For as long as I can remember, I harbored a strong desire to be a pilot of my own plane, a dream that seemed unattainable due to the high costs associated with obtaining a pilot’s license and purchasing a plane with all the necessary upkeep and insurance. Nonetheless, I clung tenaciously to that dream.
Then, in 2001, fate led me on a hunt with John Michael Montgomery, and our conversations turned to flying. It was then that he mentioned his ultralight, a unique version known as a Para-Plane, which flies with the aid of a parachute. My eyes gleamed with excitement, and upon our return to the cabin, I eagerly watched a video he had to show me.
In the video, he demonstrated how to lay out the parachute on the ground behind the machine and as you gathered ground speed the parachute would rotate above you, then only after ensuring the cells of the chute were open you would pull the throttle back and shoot for the heavens. Sounded simple enough, and I was immediately hooked.
Several months later, I came across a used Para-Plane around a hundred miles from my house, and without delay, I rushed to purchase it. However, there was a condition I put on the purchase, the seller was supposed to drive down and show me how to properly lay out the parachute, take off and land this contraption. Unfortunately, after waiting for a month or two, the guy kept making excuses, leaving me frustrated.
But being the daredevil I am, I decided to go rogue and learn on my own. Who needs Mr. Excuses anyway? I asked myself, with a touch of skepticism, how challenging could it truly be to soar into the sky on a flying lawn chair equipped with a parachute as a wing, only to gracefully return to earth? Gulp!
For my initial flight, I chose a small local airport with a grass strip, not wanting to risk taking off from my pasture on my first flight without knowing the required runway length. Following John Michael’s video in my mind as my guide, I laid out the parachute and practiced rolling down the runway learning how to rotate the chute above me ensuring that the cells in the chute were perfectly filled will air and without any tangled lines before attempting a takeoff.
After a few repetitions, I felt confident enough to go for it. My heart raced like I was on a caffeine IV drip, but it was time. I unbuckled my harness and hugged my wife like there was no tomorrow. I mean, who knew if I’d end up crashing into the nearest corn field?
Back in the cockpit or let’s say more like a flying lawn-chair with gauges and a throttle. I hit the key and as the engine roared to life, I had a mix of thrill and terror racing through my veins. With the chute on the ground behind me I eased the throttle back slowly to get a little ground speed, after a few seconds I watched the parachute rotate then dance above me, and when the cells filled with air I knew it was go-time. Throttle to the max, and I shot into the sky like a rocket-powered chicken! The ascent was a lot more of a steep angle than I had ever imagined, but I wasn’t gonna ease off the throttle until I was 100 percent sure I wasn’t going to smack the tallest tree or building in America. After reaching a safe altitude and easing up on the gas, I enjoyed the view from a leisurely 1000 feet, experiencing the bliss of floating at a serene 26 miles per hour. The slow pace of the paraglider allowed me to fully enjoy and appreciate the beautiful sky and the ground below me.The exhilaration of becoming a pilot of my own little plane was beyond words.
Eventually after flying for about an half hour, I decided it was time to attempt the most terrifying part, landing. My good friend who was a pilot always told me that landing wasn’t anything more than a controlled crash. Those words did not add very much comfort to me at this moment. As I circled back towards the airport and began my descent with my adrenaline-fueled mind racing, I carefully maneuvered the controls, aiming to execute the perfect landing. The ground seemed to rush up to meet me like a long-lost friend, and I felt a jolt of apprehension as I approached the ground, I could feel my heart pounding like a jackhammer, so at about 20 feet I aborted and I decided to do a couple of low level fly-bys to make sure I had some control, or at least the illusion of it. Finally, on my last turn and gently descending, I was trying to remember the video while praying to the aviation gods for help. As the moment of truth approached, time seemed to slow down, and I held my breath like a deep-sea diver resurfacing for air. The adrenaline rush reached its peak, and I felt like I was living in a movie, where every second mattered.
Finally, at about a foot from the ground I gently flared the chute while flying at 26 miles an hour and she sat down like a feather. a rush of relief washed over me like a tidal wave, and a joyous laugh escaped my lips. I did it! I had landed my flying machine safely, just like a seasoned pilot!
After shutting down the engine, I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. First and foremost, there was an overwhelming sense of relief — that feeling you get when you’ve narrowly escaped a near-miss. The sense of accomplishment surged through my veins, making me feel invincible. I had conquered the skies and returned unscathed, and nothing could wipe the triumphant smile from my face. It was like winning the lottery, only better – it was a jackpot of emotions that filled my entire being.
As the days and months went by, I continued to improve and gain confidence, though not without a few close calls during my learning process. I survived and went on the own three different machines and still fly today.