Q. What is it like to paraglide, what is a paraglider?
A. Paragliding is the simplest form of human flight. A paraglider is
a non-motorized, foot-launched inflatable wing. It is easy to transport,
easy to launch, and easy to land. The paraglider itself is constructed
of rip-stop nylon from which the pilot is suspended by sturdy kevlar lines.
The pilot is clipped into a harness and oriented in a sitting position
for maximum comfort. With a paraglider, you actually fly like a bird,
soaring upwards on currents of air. Paraglider pilots routinely stay aloft
for 3 hours or more, climb to elevations of 15,000 feet, and go cross-country
for vast distances.
Q. Is paragliding the same as parasailing or parachuting?
A. "No", "No", and "No". Parasailing is
what you do at a beach, in a modified parachute tied to a boat, often
in Mexico after you've had one too many cocktails. You get dragged around
the harbor like a sack of potatoes, not like a pilot. (If you want to
offend a paragliding pilot, refer to their sport as "parasailing".)
Parachutes are designed to be deployed during free-fall from an airplane
and to then descend to the ground. By contrast, paraglider pilots launch
from gentle hillsides with their gliders already opened for flight; if
the glider isn't flying properly, the launch can be aborted before leaving
the ground. Since paragliders do not have to withstand the stresses of
free-fall deployment, they are much lighter and aerodynamic and are designed
to go up rather than down
Q. How is paragliding different from hang gliding?
A. Paragliding and hang gliding are very similar in terms of the pure
joy of flight. The sensation of flying either craft is very birdlike.
Many pilots enjoy both sports equally, you should consider learning both.
There are aspects that make each a little easier in some situations and
more difficult in others. A paraglider is a bit faster to set up and put
away, it folds up into a 30 lbs. backpack in about five minutes and can
be easily transported in the trunk of a car, whereas a hang glider requires
a roof rack for transport and takes at least twice as long to set up and
take down, they generally weigh twice as much as a paraglider. Pilots
commonly carry their paragliders to the tops of peaks in the Cascades,
Alps, Andes, and Himalayas, this would be difficult with a hang glider.
It's also easier to check the paraglider as luggage with the airlines
or bus, or even just to hitch a ride back to launch. Paragliding launches
are not as "committing"; if you want to stop your launch, you
just stop running and the canopy floats down behind you. BUT, a hangglider
can be launched from smaller spaces, i.e. narrow openings in a treed ridge
line, and more easily in higher winds. Because hang gliders fly slightly
faster, they can cover greater distances more easily and can fly up-wind
more easily. But paragliders, which have advanced rapidly over the last
few years, can now cover distances almost as great and, due to their tighter
turning radius, can often stay aloft in light lift when hang gliders can't.
Both paragliders and hang gliders can be towed into the air by winches
and can use auxiliary motors to launch. Hang gliders, due to their slightly
higher speed range have the unique advantage that they can be towed by
motorized ultralights thousands of feet above the ground where they can
then release to fly freely, just like a sailplane, this is very fun. Paragliders
can more easily be landed back on top of a mountain or the side of a hill
and use much smaller landing areas, This makes cross country flying less
stressful. A hang glider is controlled through weight shift and the feeling
of carving turns is similar to riding a roller-coaster head first. A paraglider
is controlled through weight shift and application of brakes which deform
the back edge of the glider, there is a similar feeling of carving turns,
but there's not as much speed and you're upright in a sitting position.
They both have similar safety records.
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Q. What can I do with a paraglider?
A. Paragliders are designed to soar. The duration record is over 11 hours
and the distance record is 300 kilometers. In training you will start
out just skimming the ground. As you progress and become more skilled
and confident you will probably want to go higher and use the wing for
its designed purpose -- soaring! Average recreational pilots, utilizing
thermal and ridge lift, routinely stay aloft for 3 hours or more, soar
to altitudes of 15,000' and travel cross-country for great distances.
In addition, paragliders can be easily carried and launched off of most
mountains. Paragliders have been flown off of almost every major peak
in the United States and Europe as well as off of Mt. Everest.
Q. Is it safe to paraglide?
A. You can make paragliding, like most adventure sports, as safe or dangerous
as you want. It is of course crucial that you receive instruction from
a certified professional and use safe equipment -- professional schools
will create as controlled a learning environment as possible. But paragliding
is still an outdoor sport and Mother Nature is unpredictable -- the primary
safety factors are personal judgment and attitude. You must be willing
to learn gradually and to think with your head not with your ego. If you
don't, then you can get injured or killed; if you do, then you can paraglide
until you're 90.
Q. Is it scary to paraglide?
A. Paragliding is the simplest and most serene way to fulfill humankind's
oldest dream -- free flight! The pilot jogs down a gentle slope and glides
away from the mountain. There is no free-falling or jumping off of cliffs.
The launches and landings are slow and gentle and, once in the air, most
people are surprised by how quiet and peaceful the experience is. Even
a fear of heights is rarely a factor, as there is no sensation of falling.
The solo lesson requires more effort (physical and mental) than the tandem
lesson, but it lays the basic groundwork necessary to become your own
pilot.If the idea of watching the sunset from a comfortable seat in the
air, supported by the buoyant evening air, with perhaps an eagle or hawk
joining you off your wing tip, appeals to you, then paragliding is for
you.
Q. Who can paraglide?
A. Paragliding is about finesse and serenity, not strength and adrenaline.
As in rock climbing, women often do much better than men because they
don't try to muscle the paraglider around. In Europe, where the sport
is immensely popular, you will see pilots as young as 10 and as old as
80. If you choose to hike to launch then you'll want to be in good physical
condition, but you can also drive to most popular flying sites. More important
than physical conditioning, is being physically and mentally alert and
prepared. To be a successful paragliding student and pilot, you need to
be able to think clearly and to listen well.
