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There is no other aviation sport like paragliding!
We fly like the soaring birds and experience the beauty of the air in a
way no other form of aviation can deliver. Many pilots would
rather fly than do anything else. See if you are one of them....
PARAGLIDING FAQs &
GENERAL INFORMATION
(Note:
If you have signed up for training, please go to our
TIP section for
info particularly important for new pilots.)
There are three basic types of paragliding
-
Non-powered
paragliding (PG)
-
Foot-launched powered paragliding (FL PPG)
-
Trike/Quad-launched powered paragliding (Trike PPG).
FAQ's
-
Type of aircraft: Soaring -- a paraglider wing
has a true airfoil shape and flies just like any other aircraft. It
has little in common with a parachute although it superficially
looks like one. Go
here for
detailed info on how a paraglider works. Go
here to learn more about how paragliders are rated
(it is generally based on their ability to spontaneously
recover from collapses).
-
Total weight of aircraft and common
accessories: 20-55 lbs. For PPG, this can range from 45-220
lbs.
-
Speed in flight: 15-35+ mph
-
Control method: Weight shift, changing the
positions of the glider's trailing edge, and (less often) changing
the position of the leading
edge
-
Maximum altitude: 18,000' (set by FAA
regulations)
-
Cruising Range: Depends on the pilot and
conditions -- can be
a few hundred yards or a 100 miles. On a recent trip to
Florida, local PG pilot Lee Boone went over 65 miles cross country
in lift solely from thermals. For PPG, the range can be 2--5
hours of air time, depending on the amount of fuel carried.
Skilled PPG pilots can fly hundreds of miles by combining power with
thermalling and/or ridge lift.
-
Rate of sink through calm air: 200+ ft/minute
-
Glide Ratio: 1 foot of drop to 6-10 feet of
forward travel
-
Turning radius: Less than 25'. For
trikes/quads, the radius increases to about 150'.
-
Method used to stay in the air for long
periods: Finding air going up (thermals,
ridge lift, and/or
standing waves in the air).
PPG pilots use the power of the paramotor to stay in the air.
They can also find air going up, as well, but this is rare as most
PPG pilots do not like turbulence of any kind.
-
Safety: Statistically similar to motorcycle
riding (safety is largely a factor of pilot's skill and not flying
beyond it). Properly trained pilots who are diligent to
adhere to well established rules for flight preparation, who
thoroughly understand the weather and how it affects safety, and who
avoid extreme or dangerous maneuvers can expect years of safe
flying. Nonetheless, paragliding -- like all forms of sport
aviation -- is inherently dangerous, often forgiving of mistakes,
but not nearly often enough.
-
Most common injury: Ankle sprain.
For PPG, the most common injury is being struck by the propeller
while starting the engine.
-
Reason for injuries: Pilot error 99% of the
time. The most common error is pilots flying in conditions
above their skill level. The second most common error is
pilots flying gliders rated above their skill level. Pilots
who are good kiters of their wing while on the ground are generally
skilled in the air. Unfortunately, many pilots are injured or
worse due to disorientation and/or panic because they were flying in
conditions above their skill level or doing things things they
should not have been doing (e.g., acrobatics or maneuvers near the
ground). Thorough training is the most important factor in
avoiding unnecessary risk in our sport. Most accidents happen at launch.
-
Average cost of a complete setup: $5,000
(without training). A PPG setup costs double this amount or
more.
-
Typical paragliding setup: Go
here. Typical PPG setup, go
here.
-
Training: Go
here.
-
Launching/Landing:
Launching PG may be done from a hill or
mountain site where we (hopefully) find air that is going up faster than
the paraglider sinks through the air. We can also be towed up
from flat ground by means of a long line paid out behind a vehicle
or pulled in by a winch (how we train at El Paso Paragliding).
Go
here for a typical launch sequence of a paraglider by a new
student pilot.
We never "jump off a cliff"! Instead, we lay out our wing in front
of us (our back to where we are flying) and then bring the wing up over
our head. When everything looks good, we turn,
and step away like
here or
here.
Launching PPG is usually done from a flat area in the same manner as any
powered aircraft: Heading is into the wind and then we apply
the throttle. It is a little more complicated than this but not much.
A launch may take from 10' to 100' or more before we are in the
air.
-
Rescue System: Usually an ordinary
round parachute stowed below the seat. For more info on reserve
rescue systems go here.
Most PPG setups do not include a rescue system because most PPG
pilots fly in calm/dead air.
-
Physical Requirements: Paragliding does
not require great strength, endurance, or unusual skill and can be done
by both men and women. This sport is more about sense and feel than
anything else. There is no practical age limit. Pilots have
been as young as 11 (Tirzah Robinson) and up into their 70's (William
Shatner). Anyone considering the sport of paragliding (PG) or foot
launched powered paragliding (PPG) must be able to run
at least 25 yards in 6 seconds or less. If this is not possible, we suggest training for wheeled
powered paragliding or seeking another less extreme sport. There will be
times when running is required, especially when landing. The
inability to run briskly for short periods can result in hard landings
or failed launches. Pilots who are trim and routinely exercise
vigorously will enjoy the sport more. Your vision must be good.
Pilots must continually scan their flying environment in order to
prevent collisions. We have enough trouble with
motion induced
blindness, as it is. If you are over the age of 45, we
recommend that you first see your doctor and get his approval before
participating in this sport. Landings can be hard (like
jumping off the top of a 6' ladder) and you must be able to easily
absorb the shock. Being overweight can cause serious problems
to those who paraglide.
