The most asked Question: "What Equipment and Glider are right for Me ?" 

Knowing your actual Total Flight Weight (TFW) is very important as this allows you to select the correct size paraglider (Wing), read this article as it explains this subject in far more detail as well as what happens when overloading a paraglider wing.

Our Total Flight Weight Calculator will automaticly calculate this for you.

This is basically the same as Paragliding, But with an Engine or Motor (electric) fitted into a Cage mounted on your back, similar to a carrying a rucksack, the main difference is with Powered Paragliding you can Launch from flat ground, unlike pure paragliding where you either need a Hill or a tow line to get into the air ! This article explains the topic in far more detail.

The linked calculator below shows the Carbon generated and Fuel Cost per week and year for a Powered Paraglider engine.  You can enter the amount of fuel you use and the cost of the fuel. Click here to use this calculator.

There are two methods to inflate a Paraglider wing;

Forward launch: In low wind conditions the Paraglider is laid out on the ground behind you, with the Pilot facing into the wind, to launch you run forward and pull the wing up using your weight & speed to inflate, you then run until you are lifted off the ground.  This inflation method is more suited to light wind conditions.

Reverse launch: In stronger wind conditions the Paraglider is laid on the ground with the pilot facing the paraglider, with the riser lines crossed and the wind behind you, to Launch you step backwards using your weight and the winds to inflate and pull up the paraglider, and as the riser lines were purposely crossed, you then simply turn to launch.  This inflation method is more suited for stronger wind conditions.

Control is very easy;

Simply pull the left brake handle to turn left, the right brake handle to turn right.

To land, you pull both brake handles at approximately two~three metres (five~ten feet) above the ground to flare the Paraglider to end with a gentle landing.

NB: If you pull both brake lines to high when coming into land, you may run the risk of Stalling the Wing, if so you will drop to the ground, your Flight Trainer will cover this in fare more detail during Flight Training.

Once flying, you Squeeze the throttle to climb, and hold it midway to maintain level flight, release the throttle fully to glide back down to land.

In Australia, CASA dictates we should stay under 4'500 metres (15,000 feet) as oxygen may be required if flying above that height +you may need Thermal cloths as it will usually be very cold at that altitude.

Although most flying is done under 150mt (500 ft) above ground level (AGL), the majority of flying is between 50 to 150 metres (150~500 feet) above the ground.

In Australia paragliders are classed as sailplanes (gliders) and pilots will need to observe the appropriate airspace restrictions and VFR flight restrictions. Most areas are in class G airspace 3'000mt (10'000ft) with no restrictions for hundreds of kilometres.  There are also 8km radius CTAF's around most airports to a height of 920mt (3000ft) - you can only legally enter the area with the use of a VHF air band radio and appropriate position calls. Please consult the appropriate airspace map and familiarise yourself with the restrictions if you plan on a cross country flight.

If flying over a town or populated area a 300mt (1000ft) clearance of Buildings should be maintained, at all other times in public areas a minimum 90mt (300ft) clearance of the public &/or above tarred roads, unless landing.

The unique aspect of the powered paraglider is the fact the wing is some distance above the pilot. This allows flight at ground level from 30cm (10 inches) up, experienced pilots can drag the soles of the shoes on the ground. (This cannot be done safely with any other aircraft in the world.) But as a general rule you will be flying with your trimmers out and at approx. 20kph, so if you tumble it will be similar to falling of a motor bike ...In that situation the Danger lies in the spinning propeller !

This largely depends on the engine use and the amount of Fuel carried, usually from two to five hours, some pilots that have light units that know how to catch a thermal, can select to switch off there engine and gain altitude, then glide further, our engines are very easily started at any time mid flight.

Obviously that may depend on the weight, maintenance and condition of your unit.

