by Jeff Goin | Nov 24, 2020 | Electric Paramotor
Electrics are coming. They’re quieter, cheaper to operate, have far, far fewer moving parts, don’t struggle to start, and can be fueled from your house or car. Eventually the battery buggaboo that limits range will make them fit the desires of more and...
by Jeff Goin | Oct 28, 2020 | Electric Paramotor, Recent
I recently got a question about the state of ePPG. Why don’t we see more electric paramotors? As a big fan of the breed, I’m rooting for its success, but am also a realist. Go to a gathering and you’ll find very few, if any, electric paramotors. Why?...
by Jeff Goin | Jul 24, 2020 | 13: Flying Cross Country, 22: Aerodynamics, 23: Motor & Propeller, 26: The Wing, 27: The Motor Unit
Here is how to maximize range for the current wind conditions. For crosswinds, see below. First, a few comments about the problem. It’s covered briefly in the PPG Bible but here is more detail. As the book says, use best glide speed in calm wind, fly faster in a...
by Jeff Goin | May 10, 2020 | 27: The Motor Unit, Mx: Motor
The 60+ year old marvel of technology that powers our flight is a nearly perfect match. Finicky, yes, but given the power, we get out of it’s few pounds, we can’t be terribly surprised. Tuned Pipe When the piston moving upward, it’s expelling...
by Jeff Goin | Nov 23, 2019 | 02 Gearing Up, 23: Motor & Propeller, 27: The Motor Unit
See Paraglider Certification There is no paramotor certification. That’s too bad because there is a lot of room for improvement, especially regarding prop-strike protection and torque mitigation. I can imagine a fairly simple set of tests that result in a safety...
by Jeff Goin | Jun 18, 2019 | 01 Training, 27: The Motor Unit
I get questions about paramotors that sometimes include the comment: “I’d like to have extra power in case of emergencies.” It’s a common and sensible desire, but is it a good idea? And if so, how important is it? Before throwing in my 2 cents,...
by Jeff Goin | May 14, 2019 | 23: Motor & Propeller, 27: The Motor Unit, Mx: Harness Setup
To fully understand the many harness permutations and terminology, check out Harness Systems. Of many harness and motor adjustments, setting the proper motor hang angle affects far more than comfort. As covered in Chapter 12, correct setup can make or break launches...
by Jeff Goin | May 14, 2019 | 27: The Motor Unit, Mx: Motor
When troubleshooting motor problems it’s handy to understand how the various systems work. Fortunately ignition is quite reliable and rarely causes problems beyond the spark plug. This may help when it does. Basic Coil Description A correctly timed spark is the...
by Jeff Goin | May 13, 2019 | 27: The Motor Unit, Electric Paramotor, News
The latest happenings in the world of Electrics OpenPPG.com is the latest in electric paramotors. And it’s a completely different animal with a completely different method of distribution. I flew Rob Catto’s and talked with one of the two brothers who...
by Jeff Goin | May 10, 2019 | 27: The Motor Unit
First the why. On larger paramotor engines, pull starters rely on flywheel action of the prop to pull through the their strong compression. That works because these units have a belt-driven prop. If you want to put a clutch on these bigger machines, that doesn’t...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 30, 2019 | 27: The Motor Unit, Mx: Motor, Propeller Safety
Simple, effective alternative ways to shut off a motor Being able to quickly shut off a motor is critical for several reasons, yet kill switches are easily disabled at their multiple connection points. So it’s good to have a back up. Here are some ideas. Spark...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 28, 2019 | 27: The Motor Unit
These guys have been quietly building an electric machine for the past four years–work that has paid off by creating a salable drive train that can be used by other makers. After seeing pictures, I inquired with the usual questions and the lead developer,...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 21, 2019 | 12: Maintenance, 27: The Motor Unit
Besides regular mechanical maintenance, treat your motor to low humidity storage, good fuel run through a filter and shade. The metal parts may not care about sun exposure but the harness sure does. Ours have ridden behind the Enterprise for years and show why...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 18, 2019 | 27: The Motor Unit, Mx: Harness Setup