-
Mental
Requirements: This is the toughest aspect to train for
and/or assess in those who wish to engage in foot launched paragliding
whether powered or un-powered. Wheeled powered
paragliding is done in more benign conditions and requires much less
rigorous mental training/stability. Mental stability is more
important than any other skill in paragliding. To be
specific, a paraglider pilot must not ever lose self-control (a.k.a
panic and/or become disoriented). Maintaining mental stability
is essential for engaging in any activity like paragliding where
panic or anything similar can lead to injury or death.
Therefore, we STRONGLY recommend that a prospective pilot first
engage in one of the following and see how he does mentally:
Rock climbing on rope, caving on rope, skydiving, scuba diving,
or cave diving.
Each of these examples requires mental focus and stability under
extreme conditions. Note: If it has been more than ten
years since you have done any of these activities, you need to start
over. Training in paragliding is not the place
to see how you do mentally. You will be alone in the air and
your instructor will not be able to take over the controls! A
tandem skydive from
Sky
Dive El Paso is the best investment you can make to decide if
paragliding will work for you. A tandem paraglide ride is
similar but will cost more and is not as close to a skydive in the
type of mental challenge that is presented while flying a paraglider
solo. If you have any doubts, do NOT paraglide.
This is an extreme aviation sport and is not suitable for most
people. We want you to have a wonderful and safe experience
which requires you to be qualified to train and fly with us.
Had Robinson soaring in Valle de
Bravo, Mexico.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Because it has the slowest speed of any aircraft, a
paraglider can do things no
other can do, including helicopters. This includes soaring small mesas,
maars,
sand dunes, landing almost anywhere, and flying within a few yards of mountainous sites shared
only with the soaring birds – our frequent companions in the
air. Trike/quad PPG has more limited options for launching and
landing.
Pilots who learn PG first will always be better PPG pilots as they have
a more intimate knowledge of the glider and the air in which we fly.
Flying in thermals is normal for PG so the PG trained PPG pilot has much
more confidence and skill to fly in many different conditions. The
most important requirement is that a pilot complete his
training and maintain focus on the sport -- something very necessary for
long term flying safety.
PPG pilots can climb out and go anywhere, no matter whether the air is
going up or not. One of the special features of PPG is that a
pilot can go for miles just a few feet off the ground -- it is the magic
of slow flight close to the earth and the content of many dreams.
The wing is controlled almost the same
way as other aircraft -- we pull on various lines that are connected to
the wing and can make it do the same things as an ordinary airplane wing.
Slowly moving through the air allows us to get closer to the landscape
than any other aircraft. Non-powered paragliding is unequaled to
other types of flying as it is so peaceful.
PG is the least expensive overall but requires the most skill.
It has the highest return on a pilot's investment in training and is the most like being a
soaring bird. It requires no fossil fuel to launch and fly for
hours at a time. Ridge and thermal soaring is the domain
of the PG pilot where the pilot effectively uses his knowledge of
meteorology, topography, aerodynamics, and experience. When in the air, only
a modest rush of the wind is heard. PG and hang gliding pilots
connect with the air in a way no other aircraft can.
A pilot ridge soaring at Kilbourne Hole Maar
(left) and kiting at NMSU, Las Cruces, NM (right).
We
can gain thousands of feet in altitude in the smallest of thermals
because we can do complete turns in less than 30 yards. Our slow
speed minimizes wind noise so we can hear sounds on the ground and in
the air -- we are a peaceful and quiet aircraft. Also, we are not encumbered by cockpits and glass so it’s a 360
degree view in all directions.
FL PPG is not as nimble and agile as PG but has the advantage of
launching from the flatlands, in no-wind conditions, and flying at times
of the day when conditions are completely calm. A significant
disadvantage is that the pilot has to carry 45 - 70 lbs. of machinery
on his back. It is an ideal form of paragliding in coastal regions
or near large bodies of water where on-shore winds are gentle and reliable much
of the time and the soft sand of a beach is the landing zone. In
desert climates (and at high altitudes as here in El Paso, Texas) launching is generally
pretty easy but landing can require a fast (but quick) run if the wind dies. Only the physically fit should consider
FL PPG. All of your
joints and back should be in tip-top condition. Below is a photo
of a typical FL PPG -- the Miniplane. It only weighs about 44 lbs.
Trike PPG is the answer for powered flight without stress on
your joints or back. This form of PPG is the easiest to learn. Although it costs more than the other forms of
paragliding, it combines the advantages of all of them.
Experienced pilots can fly much of the same geography as PG or FL PG.
A disadvantage is that it requires greater time to make turns and inputs to the wing are not as fast. Ridge and thermal soaring
should not be done. Landing
mishaps are rarely more than a bent bolt in the wheel axle or a broken
prop. Touch
and go flying is an easy task with the Trike PPG. Trike PPG pilots
should always be close to a runway of some kind. It is not the
right kind of aircraft to venture out to unknown places as it can only
land or take-off where the ground is flat, smooth, and level.
Let us know how we can help you learn how to fly!
Call (915) 726-2698 to arrange for training or purchase equipment.
Best Wishes,
Had Robinson
Certified USHPA advanced and tandem instructor #84424
Certified USPPA instructor #1672
USHPA Gold Safe Pilot Award 2009
(Photo above and at the top of this
page by Doak Hoover)
Lee Boone getting ready to land at the sod farm after a towed launch.
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