Flying a paramotor can be both fun and challenging. Most of us when flying a paramotor, our aim is to take off, fly, and land. But did you ever think how long can you actually stay up in the air?
You can expect the average paramotor to travel about 200 miles on a single tank of fuel. Different factors affect the paramotor’s range. Some of these are engine power, wing design, and the paramotor type.
Let’s take a closer look!
The Different Types of Engines
There are 3 types of paramotor engines. There is the 2-stroke engine, 4-stroke engine, and an electric motor. In this article, we’ll only be discussing the 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines.
The electric engine works for a short time, around an hour or so. That’s why it won’t be fitting to discuss in further detail here.
2-Stroke Engine
2-stroke engines are the most popular type of engines with pilots. The reason that they’re so famous is that this engine is so much easier to fix compared to other engines. Not only that, but it’s also much cheaper to get it manufactured that’s why it doesn’t cost you as much.
In comparison to other engines, the 2-stroke engine has a better power to weight ratio!
4-Stroke Engine
4-stroke engines have a lower RPM (revolutions per minute) than the 2-stroke engines. What that means, is that there won’t be much revving, which is the increased speed of an engine, like the 2-stroke engine.
Not having increased speed means it lacks power. Therefore you won’t be getting the range you’re hoping to acquire.
This type of engine is also more fuel-efficient but with half the power of a 2-stroke engine.
Choice of Wings
There are many types of wings that you could choose from. There are some wings that have for example a better glide ratio. This means it’ll require you to have less power to stay airborne. In this case, you’ll be using less fuel.
There’re other wings, that would have more drag. Drag slows the forward momentum, which needs more thrust and power to stay afloat. With this type of wings, you’ll be using more fuel.
The more fuel you’ll use the better planning you’d need to make for your fuel stops. So, when it comes to the choice of wings, you choose what you’d be able to sacrifice more than the other.
Wind Speed and Direction
A general rule is, the faster the wind the faster you’ll be able to travel. That is only true though if you’re flying in the same direction as the wind.
Plan according to the wind when you’re paramotoring. Even if you end up taking detours in order to be going in the same direction as the wind. Do it! Yes, you’ll be increasing the distance but you’ll be traveling faster and you might even reach your destination sooner than anticipated.
Your Method of Flying
When you’re flying your paramotor you should try to keep as much of a straight path as possible. When you make turns, you actually burn up more fuel.
Try to also maintain an altitude of 500ft. When you keep going up and down too much, this process needs more thrust. Therefore, you’ll be consuming a lot of fuel which will decrease your flight’s range.
Using a speedbar during your trip is advisable. As a speedbar will make a huge difference in terms of speed and fuel consumption.
So, How Far Can You Go With A Paramotor?
When you want to measure the range of how far you can go. You’d want to keep a few things in mind. How much fuel you’re using, what’s the speed you’re traveling with, and what is the total distance of your trip.
A simple calculation to use:
(Fuel capacity/rate of fuel used per hour) x miles per hour = Miles you can fly
To imagine it, even more, let’s say we have a paramotor that can go 40 mph and a fuel tank that pushes the capacity and has under 19 liters of fuel. This paramotor can burn 1.5 liters/hour and you’ll be flying ideally. Meaning, you’ll fly at 500ft and going straight.
At this rate, you’ll travel 506 miles before needing to refuel.
This scenario is of course with 0 mph wind speed and that you’ll stay at 500 ft the whole time. But, with wind speed being changeable and you’ll, of course, need to make some turns you’ll burn more fuel and have less mile range.
Also, most engines burn an average of 2 to 2.5 liters of fuel. So the situation mentioned earlier is for the sake of explanation!
If you were to add in some not so perfect situation like wind speed and the turns you’d make. It’ll be safe that the average is 200 miles.
Plan accordingly and use the equation mentioned above to get a better estimate for your paramotor.
Want To Go Even Further?
There are two other options if you’d want to travel farther. Keep in mind that 200 miles are on a single fuel of tank.
The first option is landing near a fuel station and then automatically taking off again. That is an option that most cross country pilots use. Miroslav Oros was able to break the world record using this method.
Another method and this one is used in the Icarus Trophy more is having a fuel bladder. Carrying a fuel bladder on your paramotor and then connecting it when the original tank is almost half empty.
This way you’re going to travel a much further distance for sure without having to make any stops.
To Conclude
Planning for your trip may take you some time before actually taking off. But the better your plan the further you can actually go.
Knowing the wind speed, getting the proper engine, and wings will get you faster to your final destination.
Know your paramotor, and how long it could sustain being up in the air without having to do any pitstop!