I got an offer of a flight, with one caveat: Those present would not be responsible for any resulting addiction.

Soon I was gliding 1,500 feet above Poulsbo, my harness attached with carabiners to the frame of this 75-pound machine, nothing between me and the open air but my clothing. And, hopefully, my guardian angel.

It was an incredible experience. That is an understatement. It was a religious experience. I’m up where eagles soar, man, and I could be freer only if I had wings. (I am not addicted.)

This was my introduction to powered paragliding, or PPG — simply, a paraglider wing connected to a frame that has a motor and prop. Approximately 13 people from Poulsbo to Gig Harbor have taken up this sport. You’ve likely seen them, gliding in Kitsap skies, the colorful sails and the hum of prop motors drawing gazes skyward.

Several PPG enthusiasts gathered on March 1 on the bluff across from Big 5 Sporting Goods and Office Depot at Poulsbo’s College Marketplace. Nathan Mann, 36, of Poulsbo is the sport’s local ambassador; some call him an “anomaly.” He’s been flying for a little more than a year and has already logged more than 250 flights. He’s an uberenthusiast who bought his company, Budget Blinds, a van with enough room for his flight equipment.

“I always wanted to fly,” Mann said. “I took lessons to become a private pilot, but it never felt right. Then a buddy of mine in Port Angeles posted videos on YouTube that he took while flying around in Port Angeles, and I was totally gone. I wanted to do that.”

On this day, the field is transformed into a PPG airstrip (local enthusiasts also fly out of Kingston, Port Ludlow, and Apex Airpark in Silverdale). Wind socks help the pilots gauge wind direction and velocity. Mann sets up his foot-launched PPG. Rick Walsh, the sport’s elder statesman, will fly his PPG trike; it looks like a three-wheeled go-kart outfitted with a prop. Sean Butler of East Bremerton will fly a four-wheeler, also known as a quad.

They do preflight tests on their 2-stroke motors, check and lay out their wings according to the wind’s direction, and one by one they’re off.

Mann runs until his wing lifts and catches air, then hits the throttle and the motorized prop attached to the frame on his back thrusts him forward. Butler and Walsh are seated in their PPGs. They power forward until their wings lift and catch the air, then hit the throttles and lift off the ground. Mann’s golden lab, Frasier, barks and chases each take off.

A small crowd gathers to watch these Blue Angels of Paramotoring break in and out of formation and perform turns, their colorful wings standing out against the gray overcast sky.

On the ground, other enthusiasts watch the action or chat about equipment. This is a friendly group. Some have been enthusiasts for a while but have yet to go into the air; they’re still studying the sport.

While the airstrip is clear, Ryan Walsh, Rick’s son, puts on a harness and connects to a wing and runs with it down the field. He’s kiting, practicing pulling the wing up, getting to know how the wing performs and responds to the wind. When he’s comfortable doing this, he’ll start kiting with a motor on his back.

Remarkably, this sport does not require a license or training in the United States. But safety is not an afterthought here. After all, you are flying. And you have a prop, motor and fuel tank at your back.

PPGs are safer than gliders, Mann said, because they are powered and don’t rely on thermals and ridge lifts.

PPGs are outfitted with reserve chutes, although Mann said that if the motor dies a pilot would glide at a ratio of 1 foot of descent for every 10 feet. Mann’s PPG is outfitted with a flotation device that automatically inflates if he goes into the water. Pilots have constant radio contact with each other and with someone on the ground.

Kevin Antholt of Gig Harbor went to a 10-day boot camp offered by Team Fly Halo. He studied how to master the controls of a wing for six days, studied weather, then trained for two days with a PPG. Upon graduation, he was rated by the U.S. Powered Paragliding Association.

“By the time you go up, it’s second nature,” he said of the training.

Antholt is a stickler for safety. He said he’s always looking in the event he has to land. He tries not to fly over people’s houses or over cars, in case something comes loose and falls. “The rule of thumb is, you don’t want debris to fall and hit someone,” he said. He’ll fly across a road, but not along a road.

Before taking off, pilots always follow a preflight protocol. And once a year, wings are sent in so the fabric can be tested. A wing should last 10 years, he said.

