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What is
paragliding?
Paragliding is the most fun you can have with two feet in the air.
Unlike a parachute, which simply slows one's descent, a paraglider is a
proper airfoil. It works on the same physical principle as an airplane
wing and glides. That means one can control precisely the flight path and
use upward moving currents of air (thermals or ridge lift) to fly for
hours and even go cross-country. The world distance record on a paraglider
is over 400 kilometers. 
What equipment is
needed?
"Free flight" means just that, being as free as a bird. There are no
motors, no heavy equipment, no need for large tracts of land or airports,
and no regulations except to stay out of controlled airspace. All that one
requires is a wing made of two layers of rip-stop nylon, a harness, which
includes a back protector and reserve parachute, and a helmet. The entire
package weighs approximately fifteen kilograms and easily fits in a back
pack so you can combine hiking and flying.
How do I get
started?
The best
way to get started is to come out and join us at the training hill and see
what paragliding is all about. You will see first hand how incredibly easy
it is to learn (perhaps the easiest of all forms of aviation). On the
training hill you will spend some time "ground handling" and kiting the
glider to get a feel for how to launch the wing. In just a few hours you
will be able to get your first mini-flight off of the training hill. After
a number of successful flights from the training hill you will get a
chance to go for your first solo high flight. There you will be assisted
by two instructors who will be in constant radio contact with you. One
will help you launch and the other will be in the landing zone to help you
land. After 30 solo high flights and the successful passing of a written
exam (with unlimited attempts) you will obtain your novice certification
which will enable you to fly on your own.
Alternatively, you can try a tandem flight with an instructor to
see if you this is the sport for you. You only need to bring some warm
cloths, long pants, glasses and a good pair of boots. Your instructor will
provide everything else including helmet and harness. It takes only
minutes to get airborne and you could be thermaling and soaring right
away.
Is paragliding
safe? Paragliding is as safe as you make it. It is
critical to get proper training from a reputable instructor and fly with
properly certified equipment. Your instructor will help you pick out the
equipment that suits your weight and skill level. It is also important to
progress in a step wise fashion and always fly within your limitations.
That means initially you should fly in the mornings and late afternoons
when thermal activity is limited, or at novice sites. As your skills
develop, your window of opportunity to fly will widen to include the times
of the day or at sites where thermal activity is stronger and you can stay
up and soar for hours.
How is
paragliding different from hang gliding or
parasailing?
Paragliding is quite different from both hang gliding and
parasailing in several important ways.
First of
all, parasailing is when you are hooked to a parachute-like canopy and
attached to a motorboat by a rope. You have absolutely no control and are
limited in both the height and the direction you can go by the operator of
the boat. It is like being attached to the end of a kite and the operator
of the boat is pulling you. In paragliding, you - the pilot - are in
control and by using natural air currents (both ridge lift and thermals)
can decide how high and how far you want to go.
Paragliding is also different from hang gliding in a number of
ways. Although we share many of the same sites as hang gliders and often
belong to the same club and use many of the same principals of thermaling
and soaring, paragliders are an inflatable airfoil (where the act
of flying actually inflates the wing) and hang gliders are a
rigid airfoil. That means paragliders collapse into a much
smaller package and are much easier to transport and much quicker to set
up and take down. Paragliders are also much easier to learn to fly and can
land in smaller fields. On the other hand, hang gliders fly faster and
farther, but like sail planes need a larger area to land in.
If you require any other answers, please don't hesitate to e-mail
us at the link below. | 
