Powered Paragliding

Officially Powered Paragliding (PPG)

AIR SPORT combining a PARAGLIDER (fabric wing) with a MOTOR + PROPELLER carried on the pilot's back (paramotor). Foot-launched — pilot runs forward on flat ground to inflate wing + take off; no runway needed. Cruises 15-40 mph; typically 500-3000 ft altitude; flight time 2-3 hours. Simpler + cheaper than gliders + airplanes. Governed by USPPA (USA) + FAI (international). Requires 8-10 hours of training + certifications. Popular flying method in USA, Brazil, Europe, Southeast Asia. ~50,000 pilots worldwide.

⏱~120 min🌤outdoor

Photo · Wikipedia

Quick facts

How it works

Objective

Powered aviation; leisure flying, competitive slalom, cross-country, aerobatics.

Rules

Basic rules

Foot-launched — no runway needed
Signature ground-take-off.
Motor provides thrust; wing provides lift
Paramotor propulsion.
Land by cutting engine + flaring wing
Standard landing.
Regulatory: sport pilots often not required to be licensed (varies by country)
Accessible entry.
Training: 8-15 hours ground school + tandem flights + solo checkouts
Training standard.

Scoring

Competitive events scored on precision, time, or altitude; leisure flying has no scoring.

Action	Points
Slalom competition time	Fastest through gates wins
Precision landing	Closest to target circle
Cross-country distance	Longest flight recorded
World record altitude	38,000+ feet (Ramon Morillas, 2006)

Win condition · Event-specific.

Equipment

Paraglider wing (fabric ram-air wing, ~10-14 m² area)
Signature soft wing
Paramotor (backpack motor + propeller, ~15-40 kg)
Signature motorized propulsion
Harness (integrates with wing + paramotor)
Pilot suspension
Helmet + reserve parachute
Safety essentials
Radio + variometer + GPS
Navigation electronics
Full setup cost: $5000-15000
Entry-level to professional

Terminology

Paramotor: The backpack motor + propeller unit strapped to pilot.
Wing: The paraglider fabric canopy.
Kiting: Ground-handling the wing to inflate + control before takeoff.
Flare: Pulling brake lines at landing to slow descent.
Cage: Protective ring around propeller.
PPG: Powered Paragliding — the sport.
PPG Trike: Wheeled cart launch for pilots who can't foot-launch.

Major competitions

FAI World Paramotor Championships
biennial · Global (rotating) · since 2000
US Nationals PPG
annual · USA · since 2003
European PPG Cup
annual · Europe · since 2005

Where it is played

Governing bodies

United States Powered Paragliding Association (USPPA)
Founded 2002 · USA
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) — Paramotor Commission (CIVL)
Founded 1905 · Switzerland
British Hang Gliding + Paragliding Association (BHPA)
Founded 1992 · UK

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

Ramón Morillas (Spain — altitude world record 38,000 ft)
Alex Varv (Bulgaria — long-distance records)
Michael Regner (USA — competitive slalom)
Icaro Team (professional French circuit)

Frequently asked

Powered paragliding vs paragliding vs skydiving?+

All 3 use fabric wings but at different points. SKYDIVING: jump from airplane at altitude (10,000+ ft), free-fall, then deploy parachute; short flight. PARAGLIDING: hike up hill/mountain, foot-launch, glide via thermals; no motor; long duration. POWERED PARAGLIDING (PPG): flat-ground foot-launch with backpack motor; can climb + cruise indefinitely; most accessible aviation. PPG is often described as 'flying a lawn chair' — freest, cheapest way to fly a certified aircraft in most jurisdictions.

Is powered paragliding safe?+

STATISTICALLY SIMILAR to motorcycle riding. Main risks: engine failure at altitude (glide down using wing), wind gusts during takeoff/landing, propeller injuries during ground handling. Serious injury rate: ~1 per 10,000 flights. Death rate: 1-2 per 100,000 flights. Proper training + weather-aware flying + engine maintenance minimize risk substantially.

Sources & provenance

Wikipedia — Powered paragliding— Wikipedia
USPPA— USPPA

Last verified 2026-08-28.verified