Advanced FAQ's......

1.   What is possible with paragliding or is it just like Parasailing - goes up and comes down?
2.   How do you control a Paraglider?
3.   How can you fly without a motor?
4.   How long can you stay up?
5.   How much does a Paraglider cost?
6.   Can you put a motor on a Paraglider ?
7.   What kind of testing or certification is done on Paragliders ?
8.   Can you build your own Paraglider ?
9.   Is lots of wind necessary to launch/fly/land Paragliders ?
10. How do paragliders gain altitude ?
11. How do you tow a Paraglider?
12. How does one connect the pilot to the tow line or rope ?
13. What are the tow lines made of?
14. What are the conditions in which Paragliders fly?

1.   What is possible with paragliding or is it just like Parasailing - goes up and comes down?

1.Well the current Paragliding records are Longest distance flown -- 335 km 
Max height gain 4526 meters
Max duration 11 HOURS 34 MINUTES 
Highest take off point - Mt. Everest - year 1988
Trans Himalayan flights have already been achieved 
Sky is the limit.
Space - the final frontier is still left . who knows !!! ?

2.   How do you control a Paraglider?

2.Paragliders are controlled by a two toggles pulling on the left makes you turn left and the right one makes you turn right, Pulling on both brakes makes you slow down.

3.   How can you fly without a motor?

3.After take off from either a mountain or by help of a winch in the flatlands you are gliding down and not in a parachutal fall . As you glide down you also glide forward , which creates lift on yours wing and helps you to fly without a motor. And to sustain lthese flights you use natural meteorological phenomena's called thermals , ridge lift , Waves etc.

4.It depends on your skill and on the weather conditions on that day. On a good flying day skilled pilot can stay up for as long as he wants . On some days, even the best pilots will only manage a flight of a few minutes duration.

5.Brand new good quality certified paragliders range in price from $2500 to about $4500. If planning to buy one you one should go in for a newer model as the testing keeps improving and becoming stricter which means more SAFETY for you. 
Used Paragliders can cost much cheaper but then one should be careful of the condition , porosity , amount of usage , the certification of the Paraglider signifying whether it is for your level or not . Also it should have a manual telling you about the line lengths etc - should you require to change or check them. It is recommended that you have it checked by a professional .

6.Yes . the sport is called PARAMOTORING. But you still have to have a very good command over paragliding. With a motor on your back you get the freedom of taking off in flat lands ,the parameter requires ordinary petrol.

7.There are various organization and various tests which are performed. The federations check to see the Flight characteristic , the structural stability , strength , overall performance , safety and anything else that can go wrong in flight . there are test pilots who perform this and is recorded by camera . After a specific model goes through a series of test then it gets the label for beginner / intermediate or advanced pilots as the case may be .
What all theses tests really mean that you are flying very safe paragliders - provided you fly the Paraglider of your level and conditions meant for you.
In Europe there is the SHV ( Swiss Federation ) , DHV ( German Federation ) , ACPUL /AFNOR (association of manufacturers ) and the latest one coming up is the CEN which hopes to be a single point reference .

8.Theoretically yes , but it would be too expensive - not recommended at all Paraglider designs are also very complex and sophisticated, and also require a very high degree of precision to manufacture in order to be airworthy.
Infact all aerodynamic considerations for an airplane also to some level hold good for the Paraglider.

9.Paragliders can be launched, flown and landed in winds from zero
to about 30km/h. an experienced pilot can fly in stronger winds but it is not fun anymore. Wind speed is less important in flight since the pilot controls the air speed of the glider whatever the wind speed may be.

10.Paragliders makes use of vertical warm air currents going up - called thermals. If a pilot negotiates them correctly he can go high like birds . Another phenomena is the ridge lift , which is created when
horizontal wind hits an obstruction (like a ridge, ) and is deflected upward. This upward deflection creates a "lift band" pilots get up by flying back and forth through this band you can fly for hours in it.

11.There are a number of ways, they include using a STATIC LINE, a PAYOUT WINCH, a STATIONARY WINCH ,and a SCOOTER WINCH ?

In STATIC LINE TOWING a fixed line length is used, attached to a vehicle using a tension gauge, and the driver controls the auto's speed to maintain a specified tension in the tow-line .The driver and pilot communicate by radio . Usually not used now a days.
PAYOUT WINCH - A tow begins with the Paraglider behind the vehicle attached with a special rope . The driver drives forward inorder to reach a suitable speed and then a winch man starts the winch paying out as the Paraglider takes off. 
STATIONARY WINCH Stationary winch towing involves a static winch which is mounted on a frame which pulls in the rope aiding the Paraglider up. 

SCOOTER WINCH A small motorscooter with a centrifugal clutch and variable speed belt drive is used as a stationary winch usually with the rear wheel replaced by a small winch drum has limited applications

12.By a special device called the release. Which is connected in front of the pilot so that he can operate it easily. He disconnect himself from the rope by this release when he has enough altitude.

13.Most tow lines are steel cable but some clubs can afford Kevlar.

14.Paragliding is a fair weather sport , obviously you don't fly in rain and the flight time is usually from sunrise to sunset . 

       Back