Paramotor ultralight flight in Alsace near Colmar

Do you know theparamotor microlight? To put it simply, it is a kind of paraglider equipped with a motor: itis the smallest motorized aircraft! The engine is not used to move forward as in an airplane, it is simply used to go up in altitude. Otherwise, it is the sail itself that allows you to fly. You can make a paramotor flight experience in Alsace easily, just a great experience!

Flight with Luc Warth from Alsace Paramoteur school in Ostheim (Haut-Rhin)

I tested a tandem paramotor flight with Luc Warth, a qualified instructor who has been running the Alsace Paramoteur school since 1997. Never having been on such a machine and sometimes prone to vertigo, I went with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Once I arrived at the field of Ostheim Maison Rouge, near Colmar, my apprehension quickly subsided. Luc is professional, friendly and avoids me to think too much by showing me how to prepare the paramotor, by associating the sail with the cart. On one side, the cart where we will be installed, with the engine. On the other, the impressive sail. It must be correctly unfolded and its lines (threads) well untangled so that it can inflate properly.

I then put on a suit that makes me look like a real pilot (and incidentally allows me to stay warm, it can be a bit cold up there), goggles to protect me from the wind and a helmet that will allow me to talk with Luc during the flight. Here I am, ready to go!

I am surprised by the short distance needed to take off (we think we are running into the corn of the neighboring field, but in fact we are not) as well as by the smoothness of the takeoff. I was even more surprised to see that I have absolutely no fear of heights. A priori this would be explained by the fact that the feet have no contact with the ground. It is in any case very pleasant and I can simply enjoy this magic moment.

Let’s go for the first flight over Alsace and Vosges!

Even if the sky is a little cloudy, the show is grandiose and allows to discover Alsace under a different angle. The view on Alsace from the paramotor is superb. We are above the Alsace plain, with the Wine Route and the Vosges on one side and the German Black Forest on the other. On a clear day, it seems that we can even see the Alps and the spire of the Strasbourg cathedral! We fly over the fields, the forest as well as the Ill (the river) and Luc comments by radio what we see: Colmar, Ribeauvillé, the castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg, Illhausern… We have a completely different view of things from up there! It must be said that we gradually climbed up to 500m of height.

It’s time to go back down and Luc cuts the engine. The descent is then done quietly. I even get to steer the sail for a few minutes, which feels really funny. We pull to the right, it goes to the right, we pull harder, we turn and go down faster. Impressive! The landing is then made smoothly.

My flight lasted 20 minutes (which went by very quickly, there are so many things to look at!) but Alsace Paramoteur offers flights from 10 minutes to 1 hour. In 1 hour, you can for example go above the castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg or the citadel of Neuf-Brisach! That makes me want to go there next time. Because it is the only concern of this baptism: I believe that one takes taste with this fabulous flying machine, it is an unforgettable moment! If you become passionate after your first flight, Luc can also teach you how to fly a paramotor.

My photos of the paramotor ultralight flight near Colmar ( Alsace, Grand Est)