25: Roots & Demographics

The sport hasn’t been around for very long but, then again, in the greater scheme of humanity, neither has flying.
Our history starts with parachutes, wends through some interesting twists and lost lineages and eventually comes through paragliding. The book goes into a few offshoots including David Barish whose work predated even the earliest efforts that eventually led to commercial success.
Like archeology, new information is always being dug up and it will be placed here when we learn of it.
by Jeff Goin | May 7, 2019 | 25: Roots & Demographics
A look at the early machines that shaped our sport As best I can tell, the well documented 1981 flights of Mike Byrne were the first. He built the thing himself and dubbed it “paramotor.” There wasn’t anything to buy until 8 years later when Pagojet...
by Jeff Goin | Apr 21, 2019 | 25: Roots & Demographics
There is a complete chapter on PPG history but it ends when powered paragliding first started in the U.S. This fills in more detailed information and extends it. Those who have made a contribution to the sport in some significant way are included. If you know of any...
by Jeff Goin | Jan 15, 2007 | 25: Roots & Demographics
The article below is courtesy of the WashingtonPost.com. By Lisa Ulmer, Photos by Reginald A. Pearman Jr., Wednesday, July 1, 1998 As a child, Carlton Hoskins would look to the sky and dream of flying, planning to become a commercial aviator or a fighter jet pilot. As...
by Jeff Goin | Mar 7, 2001 | 25: Roots & Demographics, Log: Enterprise
Invitation, post 17387 of Pilots PPG Club, Mar 7, 2001 Thanks to the tireless efforts of Terry Alford, we have definitely secured a location for the First Annual Paramotor Convention. It will be April 5-9(Thurs.-Mon.) at the River Wilderness Golf and Country Club...