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Powered Paragliding For the Do-It-Yourselfer

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2009-12-30 Updated Construction Plans

2009-12-08 New PPG Built

Home of the Homebuilt Paramotor.

This has been made available to help insure continuance of a great design. Its paramotor pilot-creator has been joined by dozens of happy owners in flying their machines. Ask that of any other plans-built machine out there.

Go try to find a flying EasyUp (EZ-UP), for example, which is so difficult to build that I've never seen a single example at the many dozens of fly-ins I've attended over the years.

The Skybolt is much, much easier to build, requires no welding, is comfortable to fly, and has a great support base. For those who don't want to do the basic machining (only 4 parts required), they can be purchased from other vendors (not here) for $90.

Building isn't for everybody, though, and training is critically important. More than you think. More than appearances. Please visit FootFlyer.com to read about the importance of getting trained from a USPPA instructor who uses the full syllabus.

Skybolt plans are available here with some restrictions on use, namely an agreement that a PPG2 rating is achieved before flying on your own. Obviously it's up to you to be honest but doing this without proper training is a good way to get dead or maimed. Always, always get good instruction from someone who uses the USPPA syllabus before attempting to even start your paramotor!

All support is done through the Yahoo group SkyBoltBuilders.

Our goal is simple, insuring that a viable, plans-built PPG remains an option for those who prefer to do-it-yourself. Building support will be through the yahoo group which has now grown to over 500 members.

If you're interested in building a paramotor from plans, this is the real deal. It is the only machine that has been from plans in any quantity and flies like a dream. Anyone who has flown a Miniplane (non weight shift), Sky Cruiser, Blackhawk, Fly Products or numerous other high hook-in machines, will feel at home on this one.

Lots more to come on the website as we resurrect previous content and add new from existing flyers. This is, in effect, making the plans open source in a limited form.

Jeff Baumgartner, the inventive, passionate, PPG pilot who created the plans decided to move on but will remain involved in the project as a hobby. Neither he, nor the new owner of this website will benefit financially from this, we just want to see a good concept live on.

Safety

The single biggest risk of serious injury on any paramotor is body contact with the prop. Pilot action is always most important but there is also a simple modification that can reduce the risk—a safety ring.

Ideally this ring will go all the way down to the frame's bottom but a half-ring offers some increased level of protection.

Protection is two fold. First, it puts a rigid structure at the closest point of contact with the prop. That's far more likely to hold back an unexpectedly thrusting paramotor. Secondly, it moves the netting farther away from the prop, especially in between radial arms where the netting is least able to hold back a hand or other body part.

Thankfully this mod can be easily added to any paramotor even after its built. And the added safety is significant. You can be surprised by a thrusting motor. It happens in an instant and carries enormous potential for ugliness. When it happens, you'll be happy to have spent the extra time on this mod. Also, check out other paramotor ideas on www.FootFlyer.com A better Paramotor.

Fly on!

Homebuilt Paramotor

1. Jeff Baumgartner installed safety rings on four machines during the 2009 Holland, MI fly-in. The one labeled "A" has the best protection since it goes all the way down. Photo by Brent Wickerham.

2. The inner hoop seen here is an easy mod that can reduce the risk of body contact injuries. It should be located forward of the radial arms and have a radius the same as the prop. This one is merely taped on but is till quite strong. Ideally, it will go all the way down to the frame's bottom.

3. Phil morgan zips by on a version 1 Skybolt frame. The version 2 frame is much simpler to build and requires fewer machined parts, thereby decreasing cost by a fair amount.