Get started: Learning Steps

It is important to take a lesson as there are a lot of safety steps that are essential to learn and ensure flying is safe and fun for you and everyone around you. The following information is to show you what you can expect from a lesson, and is not intended to replace or provide on

1. The trainer

The first thing to do to get into Parajetting is learn how to fly the wing while on the ground. The safest and easiest way to get started is to spend 10 – 15 hours mastering this skill on a trainer wing. This may seem like a lot of time, but it’s much easier to learn the lessons and get to the point where flying it becomes second nature before you put the weight of the Parajet on your back.

"Trainer wings and harnesses are available from the shop"

2. The Wind Window

With the trainer wing you will need to figure out how to get the kite into the neutral positions along the “wind window”. If your back is to the wind, the wind window is the arc that extends from your left side to your right side, with directly overhead being the middle and "neutral position". This neutral zone is necessary for launching and landing and it is essential to be extremely efficient in getting the kite there and handling the kite in the neutral wind window. You want to be able to get the wing to neutral as quickly as possible from any possible wing location in the sky.

3. Getting Airborne

Once you’ve mastered keeping the wing in the neutral zone its time to take the first running steps in to the sky from a hill. This is an ideal way to get airborne without using the engine and any good school will encourage you to become proficient at launching, controlling the wing in flight and landing before getting geared up with the back pack. Once you’ve mastered this it’s time to get blasted off your feet by a Parajet, you’ll have acquired all the basic skills for flying by now so this bit’s easy but incredibly exhilarating!

4. Other Drills and Practice

Forward launching the wing is also an essential skill for flying when there is zero wind. This requires less skill than the reverse launch but without practice can be extremely unreliable, it requires confidence and commitment but once mastered is your access to the sky’s when the flying conditions are at there very best. The power launch is a more advanced version of the same skill, it makes takeoff quick and effortless, using the power of the engine to launch the wing and blast you into the sky.

5. Weather Window and Launch Sites

The ideal conditions for flying are 0 – 10mph of wind, no rain and cloud base above 2000ft (700metres) you can fly in up to 20mph of wind but flight become less controllable and you’ll find the ride very turbulent. The ideal takeoff spot is a field or beach with a clear 50 metres and without nearby upwind obstruction such as hills, houses, trees etc etc, all of which can cause turbulent air during your take-off run.

6. Exploring the Sky

The Parajet gives you unparalleled access to the sky, it’s unregulated so you don’t need a license, radio or airfield to fly. Exploring, flying around and over clouds is possible within 10 – 15 minutes of take-off, all this whilst listening to your favourite music and cruising around enjoying the most panoramic views of planet earth ever!! This is flying as never before and should be experienced by everyone, thrill seeker of not!

 

7. Tricks and Dynamic flying:

The wing and backpack combine to create a truly mind blowing aerobatic aircraft than can be flown by an experienced pilot to perform radical aerial manoeuvres and tricks. Low level flying, foot dragging across fields, beaches and skimming over water is fast, exiting and requires a high level of skill, aerial tricks…spiral dives, wing-overs, tumbles and spins to name a few are unbelievably exhilarating but safe with the right tuition and practice.

The beauty of the sport is you can be as dynamic or passive a pilot as you want. Enjoying the view, riding thermals, exploring clouds and landscapes and experiencing true freedom is very often enough.