airplane enthusiasts?

[john swenson]

one of the guys that fly's with us sometimes joins us with his powered paraglider like the one in the video . he flys about the same speed as us . his main job is a pilot for united airlines...says the backpacks way more fun . too much work for me carrying the motor on my back and running till the chutes up . the advantage is it will fit in your trunk . i've had 2---2 seat powered parachutes , but when the ffa went to the sport pilot lisence it really killed the whole ultralite industry . even for a 2 place powered parachute you need a sport pilot lisence and a ''n'' number . but living out in the country , lots of people still fly 2 seaters off their property without the liscence . i still can fly my friends 2 seater if i want to take someone up or teach a new person that bought one . i've taught lots of people to fly them . the main thing learning is how to kite the chute up. once your in the air it's only steering with your feet and higher or lower altitude by the throttle . their a constant speed machine . and you can land in a backyard. yea , and no liscence needed for a one seater . lots of good ones for sale !! j.b.

[coffinman]

Thanks for that info, John! I agree that rollin' would be better than runnin'!

[curtisbyrne]

at the young age of 16 i was introduced to flying with both my uncles having float planes i got really good i could land take off all on my own of course not actually by myself but i learned to fly before i could drive a car pretty cool! i went to a junior flight school and flew cessna 152. finally finding out i cannot be a pilot due to eye trouble i decided now at 19 i am becoming an aircraft maintenance engineer!!
me receiving my "wings"

[dirtdobber]

Good for you curtis!

[Dw89xj]

That's pretty awesome.

[trevorakm1]

I was hooked on watching videos from some kid in NJ fly these, even talked my business partner to get one a former fixed wing pilot also. I occasionally brought my wife on charter flights, so it's not the safety it's the $$$$. Or rather too many toys that don't get enough use in her eyes. My wife goes along with my hobbies as they have never taken away from my kids. I just recently bought an old Honda 350x ATC and I think that was the last in her mind.
These powered parachutes though are really everything I love about flying. They are easy to get going for the day, practical, Minimal, and reliable as you said John. They also don't cost an arm and a leg compared to a plane nor have the federal requirements and Hell it's open cockpit, I love it. I just want to , when conditions permit, get up and go fly and not be bothered.
I'm envious.

[john swenson]

yea my buddy picked up a used single place buckeye ppc this summer . only about 150 hrs. on the rotax 503 ( great engines ) . got it for $ 2000 with a trailer . the fellow had passed away from a heartatttack . i taught him how to fly and he was always up with us taking videos . he loved it . i would see him up in the air on the way to work when it was 35 degrees out ! curtis..great career for you . you can still fly a ppc , a part 103 fixed wing ultralite , or a trike ( powered hang glider type ) with no liscence needed . so maybe in your future. j.b.

[dirtdobber]

20200128_111732.jpgHeres a little something for you old timers

[dirtdobber]

Attachment 17911Heres a little something for you old timers

[coffinman]

I still have my old E6B. Watch that "old-timer" stuff, tho! LOL!