Bing carbs...i burn about 3 gallons per hour at 4500 rpm.

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[Anvilbrother 0]

The one I am looking at is a southernskies.com monster 122 a 30 hp twin blade oohh yeahhh! /end tim allen grunt

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