Paramotoring Questions
The dates shown on the calendar are Arrival and Departure dates only.
The course starts the following morning. i.e. our calendar EP course dates 4-10 march. Arrive with us on Sunday 4th to settle in, the course starts early on Monday. The course finishes on Friday evening, your departure travel day being Saturday 10th.
Courses vary, such as the Zero to Hero ppg course, Please check dates carefully.
If you arrive outside those times we can help organise either a taxi or point you to a bus or car rental.
Spain courses:
The shuttle is at the airport at 1pm on your day of arrival. Please aim to land by 12:30 to be clear of the airport building by 1pm (Spanish time). On departure day (Saturday) it leaves the village at 11am and drops off at the airport for 1p.m. Flights leaving after 15:00 give plenty of time to check-in. If you can't coordinate your flights within these times, alternatively grab a taxi or hire car.
Turkey Course: No Free Shuttle
Airport transfers, typically everyone arrives at slightly different time in to Dalaman, there is a shuttle that runs fairly regularly to Oludeniz, or you can get a cheap 30-50 euro taxi, we might be able to organise a joint pick up (shared fare with others nearer the time)
A reasonable level of fitness is required. You will need to be able to walk up hills whilst carrying your glider. When learning to land your glider hard landings are a possibility, due to the extra engine weight and added speed.. The motors themselves are heavy so lifting and carrying is a large part of each day. Whilst learning to launch a paramotor you will be carrying between 20 - 30 kg on your shoulders so a good level of stamina is required. We only teach pilots up to a naked weight of 110 kilos
Trike flying still includes all the previously mentioned levels.
A paraglider may look vaguely like a parachute or commonly confused with a parasail or parasailing because most folk have been to the beach or what some daft operators on You tube.
Paragliding is now at a very exciting stage in its development, from being just a fun method of decent from hills, paragliding now offers the pilot the sensation of true free flight for hours upon hours. Using modern high strength materials a canopy only weighs about 7kg and packs neatly into a rucksack. This makes this "aeroplane in a bag" totally portable and can complement other sports such as skiing and mountaineering.
The paraglider wing is an inflatable structure. It consists of a row of tubes open at the front and closed at the back joined together side by side. The wing moving through the air keeps these tubes (or cells, to give their correct name) inflated. The air goes in the front but can't get out the back. These cells are cut into the same cross sectional shape as an aeroplane wing and it is this "aerofoil" section that provides the lift to our wings. The pilot is supported underneath the wing from a web of lines, each one with the strength to support the pilot alone. These lines are then attached to risers, a strap like device that is then itself attached to the pilots harness.
The harnesses we use for training are very simple but the ones used by the experienced pilots can look like a bucket seat taken from a racing car. These incredibly comfortable harnesses can come with airbag back protection systems to protect the pilot from unplanned hard landings, built in reserve parachute systems and all sorts of electronic instrumentation ranging from digital altimeters to global positioning systems. Cross-country flyers can look more like astronauts than paraglider pilots! The pilot holds a control handle on each side to steer the glider into turns. The control lines run to the rear of the canopy from these handles and by pulling smoothly down on one line at a time, one side of the wing slows down there-by turning the glider. With these controls you can perform anything from a gentle turn, to a screaming spiral dive, slow the wing down for landing and damp out turbulent air.
Add an engine to your back and you have paramotoring, a simple foot launched aircraft whihc again packs into most cars and without needing any big runway or storage hangar you can fly; outside of airspace and within the safety of the weather, anytime and anywhere you like.
We’ve never cancelled a beginners or Cp course in paragliding or paramotoring, we have a full-time staff here super keen to go out and work and get you flying. When you give us a deposit we pledge to be here to teach you!
Our head quarters are based at the 'Eagles Nest' in the village of Algodonales, Southern Spain. We use a variety of private and public hills & fields to teach our paragliding and paramotoring courses.
