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Ohio Powered Paragliding Owner - Bruce Brown brucebrown@wcnet.org 419-823-1270 20683 Hull Prairie Rd , Bowling Green, OH 43402 in NorthWest Ohio Near Toledo at the Crossroads of the Ohio Turnpike(I-80/90) and I -75 |
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Ohio Powered Paragliding Owner - Bruce Brown brucebrown@wcnet.org 419-823-1270 20683 Hull Prairie Rd , Bowling Green, OH 43402 in NorthWest Ohio Near Toledo at the Crossroads of the Ohio Turnpike(I-80/90) and I -75 |
Q: How long can I
stay
up?
A: Most machines can
stay up 1.5 -2.0 hours or more. Auxiliary tanks can be
added
for the die-hards who can't seem to get enough air time.
Q: What is the
maximum
wind speed I can expect to fly in?
A: For new pilots I
recommend flying in straight and steady maximum winds of 8-10
MPH.
When you first start flying, if you fly with wind gusting of more more
than a 4 MPH differential, you will probably be in the air wishing you
were on the ground instead of on the ground wishing you were in the
air.
Winds on the beach are usually very smooth and will allow you to enjoy
flying in higher winds of even 15 MPH or more.
Q: How much space
do
I need to take off ?
A: In zero
wind
most pilots will be off the ground in 20-40 steps. In an eight MPH
head
wind, you could be off the ground in 5-10 steps. All these
variables play a part: pilot
weight, pilot skill, paraglider size, paraglider glide ratio,
thrust
of the paraglider motor, and density altitude (this is the altitude it
feels like you are flying in based on the barometric pressure or
density
of the air, the temperature, and the humidity). PPGs must
always
take off directly into the wind. The limiting factor for many
flying
sites is not the ground area available but the free and clear air space
(without trees, buildings, and power lines) required to climb out of an
area directly into the wind.
Q: How high is a
PPG
able to fly?
A: The two cycle
engines
used on PPGs might allow a pilot to climb to somewhere between 10,000
and
15,000 feet. The less dense air at higher altitudes reduces the
amount
of oxygen available for combustion in the engine to where climbing
higher
becomes impossible. At a certain altitude, at full throttle, the
engine can only produce enough power to maintain level flight. - you
top
out, so to speak.
Q: How high is a
PPG
allowed by law to fly?
A: We fly as Ultra
lights
and must follow the rules set out in Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR)
Part 103. Unless flying near Class Rated Airports, the
maximum
altitude is 18,000 feet. Oxygen is required above 12,500.
We
refer to a chart provided at local airports called a sectional
map.
The sectional map spells out the controlled airspace in any given area
of the country.
Q: Do I need a
pickup,
van, or trailer to transport a PPG.
A: Aside from the
thrill
of literally running and flying into the air, one of the appeals of PPG
is the ease of transport. Most PPGs can be broken down is 5
minutes
and placed in a compact car. The Airfer Tornado fits in the front
seat of a Toyota Corolla and the cage and paraglider easily fit in the
back with room for two passengers. Check
this out
Q: I would
eventually
like to take someone up with me. What is required?
A: As an ultralight,
powered paragliders are limited by law for single place use only.
Right now, the only way to fly tandem is to become a Basic Flight
Instructor
( BFI) and fly with a waiver from the FAA. Tandem PPG flight is
something
that takes a great deal of experience and should only be considered as
a teaching tool. Most of those doing tandem PPG are experienced
instructors
using it as part of their training and promotional program and not just
for fun. If you want to have your kids, wife, friends, or
relatives
experience PPG, give them a tandem training flight as a gift. A
dedicated
tandem paraglider alone can cost $3000, in addition to your personal
paraglider,
and would not even be appropriate for solo flight on a regular
basis.
A tandem capable machine like the Airfer Bimax cost $5200 plus another
$400 for tandem bars, straps, harness, and caribiners. A lot of
tandem
flights can be purchased for that kind of investment.
