If you've been paying attention to aviation safety devices in recent years, you'll have heard of the innovative whole airframe parachutes. More and more pilots are choosing aircraft that have this bonus "safety net." Of course, there are many pilots who ditch the parachute altogether and finish every flight in perfect safety. But there are others who ditch the airframe altogether and take only the engine and parachute; now that's dedication to safety first!

Just a few short weeks ago, the temperatures were warm and the winds calm for the Fall 2022 edition of the Fly the Fort event. Local powered parachute pilots and enthusiasts showed up at a sod strip near Fort Wayne, Indiana. Some good food, good fun, good camaraderie, and, of course, some flying ensued. The signs were obvious that something was happening for those who arrived from the roadside.

Nobody really had to question what was happening if they took a trip down the country road. The Gordon Airport has been a haven for those who love to fly low and slow for years. On this day, though, they were flying slightly lower and slightly slower than usual. The plethora of parachutes buzzing around "inspecting the crops" were a clue that there were some visitors at the airport on this particular weekend.

Safety in the paramotor world isn't only about the canopy over the pilot. Preparation to fly includes a preflight check like any other aircraft. Check the canopy, check the paracord, test the engine throughout the operating range, and ensure you've enough fuel for the time you plan to be airborne. Just because you could land like a paratrooper doesn't mean you want to land like a paratrooper!

The morning was pretty good for parachute flying, until the winds picked up. Those who made it off the ground made it back with no trouble and decided to wait for the evening lull in the winds. No matter, though. The extra time with fast winds and low clouds allowed more time to enjoy each other's company; more time to "shoot the breeze" per se.

The winds blew some of the clouds away and the sun started to show, warming things up a bit. In spite of the solar action, the winds calmed down in the afternoon and canopies started sprouting up all over the airport. Before taking the paramotors for a flight, the pilots were checking their equipment, testing their controls, gaging the wind strength, and, to be sure, having a little fun. The paramotor pilots weren't the only ones, though. There was just enough wind for some kids in the campground to get their sails in the sky as well. If this is any indication, it won't be long before the tikes trade their kites in for canopies of their own.

Wind and canopy tests completed; folks raced to get their equipment staged for a few hours of flight before evening settled in. Power packs were set up all over the field and pilots got their warm clothes and helmets ready. It didn't take long and the first of them made it into the air.

The sun became intermittent, but it was still an hour or so to sunset. Plenty of time to enjoy a bit of freedom of flight, and a quick game of aerial Corn Hole. Both hands are required to control the canopy and throttle on a paramotor. So, our squadron turned to their toes to deliver their payload. With precise throttle control and a look of determination, many of them hit the target better than most people can accomplish with their feet firmly planted on the ground!

The clouds didn't deter our pilots and they kept flying into the evening. On the contrary, in some cases the clouds made the flight all the more worthwhile. One pilot seemed to find the elusive Indiana mountain peak... but it was just an interesting cloud formation.

The entire weekend was filled with fun flying. The evening flights went exceedingly well in the mild temperatures and calm winds. Nobody was too upset that they'd spent the majority of the day grounded. But they also weren't ready to give up on one last flight. They raced skyward as the sun raced toward the horizon. All in all, a great day of super safe flying and an enjoyable time for pilots and spectators alike. Eventually the pilots all started lining up on the runway again, this time to return to home base for an enjoyable evening filled with the same good food, good fun, and good camaraderie that they had enjoyed all day. If this looks like something you'd like to try, there are plenty of Powered Parachute and Trike options on Barnstormers.com; just search or browse for "PPC" or "PPG". And if you're interested in an airframe with your parachute, there happen to be several listings for aircraft with whole airframe parachutes as well. Oh, and in case you didn't know... airframe parachutes are innovative, but they've been around a lot longer than a certain composite aircraft manufacturer would have you believe.