Fortunately our courses are very popular, they are regularly fully booked often months in advance. We like to run small groups so our clients get the best service we can offer which means last minute cancellations are quite inconvienient both for the client and ourselves, equally we want to try and be as accomodating as possible. If we can refill your place then we are happy to move your booking to another date but if we are unable to refill your place we sadly wont be able to refund your money. Life is full of unexpected events so we urge everyone to insure their holidays as soon as you make your booking, that way, should something unexpected arise no one needs to be inconvienienced.
Paragliding Elementary Pilot Course
On the paragliding courses, you DO need to walk up and down a 350ft slope over the course of 2-3 days so a reasonable level of fitness is required, in the hotter months this can be more challenging so if in doubt ask us about our cooler months. Once you're happy at flying at those heights then we drive you up bigger hills to fly. If you're unsure, or have previous medical conditions, then maybe best ask your doctor before booking or contact us directly for advice
We do offer some bespoke 1-1 courses that can suit individuals with a lower level of fitness, allowing you to progress at your own speed with your own instructor, just enquire for dates General enquiry
Zero to Hero Paramotoring Courses
Our Zero to Hero courses are an intensive 10-day course, the first two to three days can mean making multiple walks up a 350 ft hill, not difficult but a necessity and in heat sometimes tough. Personal fitness varies so much from person to person, the kit isn't super heavy nor super light 15kg). We have seen men in their late 60's outshine most in their 40's. It's not normally a problem but worth bearing in mind. All pilots have a resposnibility to inform their respective instructors of any underlying health issues that they or their doctor feel might be aggravated by training. If in doubt ask us or better still get a health check by your Doctor, especially if you are over 60
There is a certain amount of theory to achieve during the week plus an easy multiple-choice exam for beginners, it's really very easy and we provide lectures during the week. You don’t need to know any rocket science to learn to fly a paraglider but there is a need to know and have a basic comprehension of how gliders fly and the rules of the road. Knowledge of the weather is part and parcel of making good safe flying decisions and getting the best out of your flying. Lectures will be given on all aspects of the exam and more.
Some basic background reading can be very useful, for good and easily comprehensible literature that would ease you into the sport try any of these titles;
BHPA Pilot Handbook by Mark Dale: a superb book, very readable and highly informative.
Touching Cloudbase by Ian Currer: A Bit of a paragliding bible guides you from the very basics to novice pilot level in a nice logical order.
Understanding the Sky - Dennis Pagen; a Brilliant book on the weather, really easy to absorb and understand, not too fiendishly technical.
All these books are available from us just email us
Brilliant new E-learning Resource
Touching Cloubdbase as you probably all know has been the go-to study book for over 20 yrs.
The Author, Ian Currer ran one of the largest paragliding schools in the Uk and a massive early online store. Pioneered lots of foreign flying trips and now works as an examiner and BHPA tech officer at the BHPA.
Over the last year, he has now Compiled a great learning resource online and added lectures and video tutorials from Elementary to Pilots. It not only does it cover your Ep- Cp it also offers post-Cp progression theory so you will be well placed for your pilot exam.
His books retail for £25, his E-learning lectures & video resources are available for just £50. You’ll need to register an account, and reference FlySpain as a school contact and you’ve got plenty of pre-course reading and ongoing content to keep you busy until you see us here.
Follow the link at Touching cloudbase
All are welcome, we will happily pick them up from the airport when you both arrive, our house is lovely and relaxed with terraces to sit and read and wind down. We can't guarantee a place in the bus to watch you fly, if we can we will of course, but pilots come first.
We have few en-suite rooms so it's first come first served.
There will be an accommodation supplement for partners and children (depending on age). The Non-flyer supplement is 250 euros per week.
