Learn to Fly a Powered Paragliding Trike!

For those pilots wanting a less strenuous way to enjoy the friendly skies, Armenian Paragliding federation and SKY CLUB now has a complete syllabus and practical training course focused on the PPG Trike!

Our certified instructors will carry take you from the ground to the skies, you will master each skill before moving on to the next step.

The First Day

Usually we meet early in the morning at a SKY CLUB airfield where there are no obstructions. We will run the motor up and practice the Inflation/Taxi/Launch sequence in the trike with it sitting against the trailer or truck so it cannot move. When the throttle control is learned and demonstrated, the student will then drive the trike around the field carefully  and get a feel for the trike.

We will then determine if there is any wind, and lay the canopy out on the ground facing the direction the wind is coming. Once we attach the trike to the risers and put our helmets on, we will seat ourselves in the trike and do a preflight check.

Our first student first flight (Pilot: Arman Saghatelyan)

Usually, your instructor will demonstrate the inflation, so you can see how the wing is brought overhead for inspection before launching. Rolling along the ground with the wing overhead is called “taxiing”. You will see how we control the wing’s direction with the brake toggles. Staying balanced underneath the wing is the pilot’s job, steering the trike with their feet. When it is time to bring the wing down, you will pull the brake handles down to your seat, making the wing stop and return to the ground.

Your instructor has been evaluating the weather all morning, and will determine whether it is appropriate for you to fly. After a briefing of the launch, review of your flight plan and discussion of the approach and landing, it’s time to set up for your flight, but first you fly with instructor together.

When you can consistently bring the glider overhead, “contact” the wing using the brakes, and control the direction of travel while taxiing forward into the wind, you will be rewarded by being lifted gently off the ground as the wing gains airspeed.

By the end of the first lesson, most of our students get their first solo flight in a trike. The next lessons will focus on becoming a smooth, competent pilot – practicing inflations, extended taxiing, launching, flying, approach, landing without power, spot landings, throttle control, plus many ground based discussions including airspace restrictions, equipment care, motor maintenance, weather to fly evaluations and paraglider collapse response and recovery.

“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”
– Leonardo da Vinci

Paratrike flying in Armenia (Pilot: Armen Sargsyan)