learn to fly

So you want to take the plunge? You want to fly! Well you have come to the right place. Our instructors are USPPA certified and bring years of flight experience to the table to help get you in the air - safely. We provide CERTIFIED USPPA training! We train year-round at our own LZ. Our LZ will provide the perfect spot, located only a few minutes Northeast of Dallas, and will provide the perfect location for your first flights. You'll train at YOUR pace. Our instructors will also help with your gear search. We don't recommend one particular brand, as there is no 'one-brand-fits-all' when it comes to paramotoring. All training is tailored to the student. We want you to enjoy your training, get in the air quickly, and above all - be safe. We're here to make sure that happens. Contact an instructor today for training prices.

Contact an Instructor

Donald Brock, USPPA Administrator and Donnie Lee Kavanagh, USPPA foot and wheeled launch instructor — Donald Brock, USPPA Administrator and Donnie Lee Kavanagh, USPPA foot and wheeled launch instructor

Meet the instructors

Don Brock

Welcome to the Texas Wind Riders, my name is Donald Brock and I am your local DFW Instructor for Powered Paragliding (PPG) since 2004. I have always been interested in flying and the thought of jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft has always appealed to me, so I did what came natural, I joined the US Army!
I couldn't become a Pilot because of my eyesight so I figured Infantry Airborne is the right direction for me, I loved being a Paratrooper, I served in 3 Parachute Infantry Regiments. As a Staff Sergeant I was tasked with many dangerous missions and to accomplish them I had to first lead by example and become a good teacher, I taught many things from small arms weaponry, explosives, hand to hand combat and how to jump out of all sorts of aircraft, I loved my job.
After getting hurt in combat I left the Army, I felt a bit lost and out of place, I needed to feel like SSG Brock again so as luck would have it, I spotted something in the air one day in Fort Worth, it was familiar but it wasn't, I saw a canopy and thought it was a skydiver, but I was wrong, it was a PPG Instructor by the name of Didier Debaque from Adventure France, I literally chased him down and asked him what that was? and how could I do it? it has been love ever since.
My training started in April of 2004, I joined ASC (Aero Sports Connection) and received my Instructor Rating later that same year after 50 hours of flying and training students under the supervision of my Instructor. In 2006 I became a certified Instructor by Francesco (Check) De Santis through the USPPA, In 2017 I found myself being rated as an Administrator, Check was once more my Rater.
I take great pride in my country and my military service, I bring that Army Airborne attitude and spirit to my training LZ where I strive to give you the best and safest training possible, every student trains at a different pace, and everyone has a different learning curve, so with that said, you are NOT forced into the air nor do you have a specific time line, we train you at your speed, safety is the number one priority even if it takes you a bit longer, in the end it makes a huge difference. Welcome to my world, welcome to Powered Paragliding!

Donnie Kavanagh

My first experience with Powered Paragliding (PPG) was a tandem flight in February of 2015. I knew before I ever got back on the ground that the sky would be my second home. Don Brock took me on that flight and then became my instructor. I trained that spring, fought through a broken elbow (not training related, I promise) and still got my first solo flight in August of that same year. I love flying! I love teaching new students the art of kiting and giving them that first thrill of feeling the wind in their wing. I have flown backpack and trike now since 2015. In May of 2017 I received my USPPA Instructor certification from Francesco De Santis at the 2017 Endless Foot Drag in Ft. Smith Arkansas. I’ve only been in the sport a few years, but as you can tell by the aggressive timeline of ‘nothing to instructor’, I have a passion for flying. My goal is share that experience with all who have a taste for adventure, but to make sure to get you in the air and back on the ground SAFELY!

Mike Barsalou

I've been interested in flight for quite a long time, starting with control line airplanes as a kid, then rockets, then moving on to Remote Controlled (RC) gliders.

This fascination with flight led me to try things like parasailing (pulled behind a boat), paragliding (jumping off a mountain), skydiving (jumping out of a plane), flying small planes (150, 172, Ultralights, etc).

All of those things are a great deal of fun but I found that I was having the most fun when I was controlling the craft (skydiving, flying small planes). Then I moved to Texas and was introduced to flying paramotors.

My friend Jay (who has found the end of the internet) suggested I look into it.

It wasn't long before I met Don and Donnie and my journey with PPG began in 2018, with my first flight in June 2019.

This sport/hobby/obsession has changed my outlook on life, and my hope is that, as an instructor, I can bring someone along with us to enjoy the sunrises, sunsets, flights above the clouds and under bridges or where ever we might fly.

You'll find adventure, community, self-confidence and exhilaration!