No problem, a wing is made from "Rip Stop" Material, so in the event of say a piece of wire etc. catches the wing & rips it during take off, the material will not rip further. If the rip is small the wing will still fly, however we recommend you repair the wing before attempting to fly.   Take a look at this photo of an ultra-lite glider that collided with Paraglider wing and completely severed 1/4 of the paraglider wing, the pilot was still able to steer the glider and landed safely.

No, there is no licence to fly a PPG or WPPG in Australia, But there are flight accreditations courses that can be obtained via SAFA or the RAA, to legally fly in Australia.

The government body C.A.S.A, has Airspace regulations and Flight restrictions that must be observed around Airfields and height restrictions over Towns and buildings that apply to both PPG & WPPG flying, your Flight instructor will cover this in more detail.

Depending on the type of engine, usually the same fuel you use in your car, if using Petrol always use 95 Octane (Ron) or greater fuel, most 2 stroke engine use a mixture of 30:1 ~ 50:1 with 2 stroke oil.

In the last few years 4 stroke engines have been making a noticeable influence in this sport.  We have the the 250cc Aero-1000, is more suited to Wheeled launch, and we also have a very unique 4 stroke with Two Contra-Rotating propellers under development, this in-turn will increase flight safety by totally removing the Torque twist associated with all single propeller engines.

Besides petrol there is less common Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), we converted one of our old HellCat-360cc 4 stroke engines to LPG, this used a Vapour LPG regulator, meaning you could simply connect a BBQ bottle, using LPG in a new engine from the start greatly extends the life of an engine as well as massively reducing air pollution!

In the coming year we are planning to design and building an Ethanol engine.

The speed varies with the type of paraglider (wing) used, the total flight weight and weather conditions affect the flight speed, but generally between 15 and 70 kph per hour.

However, a Top speed of a powered paragliders has been recorded at around 137kmph with a 30m2 Dudek plasma wing with riser lines set to maximum speed, obviously there would have been a tail wind as a no PPG wing has a high enough aspect ratio (glide ratio) will fly at that speed alone.

In perfect wind conditions you can be flying in one or two steps doing a reverse launch, But generally in light wind conditions of up to 6 kph (4 mph), you may only have to run 2 to 6 metres.

With stronger winds 8 to 15 kph you may have to only run 2 metres, this mainly depends on your flight weight & wing capabilities.

When flying in a Quad with an additional 30kg (+passenger if any), you may find you require a further 10~30mt of ground to get airborne, way less distance is required for landing once your tyres touch the ground, and you can use your feet on the wheels as a brake or turn left or right to bring the wing down faster if wanted.

The distance varies with the amount of fuel carried and weather conditions on the day!

As 4 stroke engine commonly provide better fuel efficiency, carrying two fuel tanks you can potentially fly for way over 5 hours if desired, this largely depends on weather conditions and using your paraglider wing set to fast-speed, as over 250~350 km is possible, many Australian pilots commonly tell us they record flights up to and over 100km, with even longer recorded flights in cross country adventures.

Longer distance flight records have been recorded, showing Top speeds of over 137kmph with a tale wind at high altitude.

NB: Most pilots land back at the same location they flew from, so remember if you get caught or happen to fly with a strong wind and you use half your fuel flying in the same direction as the wind, on the return trip if flying into the wind you may run out of fuel, unless you plan to re-fuel or land at another location or fly only in one direction!

The longest journey (not a single flight) by powered paraglider was recorded at 9,132 km (5,674.35 miles) and was achieved by Miroslav Oros (Czech Republic), flying throughout the Czech Republic, starting in Sazená and ending in Lipovå-lázn, between 1 April 2011 and 30 June 2011 (90 day journey averaging 100km a day).

As all engines and electric motors are only used to gain altitude and maintain level flight, so at any time you can shut off the engine or motor and land safely because you are flying with an efficient wing that can glide approximately up to 6~8 metres forward with only 1 meter drop in altitude, depending on the glide ratio of the Wing, there are higher glide ratio wings, these are predominately used in un-powered paragliding.

Obviously, it is not recommended to fly beyond a glide path to a safe landing.

