Do you ever fantasize of soaring like a seagull or a hawk, making languid loops in the sky? You’re not alone if you feel this way. Flying is a popular dream, and according to dream interpretation, it’s a sign of good things to come. It indicates that you are in command of a situation and that you have a feeling of power and freedom.
But you don’t have to limit yourself to your aspirations if you want to soar. It’s something you can do when you’re awake. This isn’t about taking an aircraft or a hot air balloon ride. It’s paragliding, which is non-motorized, foot-launched flight using an inflatable wing. Enthusiasts refer to it as the most basic form of human flight. Paragliders may use air currents and their own body weight to propel their paragliding sails to heights of 23,000 feet (7,000 meters). The view is spectacular, and paragliders find the isolation to be quite relaxing.
Paragliding is comparable to hang gliding in principle. However, there are a few key distinctions. An aluminum frame with a V-shaped wing is characteristic of hang gliders. The wing of a paraglider is an elliptical-shaped parachute that can be folded up to the size of a backpack when not in use. Paragliders are lighter and easier to carry than hang gliders because of these attributes.
Paragliders also take off and land more gently than hang gliders, making them simpler to learn to fly. You may believe that paragliding is similar to parachuting. However, there is one significant distinction. Pilots that use paragliding start on the ground with their parachutes already deployed, and the wind lifts them into the air. As they approach the earth, parachuters drop from the sky and release their parachute.
The Paraglider’s Parts
A Paraglider’s Major Components Are:
- A wing (also called the canopy or sail)
- Risers and lines
- Harness
- A speedometer
- A parachute in reserve
- Helmet
A paraglider is essentially an inflated wing. It looks like a parachute, except it’s elliptical instead of circular. Rip-stop nylon, a tear-resistant and durable synthetic fabric, is often used for wings. It’s made up of two layers of fabric sewed together with a space in the middle. The gap is supported by vertical fabric ribs, with cells in between each rib. Hundreds of cells work together to capture air and inflate the canopy, allowing for gliding. A leading edge on the wing permits air to enter the cells. Most wings are useful for around 300 hours of paragliding (about four years) before they stretch or deteriorate, according to experts.
The rigging cords linked to various sections of the underside of the wing are known as lines. Lines are commonly arranged in four or five rows. The brakes, or control lines, are joined to the wing’s trailing edge by the final row of lines. These cords all flow down and are gathered on both sides of the pilot in a clump. The pilot is suspended below the canopy by risers, which are clumps of bundled lines. The lines may be used to steer the glider by the pilot. Manipulation of the lines affects the glider’s direction or speed as it flies. Synthetic materials such as Kevlar (aramid) and Dyneema are used to make lines (polyethylene). These materials will not stretch or contract, making the glider unstable. Because of its strength and longevity, nylon is a common option for risers.
Risers connect to carabiners, which secure the pilot’s harness. The soft chair that suspends the pilot below the wing is known as a paragliding harness. Multiple straps keep the pilot secure in the harness while also providing lumbar support.
A speed bar, which is a foot control, is preferred by certain pilots. It attaches to the harness and uses pulleys to connect to the canopy. A pilot may raise the speed of his paraglider by adjusting the angle of the wing by pressing on the speed bar with his foot.
The reserve parachute is used in the rare (but not impossible) case that the wing starts to deflate irreversibly. The reserve is attached to the harness in such a way that it cannot be accidentally deployed. Reserve parachutes are built specifically to open fast.
A pilot, of course, never takes to the air without wearing a helmet.
Taking Off With The Paraglider
To successfully fly a paraglider, you must understand not just the equipment, but also how the wind operates. But first, make sure all of your safety equipment is in working order. Are you securely fastened to your harness? Is your helmet securely fastened on your head? Are you adequately tied to your canopy and is it correctly planned out?
You can’t start flying until you’ve figured out how to get off the ground, of course. This is referred to as the launch. Run or walk ahead with your back to the wind. Pull on the wing, and it will begin to fill up with air. The wing will soon convert from a piece of cloth dragging on the ground behind you to an inflatable canopy soaring over your head. Kiting is the phrase for inflating the wing while on the ground.
