What Are Binders in Paramotoring?

Paramotoring is a sport in which a paraglider is paired with a gas motor to produce powered flight for the pilot. Most pilots using paramotors try to perform the activity safely. One problem is that a paraglider pilot has no convenient place for instruments or other equipment. Some inventive pilots have started creating laptop instrument cases built around binders they can fold and zip up when they land.

  1. Size and Weight

    • When choosing a binder for creating your foldable instrument panel, an important consideration is size. The binder must be small enough to fit comfortably on your lap, while at the same time being large enough to hold all of the items you want to include. It should also be as light as possible, since weight is at a premium on a paraglider, even one equipped with a motor.

    Construction

    • Choose a binder made of a water-resistant synthetic material to protect your electronics. Also, choose one that comes with a strap you can reposition to keep the binder firmly on your lap in flight. Examine the way the binder is assembled. To avoid having it come apart in the wind, get a binder that has dense, sturdy stitching.

    What to Include

    • Make the right choices when selecting the items you include in your binder instrument case. Any glider — powered or not — needs a variometer for reading changes in rate of climb or descent and relating these changes with an audio tone. Add an easy-to-read GPS unit to keep track of your location. Include a small handheld aviation radio for getting information about air traffic in your area. A small walkie-talkie is necessary so you can communicate with the ground or others flying with you.

    Installing the Instruments

    • Select a solid surface to place inside the binder so that you have something to which attach your instruments. An effective surface for this purpose is a wooden clipboard with the metal parts removed. Alternatively, cut a 1/4-inch piece of plywood for the purpose and paint it. Adhesive hook and loop patches inside the binder case and matching patches on the bottom of the wood will hold the wood inside the case. Attach hook and loop patches to the top of the wood and the bottom of your instruments to hold them in place on the board.