I hear the darndest things sometimes. One frequent misconception regards paramotor harnesses. Over zealous sellers try to sucker people in to their gear using misinformation that requires a lack of understanding. If you ever “this is the only _____, and...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 17, 2019 | 12: Maintenance, 27: The Motor Unit
Getting the most from gas station pumps With fuel prices high, Shane Banquer, a helicopter pilot who has been in the petroleum industry for 31 years, offered some tricks on how to get more of your money’s worth for every gallon. Thanks to Eric Dufour for sharing...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 16, 2019 | 19: Risk & Safety, 27: The Motor Unit
See also A Better Paramotor | A Better Cart | A Better Throttle There have been at least three accidents resulting in pilot paralysis. In one, a reserve parachute may have saved the day but in the other two it would not have since they were doing low level...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 14, 2019 | 19: Risk & Safety, 26: The Wing, 27: The Motor Unit
I get questions. They are commonly about equipment—what’s the best, what’s the most reliable, etc., but recently one had a twist that made me think. It was essentially: “I’m looking into paramotoring but want to know what the best, safest motor...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 13, 2019 | 27: The Motor Unit, Propeller Safety
Safer machines for the real world. Updated Mar 10, 2020 to add illustration. Yes, they have to be fun, comfortable, light, powerful, look cool and be convenient. The most talented designers will accomplish all that and provide decent protection. No, they won’t...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 12, 2019 | 02 Gearing Up, 27: The Motor Unit
Harness Terminology: How the Harness and frame interact to provide a hook-in point. See Also Harness Adjusting | Hang Points: High or Low? | Harness Myths | Understanding Paramotor Torque | Tandem Paramotor harness systems can be categorized by their in-flight hang...
by Jeff Goin | Feb 26, 2011 | Electric Paramotor, Reviews: Electric Paramotors
I got a bunch of letters about this one—a home-grown wheeled PPG by Pierre Beney. It’s built with off-the-shelf Radio Control model motors. Looking at the video doesn’t say much about it beyond the search for improvements. It doesn’t appear to have...
by Jeff Goin | Jan 1, 2010 | 27: The Motor Unit, 29: Home Building, Reviews: Paramotors
As of 2019 the “Easy-up” paramotor appears to no longer be available (thankfully). 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...
by Jeff Goin | Aug 29, 2009 | 27: The Motor Unit, Propeller Safety
Safer gear is an important element to reducing injuries. | A Better Paramotor | Safety Ring Retrofit | A Better Cart Another major improvement to safety can likely be realized with a simple throttle change. Most of the injuries happen while a pilot, facing his motor,...
by Jeff Goin | Aug 26, 2009 | 19: Risk & Safety, 27: The Motor Unit, Propeller Safety
Jeff Baumgartner Safety Ring Modification You can now buy a safety ring, suitable for many brands, from Skycruiser Manufacturing for $65. Thanks to Leon Wacker for working with me on this and making it available. Shipping adds approximately $15. It comes in 3 segments...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 5, 2008 | 27: The Motor Unit, Propeller Safety
Here are some things observations of positive developments in paramotor safety. It would be cool for every machine to provide basic protections against the inevitable: falling, unexpected thrusting, and others. Check out A Better Paramotor. Here is a celebration of...
by Jeff Goin | Mar 28, 2008 | 22: Aerodynamics, 26: The Wing, 27: The Motor Unit
Which wing will require more power to stay up? I’m not concerned with covering miles, just staying airborne. First, to stay up the longest on any given wing, fly at the speed that gives the lowest sink rate when power off. For paragliders, that’s usually...
by Jeff Goin | Jan 15, 2007 | 27: The Motor Unit, Mx: Harness Setup
What’s better, high or low hook-ins? A nearly religious fervor surrounds proponents of each system. But most pilots stick with what they learned on and enjoy it happily thereafter. 2019 Update: the vast majority of new machines are sold with low hookins using...
by Jeff Goin | Aug 29, 2006 | 27: The Motor Unit, Propeller Safety
Besides pilot training, safer cages will go the farthest to reducing prop injuries. Jeff Baumgartener has designed a strong safety ring for the Skybolt v2 that could easily be retrofitted to a wide variety of paramotors and demonstrated its ability to withstand 170...