The wing is above you at this time, catching some wind. To keep control of the wing, use the brakes and do an overhead check to verify that the wing is completely inflated and that no lines are tangled. It’s now time for the last stage. To get up to flying speed, run down your assigned slope. A quick walking speed is sometimes all that’s required here. Your wing lifts softly, gently picking you up with it. Your feet are no longer touching the earth when you glance down. You’ve taken off!
But what’s next? What will you do to remain in the air? A paraglider, like a hang glider, uses airflow to produce lift. The air flows over the glider’s top and bottom and meets at the edge. According to aerodynamics, the pressure on the bottom of the glider will be greater than on the top. This results in a lift upwards.
One of the most appealing aspects of paragliding is the ability to remain aloft for hours at a time and go for kilometers under the appropriate circumstances. Paragliders search for rising air to capture a current that will keep them afloat for as long as feasible. Rising air may be divided into three categories:
Thermals are hot air columns rising from the earth. The air near the ground expands and rises as the sun warms it. Thermal columns may be found in sites like asphalt parking lots or dark rocky terrain, according to paragliding pilots. Thermal activity is probable if you see huge birds flying about in the sky without flapping their wings. A pilot may circle inside a thermal column until he or she reaches the required height.
When the wind blows against mountains or hills, ridge lift occurs. When the wind strikes the mountain, it rises upward, creating a lift band along the slope. Ridge lift may endure for kilometers, even if it doesn’t rise much higher than the peak or ridge that caused it. For example, ridge lift can last for miles along a mountain range.
Ridge lift is similar to wave lift. When the wind blows against a mountain, this happens as well. Wave lift, on the other hand, occurs on the mountain’s downwind side and may reach heights well beyond the top. Using wave lift, a glider may reach heights of more than 35,000 feet or 10,668 meters (using oxygen). Because it is often created by very powerful winds in the high atmosphere, it may be a particularly hazardous kind of lift.
The Paraglider’s Control
It’s really fairly easy to control a paraglider. The controls you’re holding are connected to the wing’s trailing edge. The wing will change form and behavior depending on how you use the controls. The glider will fly slower if you pull on the controls. It flies quicker when you let go of the pressure.
Pull on the right control and release pressure on the left to turn to the right, for example. The right side of the wing will fly slower, while the left will fly quicker. You’ll be turning right before you realize it. It’s all a question of elegance and practice, of course. When you yank on the controls, the wing might perform erratically.
You may also assist maneuver the glider by shifting your weight. The wing’s form will alter somewhat if you shift your weight to one side or the other. When you’re utilizing both hand control lines and need to add an additional layer of control, weight-shifting comes in handy.
You definitely want to fly higher now that you’re airborne and moving about. Here are a few ways to consider:
When pilots rise through a thermal column, they call it coring. You whirl in circles inside a thermal column after you’ve found it and entered it (around its core). You may continue floating and gliding until you encounter another thermal column after getting to the top of one.
Another method for flying along the crest of a mountain or big hill is ridge soaring. The updraft caused by the mountain will keep you in the air, as we discussed on the preceding page. Ridge soaring, on the other hand, may be perilous if the wind conditions aren’t quite perfect. Always transfer your weight away from a ridge if you’re flying near to one. In the case of a wing collapse, your glider will also travel away from the ridge, rather than colliding with it.
If your wing starts to deflate due to turbulent air or a mistake on your part, you should know that it will normally self-reinflate. In the unlikely event that it does not, you may use the emergency parachute to safely land. When you’re up high and have a chance to fully open your emergency parachute, it’s best. If wing deflation occurs near to the ground, such as immediately after takeoff or before landing, the parachute may not open rapidly enough, resulting in significant damage.
Reduce the odds of an accident by getting sufficient training before trying to paraglide. Make sure you’re using a safe glider, that you’re aware of the wind conditions, and that you’re flying in an area that’s appropriate for your level of expertise and comfort.