LAS CRUCES – It’s a bird. It’s an airplane. It’s a powered paraglider!
Have you noticed a parachute sailing in the Field of Dreams area lately? That would be Austen Hill with his paramotor – a rear-mounted motor and paraglider – sailing across the sky.
Free-flight paragliders receive lift when they take off from an elevated point, Hill explained. Motorized paragliders use a two-stroke engine and propeller to take off from almost anywhere.
“I just love the freedom of being powered around, feeling the wind on my face and getting a different perspective on everything,” he said.
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Hill started skydiving about seven years ago when he moved to the area from his hometown of Farmington. But he said he liked flying better. His interest in paragliding was aroused in March 2021 and after about two weeks with an instructor he was flying alone.
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Hill pulled out his gear almost every day as long as the weather was okay, he said, and stayed in the air for about an hour. Hill said his preferred time of day to glide is early morning so he can watch the sun rise over the Organ Mountains.
He takes photos and videos from the air and shows his bird’s eye view of the landscape of Las Cruces. He frequented areas near the Rio Grande but said he wanted to fly closer to the Organ Mountains – which can be more complicated due to the restricted airspace.
The Federal Aviation Administration does not require a license for motorized paragliding, but there are some rules, including avoiding restricted airspace, flying only during the day, and keeping congested areas.
Hill said a park next to the Field of Dreams often doubles as his airstrip, but he occasionally takes off near the Red Hawk Golf Course. He also flies with Anthon Vella in El Paso, near the Franklin Mountains.
Vella is also an avid motorized paraglider pilot and, according to Hill, is working on obtaining an exemption from the FAA for tandem flights. Soon he will be able to take passengers with him. You can find videos of his flights and reviews on YouTube at www.youtube.com/c/AnthonyVella/featured.
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“I’m actually going to be a trader and eventually I want to be able to train people, and I want to help locals in our area blow up if they have that interest,” said Hill.
Those interested in paramotoring can reach Hill on Facebook at www.facebook.com/St.Squealer. He is happy to answer questions or take people to their next hobby.
Leah Romero is the trend reporter for Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached on Twitter at 575-418-3442, [email protected] or @rromero_leah.
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