If you’re ever at a big town celebration in the middle of Myanmar, look up and you just might see Ko Pho Lone. The 50-year-old director of High Class bus line was the first Myanmar native to paramotor in his country.
After scouring Myanmar and beyond for suitable equipment, Pho Lone ascended for the first time on April 13, 2013 and has since trained six more enthusiasts. His flights, which use a steerable parachute called a wing and a propellor behind his back, last for about 45 minutes each
The father of six daughters recently heaved the 25-kilogramme pack into the back of his truck and sat down with Myanmar Mix to discuss the dangers, thrills and legalities of his hobby.
How did you become interested in paramotoring?
I wanted to fly in the sky and I am interested in everything that can make me fly. But because of the country’s economy and law, paramotoring was the most suitable way of flying so I chose that.
Where did your first flight take place?
Over Own Ma Thi, between Pyin Oo Lwin and Shan State. I’m uneasy about the law for flying so when I fly on the border of two states it confuses the authorities about which state I’m in. The first time was dangerous. The local police came to arrest me because they thought I was a foreigner who had parachuted from a plane. When they found that I was a local they didn’t investigate further, but they reported it to all the higher ups.
And during that first flight you had a motorbike engine strapped to your back and a second-hand wing from Thailand. You must have felt especially nervous.
My body was shivering due to the adrenaline. I was afraid I might die yet at the same time I wanted to try it. I was in between the fear of death and the desire to achieve what I wanted to try.
Have you ever had something go wrong?
Four times. The first time, I was flying at a low level, about 10 foot, and I was scared so I made a turn and fell to the ground. My fan broke. The other three times involved landing, when I would fall to the ground and slip. Once at 1,000 foot my engine stopped working and I needed to try to land onto a field. In split seconds I had to make a rush decision on how to handle it. I glided down but it wasn’t a crash. The engine has stopped working four times so I’ve had to make emergency landings, and there’s been four times when I’ve fallen down.
It seems so dangerous. Why do you fly?
There are dangers on the ground as well. If the person has desire to fly, he will fly.
Had you done anything similar before you tried paramotoring?
I have been trying my whole life to do this, but I had to do business first to make a living and pay for all my children’s education. After all this was a success, I started to make my childhood dreams come true.
How did you learn how to paramotor when there was no one in Myanmar to teach you?
I researched online and tried on my own. The parachute handling [holding the parachute from the ground] took me about seven months because there were no instructors.
What equipment do you need to paramotor?
You need a wing, an engine, a frame or cage with an attached seat, a helmet and mic, a propeller and a walkie talkie. That’s all.
How much does it cost all together?
About US$4,000. The whole hobby has cost me about $30,000.
What’s your record height?
6,500 foot.
What is the most surprising thing you have seen looking down from the sky?
All the rough surface of the ground looks soft and smooth. Of course, there are [ethnic armed groups]. But they know I’m a person who loves flying so there are no problems.
After people watch you fly, what’s their usual reaction?
They see me as someone who is very smart and a great guy, as a hero. I don’t like it when people see me as a hero, a brave guy, etc.… I always tell anyone who I cross paths with that they have the ability to do it if they want to.
What does your family think of your risky hobby?
The lucky thing is, my wife is a perfect person. I am a lucky guy as she is very compatible to me. Even if a scientist created a robot for me as a wife, it wouldn’t be as perfect as my wife. She is a very understanding, caring woman. She is the soul mate that god has given to me. Therefore, paramotoring was 60 percent possible thanks to her.
How about your daughters?
Among the three older siblings, the second one wants to follow and do it. If she is free, I will teach her. However she is very busy juggling her time with school, studying at the clinic and some other extra English courses.
