Under the tuition of Paul Mahony I undertook tasks and passed exams necessary to obtain the rating of Club Pilot (Novice) Paragliding (Power) at the Mahony Aviation in Lagos, Portugal. The training was very well structured with step by step introduction to the site, the gear the training and so on. The first week was mainly paraglider ground handling in various wind directions and speeds. Once the ground handling had finally (seemingly never ending) clicked and I was competent with controlling the wing with the engine on my back, forward and reverse launches and practiced take-off runs, the flow of the training rapidly moved up a gear and I was soon undertaking circuits around the airfield, practice approaches, simulated engine failures and a X-country etc. I also had the opportunity to do a few days of coastal cliff-soaring, which was lovely. Lagos is a beautiful place to learn to paramotor with stunning cliffs and beaches, bars and restaurants. The town centre is an easy 1 km walking distance from the training area and has quite a few good bars with live music and overlooking the boats and palm trees around the marina. Nearly everyone speaks really good English, which was a bonus as my Portuguese was basic to say the least. Paul’s training centre in Lagos is an excellent environment to learn with great classroom facilities and teaching media. Highly recommendable and a very memorable experience. 5 Stars!!
Ben Oates, Dorset.

I just got back from two incredible weeks with Mahony Aviation in Lagos, Portugal working towards my BHPA Pilot (Power) rating under the excellent instruction of Paul Mahony. I thought I would mention it on this forum in part just to introduce myself to the community but mostly to give some (hopefully useful) feedback on the experience and to thank Paul for his tremendous efforts.

I was able to complete all the BHPA Pilot (Power) flying tasks and exams within 11 days. I really don't think this would have been achievable anywhere else; partly because of the great weather in the Algarve this time of year but mostly because of the dedication of the instructor. Over the 11 day period (11 consecutive days!) most days started at sunrise and ended at sunset. The more I think about that the more amazing I find it. Where in today's world do you find anyone that committed to their work?

The quality of all the equipment was exceptional. I trained on an effectively new Ozone Mojo2 with power risers and equally new Miniplane motor. I was initially a little disappointed when I saw the Miniplane standing next to Paul's titanium Bailey 175 4-stroke paramotor but I very quickly developed quite a liking for the elegant simplicity of the Miniplane.

When the wind got up beyond my comfort levels and the thought of another theory session seemed too demoralizing we would head to the cliffs for tandem PG soaring. There was basically not a moment in two weeks that I wasn't exposed to aviation of some form or the other and I loved it!!

Flying in the Algarve was visually astounding. One fantastic morning mini-XC (2.5 hrs) started with Paul and I taking off and travelling north to a nearby lake at the foot of Monchique. Next we navigated to the newly built GP racetrack and which ended with an absolutely mind-blowing flight along the 3 kms of sandy Meia Praia beach. Picture miles of turquoise water and golden sand. Watching Paul flying below me from above for the final km or so is a sight that will stay with me forever.

For most of that flight Paul on the Synthesis had to fly on full slow trim with a bit of brake (and the occasional S-turn or circuit) to keep up with me on the Mojo2 on full fast trim. One fun part of the flight was when he chose to demonstrate the speed of the Synthesis by lining up on my right wingtip before letting the trimmers out to full fast. It didn't take long (as he drifted into the distance) for me to realize what type of XC flying actually was possible using these wonderful
machines of ours.

I could wax lyrical for hours on my two weeks in the Algarve but I'll give it a rest now. I've placed some boring photos and videos here if anyone's interested: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/dean.barker/

Last words are just thanks again to Paul for his extraordinary efforts.
Dean Barker, Surrey.

Hi, just got back from Portugal and while I was there I visited Paul Mahony in Lagos. It's very easy to find and very central on the Algarve near Praia da Luz, you've probably heard of it! Here's a link with the address www.mahonyaviation.com

I had a fantastic flight along the coast, the views were stunning. It is an active airfield but this does not present a problem if you follow procedures and the people there are very friendly and were very interested to see a paramotor take to the air. Paul has all the equipment you’ll need and he can also arrange accommodation quite reasonably - particularly towards the end of the holiday season. Thanks again to Paul for making me most welcome. I'm definitely going back there in September!!!
Ivan Greenfield, Cambridgeshire.

I can vouch for the fantastic flying to be had at Paul’s place. Had a great time cruising along the coast to Cape St Vincent, over the hills further inland and along the miles of mainly deserted beaches, etc. Whilst purring along the coastline on the Bailey 4-Stroke and an Ozone Roadster, I even got to see one of the main tourist attractions, dolphins leaping out of the sea.

