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Paramotor, a combination of the words parachute and engine, is suitable for terrains without high points, steep slopes, or strong winds. Therefore, it's ideal for athletes competing in large cities or flat areas. Paramotors use a lightweight engine and propeller mounted at the rear, along with ground clearance directly connected to the pilot during flight, and can reach altitudes of up to 5 km above the ground. The weight of the paramotor engine is approximately 20 to 25 kg. Therefore, pilots need to practice carrying this type of engine to become accustomed to its weight before they can practice takeoff.
For tandem paramotor flights, passengers will fly alongside a pilot on a three-wheeled vehicle. Furthermore, to meet the growing demand for this experience among young people, many locations offer this service in Tay Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, Hoa Binh, and other areas.
Experience a new and exciting sport.
"I felt a little nervous when I got into the car and started accelerating, but then when the car took off, everything felt so much lighter," Tuyet Ngan, an office worker in Da Lat, shared with Travellive.
Tuyết Ngân first learned about paragliding from the popular Korean drama "Crash Landing on You." Watching her idol actors soaring through the sky, she longed to experience the same feeling. Afterward, Tuyết Ngân used paragliding and motorized paragliding services in Da Lat. She described her first experience in the air as "nervous at first, then feeling incredibly light."
The pilot prepares for a powered paragliding flight.
Tuyet Ngan and the first powered paragliding flight.
"I felt reassured experiencing this service because they gave me thorough instructions and prepared protective gear for me before the flight," Tuyet Ngan said.
Kim Lan, a young woman living in Ho Chi Minh City, believes that motorized paragliding is an experience worth the money. Lan only learned about this sport last year, and then she tried signing up for a motorized paragliding flight. Admitting that she is afraid of heights, Kim Lan felt very anxious when she stepped onto the paragliding vehicle.
"My first experience with a powered paraglider was with my instructor. Right after that flight, I overcame my fear of heights and started to love paragliding even more," Kim Lan shared.
Experience motorized paragliding in Da Lat.
Before flying, Kim Lan doesn't need to prepare much. She advises that those flying tandem with a pilot should prepare comfortable sportswear. Besides that, when participating in paragliding with a pilot, just pay attention to what the instructor says before the flight. According to Kim Lan, the tandem flight service with a pilot costs about 3 million VND/20 minutes of flight.
"However, those with underlying cardiovascular conditions or high blood pressure should reconsider this service because the sudden change in altitude can affect their health," Tuyet Ngan added, highlighting important considerations before flying on a motorized paraglider.
From hobby to passion
Driven by her passion for this extreme sport, Kim Lan enrolled in a paragliding pilot course offered by the Ho Chi Minh City Paragliding Federation. She began her paragliding training three months ago and successfully completed her first flight.
Kim Lan spent approximately 12 million VND on paragliding. To learn motorized paragliding, tourists need to spend around 25 million VND. However, she was exempted from this fee because she accompanied and trained with the flight crew. Next, Kim Lan spent about 60-100 million VND to buy a shoulder-mounted propeller engine.
"If you're learning to fly a drone to do tandem flights like the customers who experienced it, a drone costs around 200 to 300 million VND," she shared.
According to Kim Lan, the theoretical knowledge of this subject is easy to grasp, and with the guidance of the instructors, she can easily memorize it. On the other hand, this subject requires high skills, so the best way to understand the knowledge is to diligently practice and be alert to the regulations when flying.
The paraglider is preparing to glide down onto the lake.
Start and test the engine.
The propeller motor weighs around 20kg.
"My most memorable experience so far in motorized paragliding training is carrying the 20kg machine on my shoulder, squeezing the throttle, and going for a ride. It was a feeling I never thought a girl like me could do," Kim Lan said, recalling her first training session. She added that although her shoulders ached a little, she felt much stronger.
Speaking to Travellive, Kim Lan explained that the biggest challenge in her paragliding training stemmed from her family circumstances. She and her husband have three young children, and their family lives very far from the training locations. Therefore, arranging childcare and travel time for training took up a significant amount of her effort.
"Those difficulties also motivated me to try harder. My husband and I both participated in paragliding training, and my husband graduated in powered paragliding. I also received great support from my husband," Kim Lan said.
