Underrated advice right here. Patience is so important. Patience to buy the right gear, patience to go through training, patience to wait for safe conditions to fly. And while we're waiting, there is always something to do; ground handling, gear maintenance, independent research, etc. Good advice.
@@jamesdodzweit Wow, thanks! Im over here near hot springs. Its typical for me to drive 1-3 hrs to catch some air time. I'll have to take you up on that soon. Hooray, summer is almost here. Now, if the darn wind would die down for us a little!
I want to get into this sport. In the late 80's when I was just a little kid there was a guy in my hometown that flew. At that time I thought it was awesome but never had the thought "I want to do that". Fast forward decades later I did my first tandem skydive. Once the canopy came out and I was alive lol I absolutely loved it. I signed up for aff last November and got in 8 solo jumps. I'll be honest here. I still didn't like jumping out of a plane. I was only doing it so I could enjoy flying the canopy. Unfortunately after the 3rd day my head and ears were totally messed up from the repeated fast changes in altitude. On that 8th jump I even had a bloody nose. It took 4 months for my ears to feel normal again. I'd say 6 years ago I wanted to start ppg but I always talked myself out of it. Now that skydiving didn't work out for me I need to get into this sport. I'm 43 now but I think I have it in me. I've seen videos of people in there 60's going to training.
I say go for it. I’m 48 and flying has become one of the great joys of my life. Worst thing would be to NOT do it and always wonder what it would have been like.
cheers mate. i can so relate to this. and i speak for many pilots when i say you are not alone. i learned to fly on a totally unfitting harness and wing at 2011. very keen to get up. after months of kiting i told my teacher if he doesnt let me fly now i will tear his wing apart. i had enough of kiting and was ready to get up. i got up. but couldnt get into the bloody way too small seat. he made a contraption with a rope to help me getting seated and that went through the prop on my 3. flight and forced me to my fist emergency landing in between huge rocks. got away unharmed. stopped flying out of pure frustration for years. then i got a brand new moster185 and brand new wing. both totally wrong for my size again. but after months of nonsense with the second teacher who didnt wanna let me fly either for some reason i finally went up for 45 min again. 2 years of absolute BS went on and i hated that bloody moster with all my heart because it was constantly broken! then i build my own electric PPG and that changed everything! suddenly flying was super easy. made my own oversized harness to fit my fat a$$ and here i am. developing EPPGs now and enjoy the hobby again.
Weird, I'm a Tampa guy living in New Port Richey where I'm getting interested in paramotoring and my job is in NC where I'm probably going to be moving soon... Great video, Thanks for sharing.
James awesome snap shot of your paramotoring story. So glad I live beside the Boone airport. Saw you launch in May 2023, and said to myself “I HAVE to learn to do that!” Little did I know we worked in the same department. Divine providence (in my opinion). Can’t wait to fly with you! It’s a dream come true for me! I’m grateful for you, Brother! 😊
Thanks for the nice video - so glad that your journey brought you to NC and back in the air!! We can't stress "patience" enough when it comes to this sport. Glad to see you're wearing a helmet now. :)
Good stuff all around, especially regarding patience. I've mellowed out a lot in my later years. I don't know that I could have done this sport 10 years ago. Patience was not a primary character trait for me back then. Nowadays, I can go to the field sit and watch the windsock and even if it never dies down, I just relax and enjoy the general quietness. Sometimes I fly, sometimes I don't. It's still all good. I love the high country. I live at Lake Norman now but graduated from App so I spent a few years in Boone. I see you post in the WNC group every so often. Hopefully I'll get up there to fly with you sometime this summer. It's been my goal to fly the mountains since I started flying 3 years ago.
thanks for watching and the comment. My youngest is a sophomore at App state. LMK when you wanna fly the high country. It's lots of fun esp when its calm. Boone airport manager just revoked my use of the airport cuz he got a call about the noise. Now I'm trying to find another LZ.
If only I had listened. I let my eagerness outweigh my better judgement and made the same mistakes. I am still trying, after giving up several times. After getting rid of my first set of equipment I thought I could just ignore the desire to do this, but I was wrong. Once your mind gets the realization that this is indeed possible, it becomes impossible to ignore.
@@jamesdodzweit Thanks friend for your insight into paramotoring ,what I think is the most interesting thing about flying paramotors is just how few of us their is.I've mucked about with many things in this life and nothing comes close to this. Like so many other folk we sort out our homes ,kin and work and this gift of flight is the reward for just at least trying to be desent, My shed is a temple of buggered kit and all it dose is make me smile , kind regards to you all from Australia.
Underrated advice right here. Patience is so important. Patience to buy the right gear, patience to go through training, patience to wait for safe conditions to fly. And while we're waiting, there is always something to do; ground handling, gear maintenance, independent research, etc. Good advice.
Yep- I usually learn things the hard way. 😅
fantastic, love the face on the first flight.
All us pilots make that same face on the 1st one. Glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for sharing this! Great story and video!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
Boone would be a nice place to fly for sure! Thanks for the vid.
If you are ever in the area- hit me up.
@@jamesdodzweit Wow, thanks! Im over here near hot springs. Its typical for me to drive 1-3 hrs to catch some air time. I'll have to take you up on that soon. Hooray, summer is almost here. Now, if the darn wind would die down for us a little!
@@shanesplanetshane3795 Monday evening looks really good here if you wanna join.