This sport is popular in Europe; in fact, most PPG motors are made in Italy (Vittorazi) or Poland (Polini). And there are some very cool videos online of parabatics in Europe — racing, maneuvering around pylons, ground-skimming to pick up items that are dropped them on targets.

Equipment costs vary, but generally you can get into this sport for $14,000 new, about half that used.

“It’s an inexpensive way to get into the air,” one enthusiast said.

Butler has landed. Asked what he enjoys most about the sport, he says, “You’re flying. There’s nothing cooler.” (He and his PPG pilot wife, Lisa, are also RC enthusiasts.)

Kevin Birum of Kingston has landed after his first tandem flight ever, with Mann. He beams as he takes off his helmet. “It’s hard to describe,” he said of the experience. “Everything just melts.”

Then, I’m asked, “Do you want to go up?”

I’m told it would be great for my story.

Inside, I’m like a kid at the front of the line at a favorite ride at Disneyland. I’m thinking, “I was on my way to Home Depot to buy garden supplies, and an hour later I’m being offered a chance to go into the air? Yeah, I want to go.”

I look at my wife, Molly, who’s smarter and more safety-conscious than I am. She nods an OK.

I suit up in a windbreaker, gloves, and helmet with goggles. Mann says we’ll be up for 10-20 minutes but we can stay up longer if I want. (You can travel two to two-and-a-half hours on a tank of fuel.)

We review safety procedures.

“Don’t fly over Naval Base Kitsap — Bangor.”

Check.

“Whatever you do, don’t say ‘abort.’ ”

Check. Wait — what?

I’m given instructions about takeoff. Mann and I will run until the wing lifts and is at a 30- to 40-degree angle from the ground. He’ll then hit the throttle, but we’ve got to keep running until we have a positive rate of climb.

I help spread the wing according to the direction of the wind. I then get into the harness in front of Mann. He revs up the engine to warm it up and we run on his command, the sail billowing behind us and lifting to the sky like a kite. Mann hits the throttle and we’re airborne, rising above College Marketplace, all of Kitsap coming into view.

In no time we’re at about 1,500 feet. From here, this place we call home reveals its beauty to me in a wonderful way. In front of me: Admiralty Inlet, Whidbey Island and the San Juans. The Olympics beckon to me at my left. My eyes follow Hood Canal as it flows from Admiralty Inlet to Union and then hooks northeast to Belfair. (I am not addicted.)

At one point, Mann hands me the lines. I give the right line a good firm pull and we come about. Now, we’re flying toward Liberty Bay, the Seattle skyline and Mount Rainier at my feet. (I am not addicted.)

My world seems smaller somehow. From here, a walk from Hansville to Bremerton looks like it would be just a good stretch of the legs. From here, you can see how tied together our communities are by the land and water we share.

It’s time to land. We’ve been in the air for 30 minutes and flown more than 16 miles. One final thrill: Mann does a fly by over the landing area then skims some tree tops, which I touch with my foot. (I am not addicted.)

OK, I admit it.

I want to go up again.

But I am not addicted.

ONLINE: Kevin Antholt produced this video of a flight over Dash Point, Washington.
Nathan Mann is in this video of a flight in Orting.

INFO: Email Mann at nmann@bbpoulsbo.com

Above: Richard Walker of the North Kitsap Herald soars 1,500 feet above Poulsbo in a tandem flight with Nathan Mann. Photo: Nathan Mann

Powered paragliders Nathan Mann of Poulsbo, front, and Sean Butler of East Bremerton fly their PPGs above Poulsbo, March 1. About 13 PPG enthusiasts fly regularly in the Kitsap area, taking off from Kingston, Port Ludlow, Apex Airpark in Silverdale, and, sometimes, from a field at College Marketplace in Poulsbo. Depending on the wing, PPGs can travel at a speed of 25-35 mph for 2 to 2.5 hours on one tank of fuel. Photo: Richard Walker

Sean Butler of East Bremerton flies his PPG quad above College Marketplace in Poulsbo, March 1. Photo: Richard Walker