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Q. How much does a paraglider cost? How long does
a paraglider last?
A. A new paraglider, harness and reserve will cost somewhere between
$3,600 and $5,000, or you can purchase used gear for less. After four
years of fairly active usage and exposure to UV light from the sun, a
paraglider is generally in need of replacement. This of course varies
with how you care for your wing. It's easy to test your lines and sailcloth
for strength and thus determine your need to replace your paraglider long
before it becomes unsafe. Harnesses and reserves should last many years
with good care. Most pilots who get into the sport also purchase a two-way
radio and a variometer (which tells you whether and how fast you are going
up or down) for an additional $500 altogether. Good used equipment is
often available for half as much though it will have a shorter life-span.
In addition, because the sport is evolving rapidly, newer paragliders
can have significantly better performance and behavior than older ones.
Q. What do I need to know when purchasing
my first paraglider?
A. First, you need to know how to fly. No would-be pilot should purchase
a wing before learning at least the basics of paragliding. It is your
instructor's job to help you select your first wing. Different paragliders
have different characteristics and require different skill levels; your
instructor will match the glider to your particular interests, strengths,
weaknesses, and skill level. Develop a solid relationship with an instructor
you trust before purchasing equipment. "Good deals" generally
end up costing the naive new pilot a great deal of money. Most instructors
rely on referrals and repeat business so they are very determined to help
you make the right decisions. See our advice on buying paragliding equipment
for more information.
Q. How do I get started?
A. The best way to start is with an Introductory Course designed to give
you a taste of real flying. Under radio supervision, you will fly solo
from the training hill and progress to higher flights, all in two days.
The basic techniques of paragliding -- launching, turning, landing --
are fairly easy to learn. The length of the course is designed to compensate
for weather constraints and different learning curves. If after your introductory
flights, you want to continue with paragliding, the next step is to enroll
in a Novice (Para 2) Certification Course which will teach you about micrometeorology,
different launch and flying techniques, safety procedures, etc. You should
try and complete the Novice Course in a concentrated period of time.
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Q. Do I need a license to fly?
A. Paragliders are regulated under the Federal Aviation Regulations Section
103 and therefore a license is not required to paraglide. In essence,
paragliding is a self-regulated sport under the auspices of the United
States Hang Gliding Association (USHGA) To keep it self-regulated, pilots
and instructors alike adhere to the policies and guidelines of the USHGA.
Local flying regulations may require the pilot to have certain USHGA certified
ratings, such as Novice (Para 2) or Intermediate (Para 3) in order to
fly a particular site. When purchasing equipment, a responsible dealer
will always require some proof of certified rating.
Q. How long does it take to learn to fly?
A. You'll be flying solo during your first day of paragliding instruction,
which is one of the advantages of the sport. However, in order to acquire
the basic skills necessary to fly on your own without instructor supervision,
you need to take a Novice (Para 2) Certification Course, which generally
takes a total of 7 to 10 days and a minimum of 25 flights. During such
a course, you will complete the USHGA-mandated amount of ground-school
time, flights, and flying days, and will learn about high altitude flight,
advanced maneuvers and reserve parachute deployment. Whether you complete
your training in consecutive days or spread out over several months is
up to you, although the more concentrated your training, the better.
Q. What should I look for when signing up for a lesson?
A. When selecting a school for paragliding instruction, first make sure
that the instructors are certified by the United States Hang Gliding Association
(USHGA). Things to look for include: What USHGA ratings do the instructors
have? (The highest rating is called Advanced Tandem Instructor.) How many
instructors are at each class, what is the student to instructor ratio?
Are the flights radio supervised? Will the training proceed gradually
up progressively higher hills? Does the school have hills to accommodate
more than one wind direction and thus more flying days? What is the safety
record of the school and of the instructors? How many students has the
school taught, how many of its students receive certification each year?
Does the school operate full-time to fit your schedule? You may call the
United State Hang Gliding Association at 719-632-8300 for the names of
instructors you may want to interview.
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Q. What is motorized paragliding or powered paragliding?
A. With a gas-fueled motor unit attached to the pilot's back by means
of a special harness, it is possible to paraglide in areas where, and
at times when, flying sites or conditions are limited or non-existent.
With thorough training a backpack motor pilot can use the motor to launch
and then spend the rest of the day ridge soaring or thermaling, using
the motor only when necessary to keep from landing. All of the same general
considerations discussed about paragliders apply to motor units.
Since the pilot will be launching and landing with 45 lbs. to 100 lbs.
of additional weight, it is extremely important that the pilot be competent
in evaluating the conditions and have the appropriate skills. There has
been a serious problem at this end of paragliding with the distribution
of inferior equipment by individuals with little or no formal training.
These companies prey on the naive and are a threat to the longevity of
our sport in the United States due to the number of accidents and airspace
and other legal violations. This sport is far more complicated than a
"sports catalogue" will lead you to believe. You should secure
a USHGA Novice license before using a motor unit. The information and
training provided in a Novice course is crucial to your long term success
with a motor.
It is our opinion that you want the most durable and powerful motor you
can purchase. Large fuel tanks are heavy, yet are rarely filled to the
brim due to the added weight. Portability is an important consideration.
Although you will hear otherwise from some motor distributors, you do
not usually need a larger glider than the one you would fly without a
motor. We actually want you a little heavy on your glider. The glider
you would normally fly without a motor should be fine for motorized flying.
Some paragliders are more user friendly than others when combined with
motors. Develop a solid relationship with an instructor experienced in
motorized paragliding before purchasing equipment. "Good deals"
generally end up costing the naive new pilot a great deal of money.
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