Powered paragliding lessons & tandem flights
Real flight, real freedom — taught one-on-one by Shawn Elder, a USPPA-certified, tandem-rated instructor.
Welcome
A paramotor is a paraglider wing with a small motor on your back — foot launched, low and slow, no license required. At Paramotor Flyers you learn one-on-one with Shawn Elder at a small, family-run school in Durant, Oklahoma, an easy drive north of Dallas–Fort Worth.
Whether you want a single taste of the air or the full path to flying solo, you'll start on the ground, go at your own pace, and never leave the field until you're ready. We fly from a private 3-acre training field at Durant Regional Airport — wide-open Oklahoma grass and a pilot's lounge for ground school. A friendly, real place to learn.
Why you can trust the sky here
Trained & rated through the United States Powered Paragliding Association.
Cleared to fly you along on a two-person flight — no experience needed.
Start on the ground, advance only when you're ready. Always.
A small Durant, Oklahoma school — personal, local and accountable.
Meet your instructor
It's a family-run school — my wife Tiffany and my daughter Haley fly too. When your own family trusts the sky, you teach it a little differently.
Shawn Elder · USPPA-certified, tandem-rated paramotor instructor
I'm Shawn — I own Paramotor Flyers and I'm the instructor you'll fly with. I'm USPPA-certified and tandem-rated, and I fly these skies just about every day the weather lets me. I built this school around one simple idea: get every student into the air safely, at their own pace, with someone they trust right beside them. You're not booking a franchise or a rotating staff — you're learning from me.
“First time in the air? That's exactly who I love teaching. I'll be right there with you the whole way — and by the end of the day, your feet will have left the ground over Oklahoma.”
Flights & training
Come fly once, or learn all the way to solo. Transparent pricing, no hidden fees — and the same instructor every step.
Just fly. Nothing to learn.
Strap in beside Shawn on a tandem and experience open-air flight — no training, no commitment, just the view.
Spend a day learning to fly.
A full hands-on day on the field — feel exactly what powered paragliding is, and find out if it's for you.
From zero to solo.
The complete, structured path to flying on your own — guided start to finish, advancing only when you're truly ready.
Not sure which is right for you? Call Shawn at (319) 795-4278 — he'll help you choose.
What it's like up there
It's quieter than you'd think. You drift low over fields and tree lines in the soft morning or evening air, the horizon going gold. There's no rush and nowhere to be — just you, the wing, and the kind of view most people only get from an airplane window.
First-timers almost always land grinning. That's the part we can't put a price on.
From people who’ve flown with us
“Shawn is a fantastic, patient instructor. He puts safety first every single step of the way and made sure I was comfortable before we ever left the ground. Could not recommend Paramotor Flyers more highly.”
“Best experience. The whole family makes you feel welcome and the training is top-notch. I came in nervous and left with the confidence to fly. These folks are the real deal.”
“Professional, knowledgeable and genuinely cares about getting you flying safely. The training field is perfect for learning. Worth every penny and the drive up from Texas.”
Ready to fly your own?
When you're ready to own your setup, we'll help you get into gear that fits you and your flying. Have a look at the shop, or just ask Shawn — he flies this equipment every day.
Before your first flight
Still wondering about something? Call Shawn at (319) 795-4278.
Powered paragliding is one of the most accessible forms of personal flight, and good training is what makes it safe. Every lesson at Paramotor Flyers is safety-first: we start on the ground, progress at your pace, and you never fly until you and Shawn are both confident you're ready. Instruction follows the proven USPPA curriculum.
None at all. Most students start with zero flight time. The One Day Intro and Adventure Tandem are built specifically for first-timers, and the Full Training Course assumes you're starting from scratch.
No. In the U.S., powered paragliders are flown under FAA Part 103 as ultralight vehicles, which don't require a pilot's license. Proper training is still essential — that's exactly what the USPPA-aligned course gives you.
Most students reach solo flight through the Full Training Course, which is built around your progress rather than a fixed number of days. Some solo within a week of focused training; others spread lessons out. Shawn advances you only when you're genuinely ready.
Wear long pants, closed-toe athletic shoes or boots, and dress for the weather. Bring sunglasses, water and sunscreen. We provide all the flight equipment — you just bring yourself and a willingness to learn.
Powered paragliding is best in calm, stable air — usually early mornings and evenings — and we fly year-round in Oklahoma whenever conditions allow. Lessons are scheduled by appointment around the weather, and we'll always reschedule rather than fly in unsafe conditions.
We fly from a private 3-acre training field at Durant Regional Airport in Durant, Oklahoma. Durant is about 75 miles — roughly 90 minutes — north of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, making us an easy drive for pilots across North Texas and southern Oklahoma.
The One Day Intro is $515, an Adventure Tandem flight is $200, and the complete Full Training Course to solo is $2,300 (reserve with a $500 deposit). Pricing is transparent with no hidden fees.
Your first flight is closer than you think
Pick a day, and Shawn will get you in the air safely — at your pace, with someone you trust right beside you. First-timers welcome, always.