FLYING MAN OVER MOUNT GARNET For Bill Hallows it’s not enough to drive a road train each day to and from the local mine - after finishing his shift he takes to the sky. By Al Gallo You may be forgiven for thinking that it is quite unusual to see and hear over your house what looks like a motorized person hanging from a parachute. Bill practices powered paragliding, 'wearing' a 180cc motor attached to a screen that protects body parts from accidentally coming in contact with the propellers. Bill drove me to the local golf course, so I could watch the workings of each step of this sport, which is considered to be a very safe form of ultralight aviation. It is also very economical, with the whole gear costing well under 12,000 Australian Dollars.   Some training is necessary not just to  handle the equipment but also to deal with aspects such as   wind speed and direction, as well as other skills needed in general aviation. It's hard to imagine that the whole flyiing gear can be easily transported on the back of a ute.  After checking the wind speed and direction, he laid the wing on the ground,  attached himself to the motor and then to the wing.  He switched the motor on, faced the wing for a final check - then turned around, accelerated and after a couple of steps forward he was off the ground. The altitude achieved by powered paragliders ranges from dragging the feet on the grass to over 1,500 metres at speeds of 25 to 70 kph. Not bad for a portable power plant weighing only 25 kilos.  Most of the flying is done at an altitude of about 150 m (500 ft). Bill carrying his flying machine. One end of the wing showing front air vents and tip. Final check to ensure all is in order. Up in the air and activating the seat.     Going up and away. It isn't a summersault or inverted flight - it's me getting dizzy following Bill over my head!! Power off and  about to touch down. Bill's looking up his wing after gently touching down. Time to tidy all up and load it on the ute.