Eric Takabayashi <etakajp@yahoo.co.jp> wrote in message 
> The motorized paragliders can be reasonable. I've seen a place advertised
> near Tokyo, I think, they provided hours of instruction, and also let the
> student solo by the end, and it was just 10,000 yen.

Yeah the wife has lived a relatively sheltered life in the Osaka
suburbs near Itami airport so there is probably a no fly zone around
it for small planes.  And we live up in the foothills/mountains so not
a lot of private guys would head up here, mostly it's the local naval
airstations guys flying their helicoptors around pissing off the
locals.

Anyway I write this and what did I see while we were out by the lake
this afternoon?

Paragliders...  

I figure it must all be expensive as hell - probably cheaper for me to
fly back to Texas and use my buddies crop duster.  Wonder if my
lisence is any good here or if I'd have to go through all that crap
again.