Paragliding - When I first looked into learning about paragliding I didn’t really know or understand what paragliding was. I started looking in books and articles at how to start but couldn't find much information for beginners. Like anything new you need to start at the beginning. The training courses available are very comprehensive but it took me ages to find the right information, so I decided to put this site together for all paragliders to develop and help other wannabe paragliders

Feel free as a bird when you're Paragliding, what an exciting and exhilarating experience, which can be had by all, what a sport! Just carry your back pack up a hill and unroll. Put your pilots harness on and step off into the wind. The good thing about paragliding is the ability to launch from any high location. It’s amazing how quickly you get airborne sometimes hovering above a ridge for ages, an unforgettable experience very different to any other sport.

How Paragliding Started

It all stemmed from the original parachute and control for the lateral glide. Around the mid 50's a prediction was made that a pilot would soon be able to launch themselves off a mountain and glide down the valley.

It was NASA who developed the Sail Wing for recovery of their space capsules which went on to originate the term paragliders, the foot launching parachute and made the start of Para gliding which was in the 70's. Today, technology has developed fast, allowing pilots to glide for hours in the right situations. In 1989 in Austria, the first World paragliding championships took place.

What Equipment Is Used For Paragliders

The structure of a paraglide - if we start with the canopy. A wing consisting of two layers of fabric connected internally in such a way as to form a row of cells and it is open at the leading edge for incoming air, which keeps the wing inflated. Today some high performance wings are closed for aerodynamic reasons which give better performance. When this style is used, the internal air pressure keeps the wing inflated.

Underneath the wing you have lots of support lines that connect to the pilot's support harness by two carabiners and attach to the paragliding harness. Also under the wing is a speed bar braking system, which the pilot holds in both hands to control, the speed and steer the paraglide. The speed bar is connected to the trailing edge of the left and right sides of the wing.

Other Instruments Used For Paragliding

Vario-altimeter, this instrument helps indicate the difference in rising or sinking air to the pilot by way of audio, to stay in the core thermal. The advancement of the Variometer has now been integrated into GPS, which records your flight.

All pilots use a radio FM VHF for communication, the microphone being in the helmet

Learn To Paraglide

The best way to learn about paragliding is to visit a Paragliding School to be trained by fully trained instructors; they will put you through regimented procedures to do safe flying. Training includes wind conditions, equipment, launching techniques, flying air streams and more. Everyone is different, so it depends on your individual progress on how long it will take. There are many books worth reading and if you are a newbie, I do recommend you read them first so you have some idea about paragliding before you go for training.

Check out the paraglider-shop.co.uk for all the latest updates, equipment and bargains.

It’s good to talk, if you have any stories, information, photos or places to paraglide from we need to hear from you…Just put your information below.