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Paragliders / powered paragliders (sometimes known as paramotors) are some of the most popular foot-launched aircrafts. Below are answers to frequently asked questions... paragliding FAQs. Contact us if you have any other questions.
Q. What is paragliding, 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. Paragliding, same as parasailing or parachuting?
A. Parasailing is what you do at a beach or offshore, in a modified parachute tied to a boat, not so popular in California. 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; if the glider isn't flying properly, the launch can be aborted before leaving the ground.
Q. Paragliding = Hanggliding?
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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 quite 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 Santa Monica mountains, Alps, Andes... A hangglider can be launched from smaller spaces, i.e. narrow openings in a treed ridge line. 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 due to their tighter turning radius and improved speed.
Q. What can be done with a paraglider?
A. Paragliders are designed to soar. The duration record is over 11 hours and the distance record is 200 miles. 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 many hours, soar to altitudes of up to 18,000' and travel cross-country for great distances.
Q. Paragliding safety considerations
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. The primary safety factors are personal judgment and attitude. You can fly safely for many years with the right attitude.
Q. Is paragliding for you?
A. Maybe! Paragliding is about finesse and serenity, not so much strength and brute force. As in rock climbing, women often do much better than men because they don't try to muscle it. 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.
Q. Paraglider / powered paraglider costs?
A. A new paraglider, harness and reserve will cost somewhere between $3,500 and $5,000 and a new powered paraglider costs around $7,500. Most pilots who get into the sport also purchase FM or HAM radio and a variometer / altimeter. Good used equipment is often available (See our second hand page). In addition, because the sport is evolving rapidly, newer paragliders can have significantly better performance and behavior than older ones.
Q. What paraglider should I buy?
A. A good instructor will be your best resource to select your first wing. If he or she sounds like a used car salesman, get a second opinion, your health is at stake. Ask who is the designer and how to find more information about it. The sport has seen many low cost copies that last half as long as the original and show premature sign of stalls and spins. A European made DHV-1 paraglider is the best way to go if you are free to fly 3 or 4 times a month.
Q. Getting 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. If after your introductory flights, you want to continue with paragliding, the next step is to enroll in a Novice (P2) Certification Course which will teach you the necessary skills to pass the exam and fly happily & safely for years.
Q. Do I need a license to fly a paraglider / powered paraglider?
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A.Paragliders are regulated under the Federal Aviation Regulations Section 103 (FAR.103) and therefore a license is not required to paraglide or to paramotor. They are both self-regulated sports. Local flying clubs have specific rules to follow to insure the survival and the acceptance of our great sports in the communities.
Q. How long will it take me to learn how 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 (P2) Certification Course , which generally takes a total of 7 to 10 days and 25 flights. You can complete your training in consecutive days or spread out over several months... it is up to you, although the more concentrated your training, the better.