I want to get into this sport. In the late 80's when I was just a little kid there was a guy in my hometown that flew. At that time I thought it was awesome but never had the thought "I want to do that". Fast forward decades later I did my first tandem skydive. Once the canopy came out and I was alive lol I absolutely loved it. I signed up for aff last November and got in 8 solo jumps. I'll be honest here. I still didn't like jumping out of a plane. I was only doing it so I could enjoy flying the canopy. Unfortunately after the 3rd day my head and ears were totally messed up from the repeated fast changes in altitude. On that 8th jump I even had a bloody nose. It took 4 months for my ears to feel normal again. I'd say 6 years ago I wanted to start ppg but I always talked myself out of it. Now that skydiving didn't work out for me I need to get into this sport. I'm 43 now but I think I have it in me. I've seen videos of people in there 60's going to training.
I say go for it. I’m 48 and flying has become one of the great joys of my life. Worst thing would be to NOT do it and always wonder what it would have been like.
cheers mate. i can so relate to this. and i speak for many pilots when i say you are not alone. i learned to fly on a totally unfitting harness and wing at 2011. very keen to get up. after months of kiting i told my teacher if he doesnt let me fly now i will tear his wing apart. i had enough of kiting and was ready to get up. i got up. but couldnt get into the bloody way too small seat. he made a contraption with a rope to help me getting seated and that went through the prop on my 3. flight and forced me to my fist emergency landing in between huge rocks. got away unharmed.
stopped flying out of pure frustration for years. then i got a brand new moster185 and brand new wing. both totally wrong for my size again. but after months of nonsense with the second teacher who didnt wanna let me fly either for some reason i finally went up for 45 min again. 2 years of absolute BS went on and i hated that bloody moster with all my heart because it was constantly broken!
then i build my own electric PPG and that changed everything! suddenly flying was super easy. made my own oversized harness to fit my fat a$$ and here i am. developing EPPGs now and enjoy the hobby again.
Wow!!! What a story. Glad you are finally in the sky for good. Good luck on the development. Huge market for an ePPG that lasts longer than 45mins.
@@jamesdodzweit thanks brother!
i already reached 90 min in test flights. i try make it to market this summer. did you see the progress?
@@cloudpandarism2627 I’ve been watching you content. Very cool. The market needs what you’re bringing.
@@jamesdodzweit 🙏🙌
Weird, I'm a Tampa guy living in New Port Richey where I'm getting interested in paramotoring and my job is in NC where I'm probably going to be moving soon...
Great video, Thanks for sharing.
Crazy. London Ivy is in Zephyrhills and will train you if are ready to take the next step. (Cloud base PPG) hope to see you in the skies!!!🪂
Truth!
James awesome snap shot of your paramotoring story. So glad I live beside the Boone airport. Saw you launch in May 2023, and said to myself “I HAVE to learn to do that!” Little did I know we worked in the same department. Divine providence (in my opinion). Can’t wait to fly with you! It’s a dream come true for me! I’m grateful for you, Brother! 😊
Woohoo!! So humbled to be a part of your Paramotor journey. We have many good days of flying ahead.
Thanks for the nice video - so glad that your journey brought you to NC and back in the air!! We can't stress "patience" enough when it comes to this sport. Glad to see you're wearing a helmet now. :)
Haha. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Yes, must protect my head even tho there is little going on inside.
Very cool!
Good stuff all around, especially regarding patience. I've mellowed out a lot in my later years. I don't know that I could have done this sport 10 years ago. Patience was not a primary character trait for me back then. Nowadays, I can go to the field sit and watch the windsock and even if it never dies down, I just relax and enjoy the general quietness. Sometimes I fly, sometimes I don't. It's still all good. I love the high country. I live at Lake Norman now but graduated from App so I spent a few years in Boone. I see you post in the WNC group every so often. Hopefully I'll get up there to fly with you sometime this summer. It's been my goal to fly the mountains since I started flying 3 years ago.
thanks for watching and the comment. My youngest is a sophomore at App state. LMK when you wanna fly the high country. It's lots of fun esp when its calm. Boone airport manager just revoked my use of the airport cuz he got a call about the noise. Now I'm trying to find another LZ.
If only I had listened. I let my eagerness outweigh my better judgement and made the same mistakes. I am still trying, after giving up several times. After getting rid of my first set of equipment I thought I could just ignore the desire to do this, but I was wrong. Once your mind gets the realization that this is indeed possible, it becomes impossible to ignore.
I feel your pain. 9 years between 1st set up & my current. It is WORTH the wait. Don’t give up.
Thanks from all the soon-to-be pilots.
My pleasure. Hope this was helpful.
I love your video because I want to fly but I dont have the money for the motor and wing
you know is very sxpensive
I’m glad you enjoy the videos. If God put the desire to fly in your heart- talk to Him about it. He is able.
@@jamesdodzweit Thanks friend for your insight into paramotoring ,what I think is the most interesting thing about flying paramotors is just how few of us their is.I've mucked about with many things in this life and nothing comes close to this. Like so many other folk we sort out our homes ,kin and work and this gift of flight is the reward for just at least trying to be desent, My shed is a temple of buggered kit and all it dose is make me smile , kind regards to you all from Australia.
@@vernontullipan1746 it’s true there are very few of us crazy folks who fly Paramotors. Flying doesn’t compare to knowing God through Jesus.
I imagine everywhere in NC is perfect for flying. We'll be living there someday. Any recommendations for a Quicksilver Pilot?
Boone is a great place to retire. Boone airport is perfect for local flights. Mountain air gets a little bumpy but the scenery is amazing.
Not much really u can take from the quicksilver.
I live in St Pete Beach, and would love to know where you were launching from in the Tampa/St Pete area.
There’s a little beach on the causeway south of St. Pete before you get to the skyway bridge. It’s on the left as you head south.
@@jamesdodzweit You are Awesome!!! Thank you!
@@gutshotgriz3936 no problem- happy flying.