All weight is initially carried by the pilot only until the wing is inflated and then the weight is burdened by the paraglider.

On a foot launch the total weight of the Engine, Cage & Fuel is from 25~30kg.

The dry weight of engines vary from 13 kg from Foot launch, up to 18kg for wheeled launch AERO-1000cc engine.

Choosing the right size wing is the most important decision as it ensures proper glider performance and safety.

A glider that is too big for the total flight weight, will be more prone to partial or full frontal collapses in turbulent air.

A wing that is too small means, your take off run will mat be to long and your landings will be to fast.

IMPORTANT: Go here Read more information on this subject and Use this Flight Weight Calculator to assist you select the correct size wing based on your total flight weight!

YES, But as the pilot is responsible for a passengers safety, this leads to legal implications relation to jurisdictional laws where flying. Long term it is better to have your friend get there own powered paraglider and take this responsibility into there own hands.

However, the two governing bodies that oversee Tandem PPG or WPPG in Australia, are the Sports Aviation Federation of Australia (SAFA) and the Recreational Aviation Australia (RAA).

The SAFA has finally written a Tandem Wheeled launch syllabus, this accreditation will again legalise wheel launch powered paragliding (WPPG) and bring Australia up to world standards.  WPPG Pilot were previously advised to obtain there accreditation via the Recreational Aviation Australia (RAA).

SAFA now offer a straight through PPG Training courses, prices range from $2'500~$3'500, if using your own new PPG equipment this charge should usually be $1'000 cheaper, as you are not placing any wear & tear on the instructors equipment!

Either way, if a flight instructor does not want to train you on your own new equipment (not home built), then we suggest you don't train via this CFI (instructor) as he possibly is not a well skilled CFI or is wanting to sell his own equipment and make more money!

The RAA Tandem Wheeled accreditation required a pilot to have 25hrs of logged flights and then pass short Tandem Pilot Certification test.

Be aware: It has been reported that several Flight instructors are charging upwards of $7'000 to Train a WPPG pilots in an Aero-Chute Trike, via the RAA, reportedly you are pushed & charged into using & purchasing there equipment!

Foot Launch Powered Paragliding (PPG) Training is a fairly detailed course and takes from 10~14 days (of good weather) learning via a Chief Flight Instructor, most associated with the SAFA, the majority of training is done on the ground learning to control the wing, this type of flight training costs from $1'500~$3'500, so do your research as we do not offer flight training, we sell equipment!

PPG pilots have to land and launch caring approx. 25~35kg+ of equipment on there shoulders, if you are reasonably fit this is a very free form of flying, giving that an experienced pilot has the ability to land just about anywhere!

Wheel Powered Paragliding (WPPG) Training in most country's outside of Australia, is normally a 4~5 day training course, where over 70% of people over the age of 50 prefer WPPG flight.  With correct training WPPG students can be safely and competently flying solo after 4 days of training in America & Europe, in Australia it is currently dragged out to a 10~14 day course, it leaves a lot of people wondering why Australia WPPG training is still years behind the rest of the world.

WPPG is ideal to learn if you are not so fit, or if mobile impaired or have other disabilities, a LowBoy Quad can be custom been for paraplegic pilots etc., disability conversions are done for FREE!  

WPPG Training Accreditation is mainly available via SAFA.

WPPG Training is also available via RAA, But you must undertake a Powered ParaChute accreditation.

WPPG is a lot easier and safer to learn compared to foot launch flight, largely due to foot launch is a lot less forgiving!

Either method of flying is relatively easy, and any person can control the powered paraglider once in flight, we recommend you search for a CFI that has years of experience or is recommenced via a governing body, is a good place to start.

We don't favour any CFI's, it is a highly skilled profession !

:: IMPORTANT SAFETY :: You first need to calculate your Total Flight Weight (TFW) before you purchase any PPG or WPPG Equipment, Only purchase a wing that is rated as close to your upper TFW.  Never ever use a PG wing for PPG or WPPG flight, a PG wing has weaker lines and may fail during flight!

