Favourite aircraft for fun and safety!

[Fozzer]

It's a funny-oid do...
But after zillions of years/hours on the various flight simulators (1982 > 2026) and a multitude of different General Aviation aircraft in my hard drive...
The only aircraft that I presently feel comfortable, stable, and safe with, is my "FlynDive" Paramotor!

Powered Hang Glider!

https://www.flyndivesimulations.com/pro ... -paramotor

..... ... ... ...!

It's very slow...36MPH (on a good day), but it always gets me there, safely, low and slow, with a massive grin on my face... ...!
Take off, in a couple of steps...
..and land on a Sixpence/US Dollar!
Low and slow.
Perfect for all my river sand-bank and overnight camping trips with my like-minded friends!
Enjoy the unrestricted landscape from a few feet above ground
Bush flying with the birds!
No fancy instrumentation, just an awareness of all around me, sat on a comfy seat with legs outstretched!!
It's a wonderful experience to make all the day-to-day troublesome world go away!
Give it a try...
...with me...
...you will like it...
...trust me.. ...!

Paul... ....and various other flight sim places... ...!

[Charl]

Only in a flight simulator, Paul... what a truly terrifying device!
MSFS is the right tool for the job, I suspect the '24 flavour even more so.

[Fozzer]

Only in a flight simulator, Paul... what a truly terrifying device!
MSFS is the right tool for the job, I suspect the '24 flavour even more so.

Hello, Charl!
Good point, so I fired up my Computer and typed in...
"Are Paramotors safe?!
....and in one of many replies on YouTube, this came up...>>>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ_VZh__wC8&t=281s

I watch many real-life Paramotor Pilots every day on YouTube, to accompany my daily Microsoft Flights in the same type of vehicle, and they all seem to have a great time with all their like-minded friends!
A low-cost way to getup in the air and view the wide open countryside!
... take the necessary certified Flying Lessons beforehand.

A hop, skip, and a jump away from a Cessna 152/172!

A Parachute Wing overhead, sat in a chair, with a tiny stroke engine with a propeller strapped to its back for forward and upward propulsion, and a gaggle of connecting lines to provide directional flight.

I find it loads of fun....
..in a Flight Sim sort of way... ...!

Paul.... .... .... ....!

Thoughts from a typical Paramotor Pilot....>>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djXhB1lGxIk

[Fozzer]

I look up at the sky, early morning, a nice sunny day, a few high-level clouds, a breath of wind from the Southwest....
...so I drive my truck up to my local Airfield.
Take my Paramotor and bagged-up Wing out of the back of my truck.
Top up the Fuel bag under the engine with Petrol and 2-stroke oil.
Lay out the Wing on the grass and line up all the Lines attached to the hand controls.
Put the Paramotor on my back and buckle myself safely into the seat.
Place the hand control in each hand.
Walk forward until all the lines are firmly tight.
Reach over my shoulder to pull the starter cord to fire up the engine.
Let her warm up to a gentle tick-over.
Everything OK?
Aim into a headwind....
Full Throttle.... and run for it!
When the Wing has lifted me clear of the ground, I settle into the seat, and I raise both legs. climb up into the air with the Birds, and enjoy all the scenery laid out all around me!
Now, that's what I call FUN, in a "Microsoft Flight Simulation" sort of way... ...!

..... ... ... ...!

Paul.... ...Have Wings!...Will fly!.... .... ....!

P.S....It's all in the mind, you know.... ... ... ....!

[Charl]

Put the Paramotor on my back...
...Reach over my shoulder to pull the starter cord to fire up the engine.

I have decades of vainly tugging at a Briggs and Stratton lawnmower engine, and this mental image created total overload

I could not help but search, and I reckon this is a sport for young and fit persons. Have to admire your young and fit mind, Paul

[Fozzer]

Put the Paramotor on my back...
...Reach over my shoulder to pull the starter cord to fire up the engine.

I have decades of vainly tugging at a Briggs and Stratton lawnmower engine, and this mental image created total overload

I could not help but search, and I reckon this is a sport for young and fit persons. Have to admire your young and fit mind, Paul

Ta, Charl...!
I appreciate your reference to my young and fit mind.... ...!
At the age of 92 years (1934 - 2026), I have a way to go to get young and fit again....
...and that's all in the mind...! ... ...!

