Posts Tagged ‘harness’

Paragliding 101

Paragliding is a relatively new form of free flight. The parachute like wing is an easily maneuverable glider launched by a short run down a hillside into the wind. Pulling handles, with lines (risers) attached to the glider controls the flight speed and direction. The wing is a lightweight glider, which is easily carried in a backpack.

Paragliding is a very pure and seductive method of personal flight. Flight speeds are slow & controlled. Industry professionals agree that Paragliders are the easiest aircraft to become airborne in, yet require the greatest amount of judgment and skill to fly safely due to their being held inflated by the air that they fly through.

Paragliding is NOT Parasailing! Parasailing is when one is towed behind a boat under a vented circular parachute canopy. Noe experience is necessary when parasailing. So basically, parasailing is for wusses. Paragliders do not depend on being towed to be able to fly.

Paragliding is NOT Skydiving! Skydiving is when one jumps out of a plane and free fall is the primary goal. The paraglider does look a lot like the canopy skydivers use to slow their descent. The skydiver’s parachute is not designed to stay aloft like a paraglider.

Paragliding is NOT Base Jumping! Base Jumping is like skydiving only from a fixed position like the top of a building. The base jumper’s parachute is not designed to stay aloft like a paraglider.

A Paraglider Pilot takes flight by “inflating” the paraglider canopy over their head and then running down the slope of a hill, into the prevailing breeze, until the canopy lifts them away from the surface of the earth. Sounds easier then it actually is. The wing must be lifted perfectly for flight. And that takes a lot of practice.

A Pilot with advanced experience and knowledge will be able to launch into soaring conditions, where rising parcels of sun heated air can carry one aloft. Sometimes one can rise thousands of feet above the point of launch and allow sustained flights of several hours. Thermals create this lift which you will see birds use when their wings are outstretches and are gliding in the air.

One of the best features paragliding offers is its portability and low weight. The wing or canopy of a paraglider weighs around 15 pounds which attaches to a harness. A harness is a simple sling of webbing and fabric, fitted with buckles and special clips to secure the pilot in the harness and attach itself to the wing. With a lightweight helmet and some other gear, the pilot is ready to fly. The entire system will fit in a corner of the trunk of your car, or onto the backpack that you can take with you on a hike.

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Connecting the Harness to the Paraglider

First step is getting your harness on.

You want to get into your harness before you get into the glider.

That way once you hook in, you are in control.

So you are going to make sure you connect both leg straps.

Each harness is a little different.

Basically you need to connect both your leg straps and your chest strap.

Once you are connected to your harness you never want to partially disconnect from your harness.

Because you may forget to click back in once you are ready for flight.

The next step is going to hooking the harness into the wing.

So what you are going to do is just get a little pressure on the lines holding onto the lines where they connect into the carabineers.

You are going to find your A risers, and make your A risers are on top and go to the leading edge of the wing with no other lines over them.

Then you are going to find your rear risers, and make sure they are going to the trailing end of the wing with no tangles.

You should hold your arms apart and make sure there are no tangles along any of the lines.

You are going to have the risers held parallel and you are going to twist them 180 degrees.

Depending on which way you turn, turn them in that direction 180 degrees. If you turn left, turn the riser 180 degrees to the left.

Then holding them together parallel, you are going to hook them into your carabineers.

Please make sure not to untwist the risers as you are hooking in.

Now that you are hooked in, what should happen is A’s should be on the front away from you ready to fly.

Once you done this a few times, you won’t have to check as many times by turning all the way around.

You can do what is called the half turn.

You just turn half way and make sure that your A’s are away properly that way you do not have to fully turn away from the glider.

Now you are hooked in and ready to grab your brakes.

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