Algodonales is a stunningly beautiful area. There are massive amounts to keep everyone busy while you are flying. Stacks of history, horse riding to kitesurfing and bike hire in the village. Picnics & canoeing on the lake, stunning restaurants, charming bars and beautiful white hillside villages of Andalucia, everything is out there to do and explore. Here are some general links to activities in and around the area. For more ideas have a look at our "what other activities can I do in Spain..."
If you are on a paragliding course with us all our paragliding equipment will be provided from a safety helmet to glider and harness within the course price. We also use Radios on bigger hill flights for certain tasks like soaring and Big Ears manoeuvres.
FlySpain boasts some of the best school equipment out there to teach on, the equipment is checked regularly, and conforms to the latest safety standards. Its chosen to make your progression through the school as happy and easy as possible with the most confidence. The gliders you fly on in the later half of your course and when you leave the school tend to be a little different from the training gliders you first go out on.
Some students prefer to buy their own equipment from the outset & learn to fly using that. Others choose to buy new or used equipment halfway through the course so that by the end of the course they are au fait and comfortable with their new kit in the company and familiar surroundings of their instructors.
Our recommendation is to try and hold off buying equipment until you have completed two or three days of the course, by then you will be familiar with what is on the market and what you might like.
The choice is huge and depending on what your intentions, not all equipment is suitable. If climbing and paragliding is an ambition then you will want very specialist light weight equipment, like wise, if you commute with your business a lot and you need something more portable. It just allows you a chance to look around and see what gliders and harnesses are available, we have a good selection of demos paraglider wings and harnesses for you to try.
Regardless if you are on the inclusive glider-training package and have bought your kit new, there won’t be any pressure on you to select the first thing that’s put in front of you. There's lots of on instructors on hand to offer up advise about what equipment is most suitable for you. We offer a mix of new and second hand equipment see our shop for more details
If you're flying with us, layers work well - long sleeved tops, lightweight windproof jacket and jeans will do for training. It can be cooler at the top of a mountain, even when it is very warm in the valley.
Many pilots like to wear boots with ankle support for flying, if you are paramotoring good boots are well advised, if you bring trainers make sure you bring something with good grip on the soles.
We provide towels
The season is super hot from the end of April to End of September, it begins cooling down from October to February and begins to warm up from mid-Feb to end of April. In warmer months bring a swimming costume, as there is a beautiful freshwater reservoir that you can canoe or swim in at the end of a day’s flying.
Sunblock is essential even over winter.
Our houses do have washing machines, so if you get too muddy then there is always an option to wash your clothes.
Don't think for a minute that paragliding is a specialist Sport. Britain has a comparatively small number of flyers, around 8,000, of which Paragliding pilots make up 4- 7,000 the rest are hang glider pilots. However between the French and Germans alone there are around 60,000 pilots, the Swiss boast another 20,000. These figures are based on registered flyers. It’s difficult to say precisely how many Americans, Canadians. Kiwi’s and Australian pilots there are plus the Japanese…. Basically you can fly virtually everywhere in the world these days. The simple fact is that massive amounts of people are and have tuned into one of the most pleasurable experiences you can do…that is free flight!
If you are a beginner, learning to paraglide or paramotor, YES you need to be a member of the BHPA to join our tuition classes.
You don't need to be a member on our holidays.
(For qualified pilots on our guided weeks & holidays we highly recommend that you are a member of the Paragliding Association for your country)
BHPA members automatically receive 3rd-party insurance cover and a copy of the Skywings magazine each month as part of their membership package.
A 3 months trial membership is only suitable for our Beginners Elementary class and costs £53
Annual BHPA flying membership costs £99 and is suitable for Beginners Elementary + Club Pilot + Club Pilot Power students
BHPA Membership form
606.55 kB - pdf
Please complete the application form and post directly to the BHPA head office along with your payment prior to arriving for your course with FlySpain.
You will be given a membership number which you will need to bring with you.
Please complete the application form and post directly to the BHPA head office along with your payment prior to arriving for your course with FlySpain.
You will be given a membership number which you will need to bring with you.
