I did my solo today! Powered Parachute!

I did my 7th hour today, and it was my solo. This is a video of the first flight, but I did a second later that I"ll also add. Mike Lersbak of Seattle Powerchutes and Sportpilotu.com was my instructor on the ground. That little single seat Powrachute was pretty nice! Very sporty compared to those big two seaters. What a blast!




Wide angle lens, so things are distorted. My head, not exactly small already, is especially distorted!

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• ppc
• powered
• parachute
• Arlington
• first
• solo
• powrachute
• seattle
• nw
• Northwest
• pacific

[sidecars]

Cost of flight lessons, with aircraft rental and gas is along the lines of $85 an hour. You can fly by yourself within 7hours.

[sidecars]

@kay2DSO Anyone can ride in the backseat of one of these. And within an hour or two you can be in the front, as the instructor can control the craft from the back

[sidecars]

No, I wouldn't die if I am smart. The parachute is already deployed, so as long as I fly over areas where I could land, I'd be safe. I know a couple of people who have had to do that. Look for videos of engine out landings.

[sidecars]

Let's just say I don't way that much less than you in the scheme of things. I do think it would work for you. It is fun. Know that they don't like much wind, and on really hot days the thermals through you around. Still, lots of fun. Bryan

[mcjon77]

EXCELLENT EXCELLENT Video! I really appreciate the angle you placed the camera. It gave me a better idea of what a PPC pilot does to fly the aircraft. The commentary was good, as well. Good luck with the rest of your flying.

[sidecars]

Thanks!  It is so fun. I miss it. I haven't been up lately due to work and the cold and rain! I am in Seattle.

[offduty222]

I remember that feeling on my solo awesome, I remember looking up at those small thread lines and thinking, I hope they hold, because a fall at 250 feet is going hurt.....just a second! Congrats !

[Treetopflyersofva]

Congrats on the flight. Biggest thing I remember about my solo was how am I going to get this thing back on the ground without crashing but had great instructor that talked me down and still love flying to this day.

[geneland]

I had the o shit grip too and I used to look down while flying and ask my self why are you still holding on to the ground steering wheel stick. lol

[MikeCR7513]

@sidecars Very nice! I remember my first solo in my powered paraglider trike which was my first flight period! Unlike PPC, this is fairly typical with PPG. My instructor has a 2-place machine but since I had recently flown in the same type of craft my first flight was solo.

PPC is obviously very different than PPG. My entire initial training was only about 6.5 hours and the last hour was w/o any assistance from the instructor.

Well done! It is a rush isn't it!

Mike

[SteadiedME]

@sidecars well the guy i do it with its only $50 an hour and he would let me solo if i was 16 and i have only had 2 hours of flight

[forknuts]

Awesome! I used to skydive and paraglide, but I think having a motor would be amazing! Something to think about for sure!

[troutslayer52101]

LOL. WIth that lens, you look like an OOMPA-LOOMPA! ROFL

[sirjulez2004]

thats a cool video, im glad i got to see it. congrats on that solo. i bet its fun. i think ill add this to my do to list in life.

[SuperTrikepilot]

You never forget your first solo. I've never flown a powered chute, but they look just as fun as anything i fly. I see this video is a few years old now, i hope you are still enjoying your flying. Great video and safe flying!

[nerblebun]

Well done sir.Fine first landing and even better on the second.