Yes, as our new engines come with very high energy ignitions, as well some engines have automatic decompression, that make starting very easy with a small tug on the pull starter rope, many now offer electric start options, both enabling you stop the engine and soar the thermals for a while and then restart anytime you like.

The modern paraglider is built and tested with loads up to 15 times greater than can be exerted during flight, during rigorous testing wings are attaches to Truck prime mover and taken/tested to destruction.

The type of paraglider used with an engine is a DHV 1 one or standard rated glider that will continue to fly without pilot input.

Remember, an engine only allows the pilot to maintain level flight or gain altitude by accelerating the engine, once you let the engine idle you are gliding and will slowly descend, unless you catch a thermal and work in to to gain altitude again.

Yes, commonly there  only two areas needing addressing;

1. Larger size flight Harnesses & Suits are available if you are bigger person.
2. The Weight ratings of the Wing & engine Thrust is very important when selecting your equipment.

All equipment relates back to Safety, where every pilot needs to calculating there Total Flight Weight (TFW), besides a pilot skill set, TFW is the most important aspect each pilot must understand before purchasing new or used equipment.

Call us or talk to your flight instructor before making equipment decisions.

Anywhere that is not populated with a lot of houses (unless you have permission), pilots should fly at a minimum 150m (300ft) above buildings & roads etc.

Beach flying is popular as wind predominately blow in one direction.

There are CASA flight restrictions that may prohibited flight within 8~10 km from a larger airport without clearance, ask your local flight instructor.

As with all air sports, it has it's risky aspect, generally speaking a PPG or WPPG pilot hangs from beneath an open Paraglider wing, that inherently self inflate in the case of a partial or full frontal collapse, and many pilots carry a reserve Parachute.

This sport is inherently safer than all other types of airplanes, and has the lowest reported incidents, making PPG and WPPG the safest form of flying!

Yes, the fact that you are flying a very light airplane means that you are usually limited to light wind conditions up to 16 kph and morning and late afternoon flying is common.

The mid-day sky's are generally too rough for most pilots to enjoy this type of flying. The exception to this is usually beach flying where you can mostly fly all day long as the air is not disturbed by the ocean as much as it is by land.

Some Experienced pilots prefer to use a smaller sized wings, than that is recommended by the manufacturers weight range, this somewhat enables smoother flying in turbulent air as well as increasing the ground speed.

If you are flying Foot launch, using an undersized Wing can be very dangerous if you have an engine out, as with the increased ground speed, also comes increased Sink rate, this is why you will be taught to fly within glide distance of a landing location.

Wheel launch (WPPG), not so much of an issue, as you are not required to use your legs to land !

This type of airplane can fly sideways, backwards, turn on it's own axis and fly close to the ground endlessly. You can take off in 30cm (1 foot) and land without taking a further step in perfect wind conditions. There is no other aircraft in the world that can do this !

Don't confuse a PPG with any other form of flight, like a Powered ParaChute (PPC), as they have a glide ratio of a mack truck, and almost drop like a stone, many people also confuse PPG with fixed wing ultra-lite gliders, that jump of a cliff or even an un-powered paraglider, that have far more flight restrictions, like you need to jump of a hill top.

Read this information to educate yourself.

Our Foot launch PPG's and WPPG break down in very small sections, where the engine Cage sections can easily be removed to leave the engine mounted to the cage chassis, and can fit in a very small car trunk.

A foot launch PPG break down takes 5 minutes and can be reassembled in 5 minutes.

Our Quad (WPPG) can be dismantled in 10 minutes or can be totally dismantles to fit into a purpose built Cargo Crate (175 x 80 x 66cm) for transporting/freighting in 30 minutes !  Our Quad can be flat-packed in 10 minutes if you use 18 quick-pins in the assembly points.

Most other Wheeled launch Paragliders are NOT designed to break down.