BHPA Membership form
606.55 kB - pdf
You can visit their website if you'd like further information:
If you have enquiries for the BHPA you can contact them directly:
Telephone: 0116 289 4316
Fax: 0116 289 8741
Email:[email protected]
The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association Ltd
8 Merus Court, Meridian Business Park, Leicester, LE19 1RJ, United Kingdom
How to choose a paramotor?
This can be a complicated task. There are great differences between paramotors
I will try to give you an unbiased comparison (we have a school and have multiple units). We will try to give some honest advice.
Most beginners start with the engine because it is easy to compare the numbers but this is by far not the most important thing. Experienced pilots know that there are huge differences in how the paramotor feels when you fly it. This is determined by paramotor geometry and plenty of small details, while not all of them are possible to measure. As a beginner, you may not be able to decide upon this but get different opinions. The brand your instructor is the dealer of may not always be the best for you.
List of paramotor pointers you should consider when buying a paramotor:
- How much power do you need?
- How much weight am I happy to carry?
- Standard 125cm prop or larger?
- Do you need a clutch?
- Electric or manual starter?
- Is aerodynamics important?
- Strength and repairability.
- Fuel Efficiency..you have to carry it so every liter is another kilo at take off on your back and legs
- Transport and travel with your paramotor.
You start with a beginner wing now which offers easy behaviour on takeoff, benign flight characteristics but you might , depending on how much you fly want to upgrade to upgrade to a faster wing later. However, you can keep your paramotor for many years if you have chosen properly.
What is your flying style and your goals in paramotoring for the future?
- Cross country cruising
- Low-level-fun/slalom addict
- Acro madman
- Thermalling junkie
Cross-country cruising... This is it the birds-eye perspective on long cross-country flights that attracts everyone in the first place so its a good place to start. You will need: Easy Launch, gain altitude, let the brake toggles go and fly fast and far as you like. All engines will do this, the bigger they are the more fuel they drink, so shorter distances and more need to carry fuel for longer flights. They'll also be heavier to manage on the ground and for landing but you'll get a quicker climb rate...not that that's really important. Less power equals less vibration, fewer repairs, less fuel, and less weight generally.
Is there more to it?
Flying will never get boring but it is natural to human nature to seek progress. It may happen that after some airtime you look for some more adrenaline. You may look for disciplines where you could learn/show more skills. Acro, slalom flying all these disciplines lean towards smaller gliders that need more power, better climb rates etc
Equally, you'll be making shorter flights less concerned about distance and more on altitude and skill refinement. Pondering these options means in truth you've already had your fill of the category above already. Pilots don't go from school and think I want to be an acro pilot without before gaining the fundamental skills and going on progression courses.
Engine size
The bigger the engine often equates with more thrust, but prop size is quite key here too. If you bolt on a 185 machine on your back you'll notice two things, the sheer weight at 26kilos plus the fuel five liters per hour is another five kilos! you have to launch and run with that for hopefully a short spell if your technique is dialled.
Larger engines vibrate more
The issue with that is that things rattle loose, anything that starts loose comes free and ends up flying through your prop which leads to further expense and lost time in repairs.
So our advice is to buy an engine that's the right size for you, the climb out wants to be sensible and not like the Saturn rocket!. Power needs to be managed and most pilots unless doing acrobatics, really don't need large quantities of power to get you out of trouble, we fly mostly in straight lines, we can see and anticipate obstacles and plan accordingly. Normal flight for the majority of pilots is cruising at whatever flight level floats your boat, its not dynamic flying.
Obviously, if your blessed with big bones you'll need a powerful engine to help get airborne. If you have a weak back and weaker knees and weigh under 88kg you can away with smaller engines like a 125 or 80 cc unit. There's plenty of choices.