I recently ditched my Briggs and Stratton Lawn mower engine after near heart attacks in trying to start the bl*dy thing with its pull cord....(dodgy carburettor)... ...!

Starting the Paramotor is so much easier....
..I just press "E" on my computer keyboard, and she fires up immediately!
(I press "S" to stop the engine).... ...!
The wonders of "Flight Simulation" on an elderly bloke's mind.... ... ... ...!

"Pulling things" is just a distant memory now, Charl.... ....Tust me... ... ... ....!

Paul.... ... ... ... ... ...!

P.S. Finally decided to end 76 years of daily Motorcycling in 2025 (1950 - 2025), for safety reasons!
Got my Bike Licence in 1950, at the age of 16!
British and Jap Bikes!
The most fun in my life!....
...see them here...>>> https://www.youtube.com/@paulfosbery6026/videos ....exploring the countryside from the ground...for a change!... ...!

[Charl]

I recently ditched my Briggs and Stratton Lawn mower engine after near heart attacks in trying to start the bl*dy thing with its pull cord....(dodgy carburettor)... ...!

Good move, I did the same and bought a battery electric mower.
So

Starting the Paramotor is so much easier....
..I just press "E" on my computer keyboard, and she fires up immediately!
(I press "S" to stop the engine).... ...!

...is exactly what I do when using it.
Best of all: to clean, you just tip it over and blow it out.
With an electric vac/blower.

And since you have me going... on our Establishment there no longer dwells any infernal combustion engine!
Not a can of oil, not a jerrycan of petrol.
It's a life-changer.
Normally I would be embarrassed to confess to this, but after getting endless Paramotor YouTube pushlinks (I looked, y'see), I am strongly of the opinion that an Electric Paramotor might be just the ticket.

Now, those noisy ole explosive combustion devices exist solely as entertainment, and in my flightsim.
Bliss.

[Fozzer]

Charls....
...I must say, I miss the comforting clatter of my 1996 Honda Rebel Cruiser Motorcycle's CMX 250C, twin cylinder, internal/infernal combustion, 4-stroke, petrol engine, which used to take me everywhere around my countryside...including my daily shopping!
I am now house-bound, slightly infirm, buried under mountains of Batteries; Tupe C, A, AA, AAA....
...both dead and rechargeable...
...and Electric Battery Chargers for all my appliances...
....all relying on the Electric Power Company to supply me with their juice, and charge me loadsa money for the privilege... ....!

I have yet to electrify my trusty 2-stroke petrol-engined Paramotor for fear of a flat battery in the middle of nowhere, and no way of recharging it...
...I can land my petrol Paramotor in a space, opposite a Petrol Station, top up my tank, add some 2-stroke oil, and be on my way again.... ...!
...exciting stuff you can do with a Paramotor!... ...!
(Just keep an eye on Petrol Stations!).... ...!

My MS Flight Simulator(s) get me out of bed every morning at around 6 AM, pop downstairs, fire up my (electric!) HP Victus Gaming Computer, and BenQ Gaming Monitor, with my Stick of Joy in my hand...(Joystick!) and search for new places!
This morning it was the "San Joaquin River" in Southern California's Central Valley ...>>
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Joaquin_River
...(pronounced: "San Hockqeen"...no "J" in Spanish/Mexican)
.....amongst the various, flat, fertile crop fields, nestling between the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the east, and the Diablo Mountains to the west.
Following the winding route of the San Joaquin River...
A perfect place for low and slow Ultralight Aircraft to safely land and take off again...
..like my trusty Paramotor...
... just take care of the vital Mexican Crop Pickers. (Where would the USA be, without them... ....!
Weather, good, temps in the 40's F, high clouds, slight south-west breeze off the Pacific Ocean....
....1,500 feet ASL...and a hot flask of Coffee in my pouch.
What better way to start my day off...I ask... ...!

Paul.... ...slowly exploring the Universe... ... ...!

P.S. I'm still having loads of fun, every day, with my "Steam FS2020" with its wonderful low altitude Google/Bing High Resolution Satellite Scenery, so I'm in no great hurry to install Steam FS2024, yet..... ... ...!