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Fairmont flyer finds passion in paramotor

There are few limits to what somebody can learn on the internet, whether it’s a new recipe, car repair or maybe even learning to fly.

Just ask 24-year-old Fairmont resident Kyle Blomgren, who has taken his enjoyment of aviation to a personal level.

Blomgren recently managed to save up $10,000 so he could buy a paramotor, the generic name for the harness and propulsive portion of a powered paraglider.

Around since the 1980s, paramotoring has its origin in hang gliding, and is considered by devotees to be the natural evolution of paragliding. While a standard paraglider relies on hills and thermal conductions to self-launch, adding an engine allows a person to take off with a running start from any flat field.

Blomgren moved to Fairmont about a year and a half ago, and has been waiting for the recent spring weather to take to the skies.

“There’s really no other form of aviation where you can have no cockpit or dash in front of you,” Blomgren said. “You’re just immersed in the sky, and you can see everything up there.”

Blomgren flies a foot launch model, consisting of a frame with a harness, fuel tank, engine and propeller. A hoop with protective netting primarily keeps lines out of the propeller. The unit is worn like a large backpack to which a paraglider is attached through carabiners.

Blomgren became interested in the idea after watching some online videos.

“I follow some guys on YouTube and they put up some videos,” he said. “They made it seem doable, so I thought I’d go for it. I did some training in Wisconsin last May, which is how I learned to do it safely, and I’m still learning a lot.”

Blomgren said the open area at the Fairmont soccer complex is a perfect open space to take off from. He notes that low winds, from zero to 10 mph, are ideal for flying.

Blomgren also enjoys aviation in general, noting he has been flying RC planes since high school, something that served to fuel his passion.

“With the weather getting warmer I can finally get out here and enjoy it,” he said. “It’s really great.”

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