FAI Ratifies First-Ever Electric Paramotor Altitude World Record — 14,790 Feet Over Colorado
Record flight by Nathan Finneman marks a milestone for battery-powered foot-launched aviation
The frontier of electric flight just got a major new benchmark.
American pilot Nathan Finneman has earned the first-ever FAI-ratified world record for altitude in the electric paramotor category, reaching 4,508 meters — 14,790 feet MSL — over the high terrain of Colorado, USA. The record, now officially listed by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), was achieved on November 2, 2023, and publicly highlighted following FAI ratification in late 2024. ()
A world-first for electric paramotoring
While paramotors have long been associated with lightweight, gasoline-powered engines, Finneman’s achievement represents something much bigger than a number on a chart: it establishes the electric paramotor class in the official world record books.
In its announcement, the FAI emphasized that this accomplishment was the first world record ever ratified in this category—an important signal that electric paramotoring is no longer a novelty, but a legitimate performance platform with measurable progress. ()
Two attempts, one breakthrough
According to reports surrounding the attempt, Finneman required two flights to secure the mark. After an initial effort was hampered by conditions, he returned, recharged, and launched again—successfully climbing to the record altitude on the second attempt. ()
The flight was conducted in the high-elevation environment of Colorado’s Leadville area, a location well known in aviation for its thin air and demanding performance conditions. ()
High-altitude flying: cold, thin air, and real consequences
Pushing nearly 15,000 feet MSL in an open-air, foot-launched aircraft isn’t just a power-and-range question—it’s a physiological and weather problem, too.
FAI’s own write-up notes the attempt took place on a cold autumn day, describing challenging meteorology and harsh cold exposure—conditions that can quickly become dangerous at altitude for pilots without the thermal protection used in enclosed aircraft. ()
Why this matters for the sport
Electric paramotors aren’t just quieter; they introduce a completely different performance equation. Battery capacity, discharge rates in cold temperatures, and motor efficiency become as critical as wing choice and pilot technique.
Finneman’s record is likely to serve as a new reference point—a target that electric developers, pilots, and teams can aim at as the technology matures. As electric systems improve, the next major question becomes not whether electric flight can compete, but how quickly it can surpass conventional benchmarks.
For now, the altitude record stands as a clear milestone:
14,790 feet MSL — set November 2, 2023 — the first FAI world altitude record ever ratified for an electric paramotor. ()