The next day was forecast to have only light winds so it was up at dusk and get ready
for an early morning paramotor flight. I am not used to nil wind takeoffs as Yorkshire seems to have been windy for ever but the Roadster is a light wing and made it very easy to forward launch. Having done the run along the coast to Cape St Vincent in the microlight, I was looking forward to it even more in the paramotor, being able to take my time with just the subdued buzz of the engine. I was supposed to be with Paul but we seemed to have been split up and as I knew the way, I carried on. From Lagos to Cape St Vincent is a round trip of about 70 miles then allowing for coast hugging diversions extra beach cruising etc. It was approx 70 miles; I flew for 2¾ hours and used six or seven litres of fuel.

The coastline is breathtaking with rugged cliffs and darker strata of rocks sticking out. There are buildings falling off the cliffs due to erosion, long beaches, short beaches, overpopulated tourist villa areas, deserted unmanaged scrubland, large sea washed caves big enough for whales to hide in and dark brown floodwater escaping from the rivers which had been swollen by heavy overnight rain. Then there were the many scenic harbours and local fishing boats but apart from a couple of seagulls, I saw nothing else in the air. Rounding the lighthouse on the most South Western part of Europe had a Reggie Perrin moment with nothing but the Atlantic between me and America. No matter how frugal the Bailey was, I knew I didn’t have enough fuel to make that trip!!

On the way back there was even more to see and I still wonder how I missed some of it on the way out. I got back to Lagos with fuel to spare and could not bring myself to land so flew on to Portimão. It seemed really strange to see things that I’d seen several years ago before I took up paramotoring from such a different angle. The only things that seemed to be missing were the crowds and the ice cream van on the beach. I flew over flocks of gulls sunbathing on the large sandbanks. Waved to the cockle pickers, cruised along the miles of almost deserted beaches then boringly thought, "Time for a nice cup of tea." So, I just headed back to the aerodrome and landed into a nice 5mph wind.

The rest of the week continued in a similar vein. If any other pilots out there are
getting fed up with the crap UK weather, I can thoroughly recommend a week or two
in the Algarve at Paul’s place just drop him an email and book up a cheap flight to Faro. The food and entertainment were also very good but that’s not what I went for! Eight days and 9.5 hours flying, that’s more like it. Fly Safe....
Norman McNeil, Yorkshire.

At Las Candelas, I hired a machine from Paul Mahony, mainly because my paramotor is currently in Scotland. I really enjoyed the chance to fly something new (A Miniplane rather than my Parajet Volution), with an Ozone Roadster wing. Paul gave me a great 1-to-1 on the workings of the Miniplane, and was there to help my first launch on a new motor and wing. At £30 an hour for the wing, reserve parachute, fuel, advice, etc I though that was pretty good value.
Stuart Smith, Scotland.

I spent last week with Paul Mahony in Lagos in the Algarve, Portugal. I took my family with us after they discovered my plans to sneak away for a long weekend! We made a week of it and had a great break with warm weather, plenty to do for the family as I slipped out at 6.30 am most mornings!
The Miniplane paramotor was fantastic. Paul had two Bailey machines there but I was so impressed with the Miniplane, I didn't even try the Bailey at all! I undertook a 2 hour 70 kms out & return trip one day flying an Ozone Roadster (medium) and only used a little over half a tank of fuel!

You can see the little video clip in the last frame on the ‘Picasaweb’ link I have given below, showing how incredibly easy the motor is to start with the elastic bungee cord. It is a very light motor and I would suggest that the flexible fibreglass cage-frame is very strong as well.
The Miniplane that I flew was perfect with over 100 hrs on it and I was very impressed indeed. I have always liked the idea of being able to dismantle a paramotor and carry it on an aeroplane in its carry bag should the opportunity arise. The unit is incredibly light and has very good thrust for such a small motor. The slightly higher hang-points do make for a more stable ride, although weight shift is not as easy as lower hang-points. The front mounted Miniplane Snap reserve parachute is neat and in a very good location for easy deployment. All in all, very impressive!

Paul looked after me well and gave me plenty of excellent pointers and advice over the week, with plenty of brief theory brush-ups in the classroom! Great conditions, great flying and highly recommended to anyone needing to get away for a flying break in the sun, or anyone needing a BHPA conversion, or a full PPG training course. Paul will tailor something to suit your needs! Here are a few photos:
See: http://picasaweb.google.com/oisincreagh/AlgarvePPGHoliday2009#
Oisin Creagh, Cork.

