But How good do I need to be?
We recognise that paramotoring is a relatively new adventure sport. That pilots have gotten into flying through all manner of routes. We welcome competitors from all walks of life and we have a duty of care to ensure their utmost safety throughout the Icarus Trophy event.
So we've scratched our heads to devise a short and simple competency test, that is relevant to the Icarus, to ensure you are all as well prepared as you possibly can be, cometh the hour. It also gives a suitable benchmark for those of you currently in training or with low flight time something to measure yourself against. Every competing pilot will be required to undergo this mandatory test before we issue the coveted green permit to fly.
Adventure Division Requirements
Practical:
At the start line you'll be asked to take off from a specified location and then perform an engine off landing from 500 ft to within 50 meters of a target. You will need to do this either first time or 2 out of three times.
Multiple choice test
We'll ask you to complete a quick multiple choice test covering basic air law relevant to paramotoring and basic meteorology. For novice pilots we'll point you in the direction of everything you need to know once in the pilots handbook. We'll release an online sample test as well.
Race Division Requirements
Practical:
At the start line you'll be asked to take off from a specified location and then perform an engine off landing from 500 ft to within 10 meters of a target. You will need to do this either first time or 2 out of three times.
Multiple choice test
We'll ask you to complete a quick multiple choice test covering basic air law relevant to paramotoring and basic meteorology. We'll point you in the direction of everything you need to know once in the pilots handbook. We'll release an online sample test as well.
Cross-Country Demo Flight
Because the Icarus Trophy is its own curiosity, all pilots have to submit a 100km demo flight to Race Control. That may seem like a big undertaking when you first start out but it is both rather fun and a bloody good eye-opener for what you might get massively wrong. We recommend you get stuck in as early as possible to try this out.
The Road To ICARUS TROPHY
Whether you are only just embarking out on your paramotoring journey, or simply a seasoned fly-boy wanting to brush up some skills or learn some new ‘tekkers’, our ‘Road to Icarus’ training advice has been designed to ensure you are at the top of your game. These golden nuggets of insight have come from some of the best paramotor instructors around the world, many of whom have first-hand experience of the Icarus race format. As such, you will receive expert insight that will aid you greatly when you ultimately reach the start line. You'll probably fall somewhere in one of these three categories:
NOVICE
I KNOW NOTHING
except I know I want to do this.
It is perfectly possible to go from never having flown to taking part in the Icarus Trophy. It's unlikely that you'll get straight into the Race Class but not impossible.
Your first step to getting airborne and race-ready is via a reputable instructor or paramotor school. Training typically takes 8-10 days and will give you the skills, knowledge, and confidence to from landbound lemon to sky champion.
You’ll gain a good understanding of the basic skills required to fly solo, but it will be down to you to practice and build up your flight hours across multiple conditions and distances.
Many of our previous pilots were beginners at the start of the year. With a bit of effort, the sky can be your playground and the Icarus Trophy could be within grasp.
PILOT
I CAN FLY
but i'm not sure if I have all the skills yet.
This description is obviously fairly broad. If you can already fly, what's most likely is that you could use some Icarus-specific skills and training.
Taking on the Icarus Trophy isn’t the same as a bit of weekend hedge-hopping with your buddies. We suggest contacting a reputable flight school or paramotor instructor to evolve your flying ability and learn some additional vital piloting skills.
Whenever possible, get airborne and clock up some serious flight time and get some long-distance cross-countries under your belt. Try flying with the type of kit and weight you feel you might need to compete in the Icarus Trophy.
The best advice…. Be totally honest with yourself and evaluate your skill level before deciding how much extra stuff you need to brush up on.
PRO
I'M A PRO
I could fly this backwards. Naked.
Hats off to you. Why didn't you tell us about this sport earlier?
So, you're already bloody good at this flying malarkey, and now is the time to walk the talk. The Icarus Trophy is the perfect arena to really put those skills to the ultimate endurance test and earn those bragging rights.
But let’s not get complacent here. The Icarus Trophy is the next evolution in long-distance cross-country flying and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Park the ego and really be honest in evaluating your skill level. This is going to be a radical break from what you are used to.
No matter whether you are a paramotoring prodigy or world record holder, you still have to take the flight test to make the grade. So no harm in getting some practice in ahead of time.