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SAGELAND FALL 2013 18
your own two feet. Every time I launch, I’m pumped,”
Jackson said.
Jackson estimates he has accomplished 40 to 50 con-
secutive one-try launches, but it wasn’t easy to master
the skill. In fact, he spent two years trying unsuccess-
fully to get off the ground.
After observing powered-paraglider trainees practic-
ing on the beach in Ventura, Jackson returned there a
few months later for a four-day training with the in-
structor. The first three days of training went well, but
on the fourth day, when he was supposed to fly by him-
self for the first time, the weather was too windy and he
did not get the chance to try it.
“I brought my powered paraglider home in the
camper and was determined to go ahead and solo by
myself. Well, that didn’t work,” said Jackson. “I just
didn’t have the confidence.”
Jackson tried repeatedly to take off, but could not
quite bring himself to make the leap. “When you begin
running, you hit that throttle, and it pushes you and it
outruns your foot speed pretty quickly. You think you’re
All geared up and with engine running, Jackson
takes off running hard. Within seconds, the wing
fills with air. He keeps sprinting until he’s lifted
by the air and wings. Once airborn, the motor
drives a blower which keeps the wing full of air.
“I’ll never forget that first time ...”