An excellent forward launch technique used by many pilots as normal, but new to the three of us lazy 'power-launchers' was shown to us by Paul Mahony in Portugal. It helps to launch the wing with a better chance of even inflation and less likelihood of the wing collapsing in the centre. The method simply involved setting up the wall as normal, or in nil wind, laying wing out in the normal crescent shape and then pulling the centre of the wing back slightly - away from pilot. This action has the simple effect of ensuring that the centre A-risers go taut first, thus lifting the middle of the wing up before the sides. I have seen this done before but was impressed at how much it helped with nil wind launches. Nice tip and after a practical demonstration by Paul, it worked every time!! One of Paul's reasons for pushing this type of launch technique is that it is less likely to lead to (school) equipment damage which can result from a ‘power’ type launch going wrong!
See: http://irelandppg.freeforums.org/forward-launch-technique-nill-wind-t450.html
Oisin Creagh, Cork.

Thanks Paul - it was a very intensive week but was well worth every second. A fantastic learning curve and I'm still kicking myself for forgetting my camera on the flight of a lifetime!! The amazing route you took us on was out of this world... I thought I'd died and gone to paramotor heaven! I am jealous of your playground - mountains, beaches, grand-prix racing circuit, etc and flying that beautiful Algarve coastline was breathtaking! I'm counting the days until I can come back to hire & fly some of your toys again. If anyone reading this has considered doing a course in the Algarve with Paul at Mahony Aviation, I can only say one thing - book your flight now!
Best regards,
Miles Gregory, Derby.

If you want some advice on anything to do with paramotoring, I suggest you contact Paul Mahony of Mahony Aviation: http://www.mahonyaviation.com/ I met him for the first time on holiday last week and was impressed by the guy. He is extremely knowledgeable and will give you no-nonsense advice. He also runs courses which are certified by the BHPA to provide a Club Pilot or Pilot (Power) rating. If I was learning again and wanted to go somewhere reliable, I would go to him.
Luke Banks, Surrey.

Hi Folks,

I've now got my BHPA SPHG Club Pilot ticket after a great week in Portugal, commencing Monday 20th July where I went to see Paul Mahony in Lagos on the Algarve. Paul is a very experienced paraglider & paramotor pilot and instructor, having taught for many years previously in the Services whilst he was in the RAF. He has been paramotoring since 1996 and some of you may have seen him in the video "Colonel Basir's Flying Circus" - The Paramotoring Extravaganza which took place in Malaysia a few years ago.
Due to the frustrating weather in this country I decided to go and join him for a week to get my launches sorted out and to generally improve my airmanship. I found Paul to be a brilliant instructor and the trip was certainly worthwhile. We seem to learn a lot about ground handling and flying techniques by trial and error when left to our own devices, and this can take a long time to get things right. A little time with a good instructor greatly reduces this learning period by getting some hot tips and then everything just seems to come together.
Just one example of this is the way I now hold the brakes for a cross-brake reverse launch, much improved! Perhaps some of you may not like me saying this, but paramotor pilots are usually much better at ground handling than paraglider-only pilots! (They have to be...to get off the ground!) Needless to say, Paul gave me plenty of ground handling practice on the airfield and then radio-contact airborne instruction whilst doing circuits of the airfield. I'll never forget the strain on my arms when he got me to practice slow flight with increased descent rates, whilst pulling lots of brake!
The highlight of the week was on the last Saturday morning when we departed the aerodrome for a hundred mile drive inland together with a hot air balloon team. Thanks to Paul Mahony, and Mike (one of his ex-students who actually lives in Portugal), I was able to realise a life’s ambition of flying in circles around a hot air balloon in flight!! Mike took some great pictures which can be seen in his album below:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/doctorgron/ParamotorTrainingPortugalJuly2009#
Goronwy Jones, Carmarthen.

Hi Paul,

Thanks again for a brilliant week. We both learnt so much and I will now be practising lots of ground-handling before you finish off my training. I hope everything works out well for you and please let me know when and where you decide to set up your new training centre. I will then make arrangements to come and see you. Can you send me the PilotsPPGclubUK website address so we can post a blog on how we found our excellent training? Many thanks.
Stuart Kelly, Swansea.

Due to the poor summer weather and our previously sparse training, my son and I decided to get trained to BHPA standard with Paul Mahony Aviation in Portugal. We cannot speak highly enough of Paul’s training which was both professional and friendly and leaves you feeling much safer and confident. At the end of the week my son, Stuart, had completed his BHPA SPHG CP (Power) rating and had also finished off his Paragliding CP (Hill) rating. I too would have finished off my BHPA CP (Power) rating if the last day had not been blown out. I learnt more and flew more in one week with Paul than we did in the last year back home.
Thanks for a fantastic week, Paul.
Nigel Kelly, Swansea.