Our LowBoy Quad is !   The simple unique design allows it be totally dissembled into smaller sections so it can fit in any car boot/trunk, it just depends on how far you want the Quad to break down.

Quad assembly takes from 5~20 minutes depending on the dismantled configuration, or it can rolled out fully assembled with your Glider sitting in the pilot seat attached to the hang points, ready to fly.

A full wheeled based AirMax-210cc engine (WPPG kit) inc. Rhino Cage, Wing, spare Prop etc. can all be fitter into a padded cargo cage measuring approximately 180cm x 80cm x 60cm deep, this allows you the ability to take it with you on Holiday!

NB: Obviously you would need to run the engine dry, empty the Fuel tank & remove the spark plug (covering the hole with tape to stop debris entering), so if needed Customs could easily inspect the equipment.

Anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes, depending on your equipment & what you have to assemble.

Obviously foot launch PPG that leave the Cage fully assembled, will be quicker to get airborne, as all that is needed is to fit the fuel tank & wing, before doing a pre-flight test.

Unless left fully assembled Wheel launch flight (WPPG) is generally slower to get airborne, as the Cage, tank & seats etc. will need to be assembled, prior to pre-flight test.

If you use a full set of 18 quick-pins to assemble our Wheeled Tandem Quad from the Chassis up, it will take less than 15 minutes +pre-flight inspection to get air borne.

Powered paragliding (PPG), Wheeled Powered Paragliding (WPPG), Paramotoring (common name in Europe), Paragliders, Motorised paraglider.

This sport should not be confused with un-powered Paragliding (no engine), Hang gliding (ridged kite shaped wing), ultra light aircrafts.

Powered ParaChute (PPC) is commonly confused/associated as being similar, however a PPC has a maximum glide ratio of 3:1, whereas a PPG glide ratio is upwards of 6:1, making a PPG inherently safer in the event of an engine failure, whereby a pilot will be able to glide slower and further to land safely.

It is vital that you have the right combination of Engine and Paraglider (wing) tailored to suit your total flight weight. Safety is paramount and training is imperative.

Always ensure when buying a Paramotoring kit that you will receive professional training with qualified instructors. (read this important information)

Our smallest 90cc engine Package Deal (PD) Kit costs only $6'095.00 +$1'000 for a Glider (wing) if required !

Go and have a look at our Package Deal Prices as you will be pleasantly surprised that we are one of the cheapest priced start up kits around, but we do not compromise quality when offering you our equipment !

If you choose to purchase our equipment you can rest assured that with our purchasing power that you may not need to spent your time searching or asking around in the endeavour to save a few dollars of pre-loved equipment.

Besides purchasing the correct Engine, it is just as important to purchase the correct wing for your usage, as a standard Velocity CORE wing is the safest rated entry level wing, but if you eventually want to do a lot of Cross Country Flying, you should strongly consider initially spending the extra money & upgrade from a Velocity CORE wing too our Velocity Recon or Elektra Full Reflex wings, then you won't end up with a wing that is not really designed for cross country flying & the demanding situations that you may confronted with.

However, if you invest the time & search the internet you should be able to purchase secondhand equipment from 30~60% below cost price, as some people for whatever reasons simply no longer or are unable to participate in this great sport.

Most modern 2 stroke engines run a 50:1 Fuel/Oil ratio.

This is one of the best fuel ratio reference & possibly all you will need.

Obviously if you are flying a 4 stroke engine you won't need premixed fuel !

In most cases propellers stored in a Vertical position will loose it's perfect balance over a long period of time, compared to one stored in a horizontal position.

Obviously, a prop that strikes an object or simply blasted by sand during beach/sand flying won't help !

This is one of the best methods to Propeller re-balance reference you will possibly find & even shows you how to build your own and it's the best type of propeller balancer !

This Propeller Tip Speed Calculator & Static Thrust Calculator is a great tool to calculate issues you may be having with balance and a noisy propeller.