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This
is the real deal. The world's most affordable ultralight plans and,
once built, a very nice flying machine. My goal in having this page
up is to preclude pilots from getting duped into wasting money
on difficult-to-build and inadequate plans. Skip the EasyUp, it's
little more than a marketing scam.
I've
stopped selling the plans here so my recommendation would carry the
weight it deserves. I do not want pilots duped. I've flown both the
Skybolt and the v2 machine and both were well thought out designs that
pilots will be able to build and fly.
Mind you, I
believe that new pilots are best off buying from their instructor since
he'll be familiar with it. But if you want to build from plans, this is,
by far, the best way to go. Here's why. Do find an instructor and make
sure he's willing to train you on the gear. Not all are.
Here is why
the Skybolt plans are recommended.
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No Welding. The
EasyUp plans, for example, require welding. There are not that
many shops that will do aluminum welding, especially when they
find out its for an aircraft. Plus, requiring welding means that
the machine cannot be built entirely by all builders.
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All
tube bending is done with a conventional pipe bender.
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Over
90 minutes of detailed building video.
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Affordable
pre-built connector kit for those who would like to
cut down build time. The v2 connector kit is dramatically less
expensive owing to the simplified design.
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There
are actually quite a few of these Skybolts flying. In spite of
attending many events throughout the country, I've never seen a
single EasyUp fly.
Obviously there's risk in powered
paragliding and any salesman that glosses over that fact is doing you a
disservice. But with proper training and attitude, it is likely the safest
form of aviation ever devised. And building your own machine is one viable
approach provided you work with an instructor BEFORE you ever start it.
That is part of the reason for including Risk & Reward so you
get a good idea of what's at stake.
if you're not sure this is for
you, they offer just the assembly DVD for $28 including shipping. It shows
how the frame is built and gives you an idea if this project is for you.
For more information or to buy,
visit www.PPGPlans.com.
 
Easily made to incorporate safety
features such as the hand-prop protection ring as shown
on the right picture above. You learn the techniques during the building
process.
Kit Paramotors
If you are looking for Kit Paramotors, there are two that I'm
familiar with and can recommend. The
ParamotorKits.com and
I-Flyer. Although I've not
flown a ParamotorKits frame yet, it appears well built and I have flown
their trike which worked as advertised.
I've flown the I-Flyer and it was just like the Miniplane it is
modeled after.
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Why
the SkyBolt PPG?
It's
a real paramotor that I've flown and seen others fly. This machine will
get you airborne elegantly and safely. Jeff Baumgartner, the designer, has been flying powered paragliders
since 2000
and is passionate about flying and the machine that enables it. He
continues to fly frequently (as much as Wisconsin weather allows
anyway).
Before putting these plans together, he built 3
machines, flew them, tweaked them and made them "right." I
know because I've flown them—they've always been well-built,
comfortable and nicely balanced.
Unfortunately,
there are shysters on the internet who would rather sell you an empty
dream than a useful product. So do yourself a favor and look around. Ask these questions
before considering another plans-built machine.
1. How
many are out there flying?
In
the years I've been in this sport I've
never seen an "Easy Up" let alone a flying example. I
have seen (and flown) a SkyBolt. So has longtime, respected
instructor Eric Dufour. And we liked it!
2. Is
welding required? The SkyBolt requires none. Welding aluminum is far more
difficult than welding steel and steel is generally too heavy for this
application. To find out for yourself, look in the yellow
pages under welding and ask about pricing aluminum welding.
3. Ask
what experienced, knowledgeable pilots think of the plans you're thinking
about buying.
4. Is
there support? For the Skybolt there is. Try that with the "Easy
Up."
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