Paragliding
Among extreme sports paragliding is more and more popular among people who love adventure of this air sport.
It is all about free flying - it is about paragliding.
Paragliding is free flying, with the simple aircraft alike parachute.
Paragliding is an air sport. First steps made in early 80`s, by mountaineers and climbers who were looking for the most efficent and safe way of descent from the mountain top they have conquer. They used old parachute with possibility to steer, today replaced by new aerodinamicly designed paragliders.
By mid 80`s people understood there is one whole new chalenge, how to prolongue distance and duration of the flights, and to find zones of hot air rising up, like the pilots of hang-glider.
With this chalenge many attempts to improve performance of paraglider using non-porous materials, increasing wing span and modifying shape and air foil.
As each new design had been tested, unexpectable changes in flight characteristic often issued a new demand toward pilot capability, knowledge and flying technics. Good ideas produced in series to fullfill growing needs of paragliding pilot population.
Sport was well established in Europe by 1986. when first small competitions took place.
In 1986, French Mountaineers started taking square parachutes up during their ascents to glide down to the valley floor to maximize their ascents of different mountains. The term Parapente was coined which translates to Paraglide .
First paraglider produced by Ailes de K in Switzerland had started to make PGs in 1984 just a few, then a full blown commercial production in 1985.
The founder Laurent de Kalbermatten, will be considered the "father" of paragliding,
Since 1986, many modern safety enhancements have been incorporated to maximize flying safety and comfort, like reserve parachutes, back protectors, comfortable harnesses, helmets and most importantly structured training courses by qualified instructors.
Using modern equipment a Pilot can be assured of flights of over an hour duration using the thermal currents in the summer, and ridge lift in the winter. Today world record in distance is 423km (Will Gade - USA), time in the air over 11 hours, and height over 5000m ASL (above see level).
What is a Paraglider?
A paraglider is a foot-launched, ram-air, airfoil canopy, flown and landed with no other energy than the wind, gravity, and the pilot's muscle power. It gets lift from the wind and sun, providing a way to soar along a ridge or to rise in the warm air of invisible, thermal currents.
Is a Paraglider the same thing as a parachute?
No, a paraglider is similar to a modern, steerable skydiving canopy, but different in several important ways. The paraglider is foot-launched from the ground either by running down a hill or being towed into the air. The construction is generally much lighter, as it doesn't have it withstand the sudden shock of opening at high velocities.
What is the difference between a Hang Glider and a Paraglider?
The hang glider has a rigid frame maintaining the shape of the wing, with the pilot usually flying in a prone position. The paraglider canopy shape is maintained only by air pressure and the pilot is suspended in a sitting or supine position. The hang glider has a "cleaner" aerodynamic profile and generally is capable of flying at much higher speeds than a paraglider.
Why would anyone want to fly a Paraglider instead of a Hang Glider?
The paraglider is more portable and suitable for back packing to launch sites. It folds down into a large pack but weighing as little as 15kg, complete. Conversely, a hang glider needs a vehicle with a roof rack for transportation to and from the flying site, as well as 30 minutes to set-up and strip-down. Paragliders are ready to fly in 5 minutes. It's also somewhat easier to learn to fly a paraglider.
Paragliders are flown by pilots from 16 to 75 years of age. Hiking to launch is good exercise but many sites can be driven to.
Is Paragliding safe?
Paragliding is as safe or as dangerous as the pilot makes it. Good equipment, proper training, and most importantly mature judgment make the sport safe.
Accidents can happen though; this is an adventure sport after all.
We admit that it takes time and it is expensive, but the "joy" you can not describe..
Among extreme sports paragliding is more and more popular among people who love adventure of this air sport.
It is all about free flying - it is about paragliding.
Paragliding is free flying, with the simple aircraft alike parachute.
Paragliding is an air sport. First steps made in early 80`s, by mountaineers and climbers who were looking for the most efficent and safe way of descent from the mountain top they have conquer. They used old parachute with possibility to steer, today replaced by new aerodinamicly designed paragliders.
By mid 80`s people understood there is one whole new chalenge, how to prolongue distance and duration of the flights, and to find zones of hot air rising up, like the pilots of hang-glider.
With this chalenge many attempts to improve performance of paraglider using non-porous materials, increasing wing span and modifying shape and air foil.
As each new design had been tested, unexpectable changes in flight characteristic often issued a new demand toward pilot capability, knowledge and flying technics. Good ideas produced in series to fullfill growing needs of paragliding pilot population.
Sport was well established in Europe by 1986. when first small competitions took place.
In 1986, French Mountaineers started taking square parachutes up during their ascents to glide down to the valley floor to maximize their ascents of different mountains. The term Parapente was coined which translates to Paraglide .
First paraglider produced by Ailes de K in Switzerland had started to make PGs in 1984 just a few, then a full blown commercial production in 1985.
The founder Laurent de Kalbermatten, will be considered the "father" of paragliding,
Since 1986, many modern safety enhancements have been incorporated to maximize flying safety and comfort, like reserve parachutes, back protectors, comfortable harnesses, helmets and most importantly structured training courses by qualified instructors.
Using modern equipment a Pilot can be assured of flights of over an hour duration using the thermal currents in the summer, and ridge lift in the winter. Today world record in distance is 423km (Will Gade - USA), time in the air over 11 hours, and height over 5000m ASL (above see level).
What is a Paraglider?
A paraglider is a foot-launched, ram-air, airfoil canopy, flown and landed with no other energy than the wind, gravity, and the pilot's muscle power. It gets lift from the wind and sun, providing a way to soar along a ridge or to rise in the warm air of invisible, thermal currents.
Is a Paraglider the same thing as a parachute?
No, a paraglider is similar to a modern, steerable skydiving canopy, but different in several important ways. The paraglider is foot-launched from the ground either by running down a hill or being towed into the air. The construction is generally much lighter, as it doesn't have it withstand the sudden shock of opening at high velocities.
What is the difference between a Hang Glider and a Paraglider?
The hang glider has a rigid frame maintaining the shape of the wing, with the pilot usually flying in a prone position. The paraglider canopy shape is maintained only by air pressure and the pilot is suspended in a sitting or supine position. The hang glider has a "cleaner" aerodynamic profile and generally is capable of flying at much higher speeds than a paraglider.
Why would anyone want to fly a Paraglider instead of a Hang Glider?
The paraglider is more portable and suitable for back packing to launch sites. It folds down into a large pack but weighing as little as 15kg, complete. Conversely, a hang glider needs a vehicle with a roof rack for transportation to and from the flying site, as well as 30 minutes to set-up and strip-down. Paragliders are ready to fly in 5 minutes. It's also somewhat easier to learn to fly a paraglider.
Paragliders are flown by pilots from 16 to 75 years of age. Hiking to launch is good exercise but many sites can be driven to.
Is Paragliding safe?
Paragliding is as safe or as dangerous as the pilot makes it. Good equipment, proper training, and most importantly mature judgment make the sport safe.
Accidents can happen though; this is an adventure sport after all.
We admit that it takes time and it is expensive, but the "joy" you can not describe..