Throttle choice
Left or right hand, some would argue left if your a right handed so you can get access to your reserve handle, but i've checked if things went pair shaped I guarantee I'd pull a reserve even with a throttle in my hand. If you fly with a camera and need to focus..then left hand is your focusing hand... most righties i know fly with right-hand throttle, left to left...whatever you choose just stick with it.
Harness Size.
Medium Small or Large/Xl simple as that anything under 5'10 ft go for medium anything above go large.
We are a BHPA rated and supported school, so are our instructors, if you’d like to get our high standard of instruction I’m afraid you will have to join the BHPA, you can get an IPPI qualification which allows you to get an internationally recognised certificate to fly, but please check if your own country does recognise them, most of Europe certainly does and we can help and advise with that.
Remember you only need to be a Bhpa member to join in our tuition courses like EP or Cp paragliding or paramotoring
Not really, part of the popualrity of training with us is that we operate across northern European winters. It has more to do with maybe how much heat you like or don’t. It's cooler from Jan through to late April and from late October to mid December.
The longer days of Summer and Autumn often mean we take a break or siesta to avoid the thermic part and hottest part of the day, going back out until late. The Autumn/Winter months mean you'll get instruction across the more typical working day of 9 - 6pm
There is a certain amount of theory to achieve during the week plus an easy multiple choice exam, if we get any bad weather days we’ll use those for that.
We occasionally take students out and show them a slice of Andalucia, it is a beautiful place with a rich history in food and architecture.
In the very unlikely event of losing a whole week’s flying we will give you credit towards another course in the future. We always try and ensure you get the very most from the week and return for more!
Paragliding is predominantly seasonal in Britain, the best of the season is from April/May to September. There have been exceptional years and if you are persistent there are occasional windows over winter when you can get some really lovely crisp soarable days. We don't fly in rain and need a maximum wind speed on the hill of at most 16mph for training. We also fly in no wind at all as we can provide our own inertia to inflate the canopy simply by running. For those pilots looking to fly a little more over then they tend to head south to Spain or the Canaries.
You can do many different things with a paraglider. You can hike up a large mountain and use the paraglider to fly back down again but soaring ridges is the most common form of paragliding in Britain and the rest of the world. When the wind blows directly onto a ridge or hill, the air is diverted over the top creating a "wave" of lift. We can soar or surf this "wave" to stay airborne for hours. After your flight, you simply land back on the top of the hill where you took off from. Flight times can be anything between 5 minutes and how long one can hold their bladder!
Flying is a tremendously personal thing, for some soaring around on a beautiful coastal site while abroad on holiday with the family or a green British hillside is divine, others like to thermal with the birds and see how high they can get before the sun sets. The ultimate challenge for some pilots is to fly cross- country using rising thermals of hot air to climb to "cloud base" covering great distances. The current world record is over 400km and in Britain, just over 280k from North Wales to Luton…avoiding the airport!
Add an engine and you can take advantage of flatter ground and light winds early doors and in the afternoons, paraglider pilots use paramotors as an extra string to their bow to get more airtime on the days it's too light to fly or its easier to fly more local to home.
Yes if you are on a guided or Siv week, two metres, not PMR or shortwave.
No if you are on a tuition week, all kit is provided.
Brilliant new E-learning Resource
Touching Cloubdbase as you probably all know has been the go-to study book for over 20 yrs.
The Author, Ian Currer ran one of the largest paragliding schools in the Uk and a massive early online store. Pioneered lots of foreign flying trips and now works as an examiner and BHPA tech officer at the BHPA.
Over the last year, he has now Compiled a great learning resource online and added lectures and video tutorials from Elementary to Pilots. It not only does it cover your Ep- Cp it also offers post-Cp progression theory so you will be well placed for your pilot exam.
His books retail for £25, his E-learning lectures & video resources are available for just £50. You’ll need to register an account, and reference FlySpain as a school contact and you’ve got plenty of pre-course reading and ongoing content to keep you busy until you see us here.
Follow the link at Touching cloudbase
