Flying machine: Colorado man finds love of flying in paramotoring


GREELEY, Colo. (KDVR) Since the day man left the cave and looked up and saw creatures flying in the sky, he wanted to be there, too.

So did Daniel West. He’s not a caveman, but he is flying like a bird.

“I was probably 10 or 12 years old. Like most kids, I watched the birds fly around and dreamed of flying,“ said West.

Around ten years ago, West spread his own wings and flew.

“You are sitting in I will call a floating lawn chair. And there is nothing around you. There is no air speed, there is no attitude indicator, it’s just you in a pure form of flying,” said West.

Unlike birds of a feather, Daniel West was not born with wings, but he does come in a pretty close second.

“This is called para-motoring, or power paragliding. It started from paragliding. Obviously, we added the motor component to it,” said West.

At first glance, the sky machine looks a little dangerous. Just dangling there from the sky like one of those little plastic toy soldiers with parachutes that kids would throw off the roof.

“If you were to have something happen, you have a backup reserve parachute that you could throw in the case of a catastrophic failure,” said West.

West teaches other would-be lovers of the blue to soar, glide, and just chill above terra firma. It takes about 40 hours to learn to fly, about $3,500 for lessons and around $10,000 for your very own para motor.

“It’s a pretty simple machine. It will carry about 3 1/2 gallons of fuel and it can fly for almost three hours,” said West.

West says this sport is not for everyone, but if you have ever wondered what it would be like to fly like a bird, maybe wonder no more.

You May Also Like

BVPD Uncovers New Evidence: Additional Charges Filed in Tragic Case of 3-Year-Old’s Death

In a tragic incident that unfolded on April 23, the Bristol, Virginia…

Rudy Giuliani in Critical Condition, Hospitalized, Confirms Spokesperson

NEW YORK – Former New York City Mayor and ex-adviser to President…

Tragic Brevard County Beach Incident: 17-Year-Old Dies, 12-Year-Old Rescued from Treacherous Surf

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla – Tragedy struck a Brevard County beach when a…

Israeli West Bank Raid: 1 Palestinian Killed, 4 Injured in Escalating Tensions

NABLUS – An Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank city…

Stranded Travelers and Ex-Employees Reveal the Chaos Behind Spirit Airlines Shutdown

Spirit Airlines experienced a complete operational halt overnight, resulting in the cancellation…

OPEC+ Boosts Oil Production Amidst Iran’s Strategic Hold on Strait of Hormuz

VIENNA – In a move aimed at enhancing “market stability,” seven nations…

Tragic Shooting Near Oklahoma City Lake Leaves 10 Injured: Latest Updates and Safety Concerns

Police block off near S. Air Depot boulevard in Edmond, Okla., after…