PARAGLIDING
Paragliding provides the means of becoming airborne
using the minimum of equipment.
The
kit is extremely portable, weighs about 18 kg and packs away to the
size of a bergan.
The
flying itself relies upon the paragliding canopy inflating with air;
this is achieved by the pilot pulling the canopy up off the
ground, into the oncoming breeze. The canopy presents an airofoil shape to the wind and with
enough forward speed the canopy will fly. If this manoeuvre is performed
into a breeze blowing perpendicular to the slope on a hill, the dynamic
'upward force' of the air will counteract the effect of gravity. If
the upward force overcomes the effect of gravity on the combined weight
of pilot and canopy, the paraglider will fly horizontally.
Treated with respect, paragliding provides a relatively cheap
and reasonably safe means of entering and enjoying the previously
exclusive domain of the birds.
Paragliding canopies or 'wings', are certificated and categorised into
three types: training
wings – these have few cells, fly slowly and are very predictable
and easy to control; performance
canopies – more cells, faster speed and turn rate but more prone to
collapses and deflations; competition
wings – these fly between 40 and 60 kph, they are quite unstable and
require a large amount of pilot skill and input to control.
Any type of paraglider requires a harness; this hangs below the lines and securely attaches the pilot
to the canopy. The harness
houses a kevlar backplate to prevent puncture injuries, and an air
bag to absorb shock. Most
pilots will also invest in a reserve parachute, to be housed in the
harness, and hopefully never used.
The range of other accessories include: helmet, radio, databack camera, compass, maps, variometer (an
instrument for detecting rising air, altitude etc), flying suit, gloves,
boots … and the list goes on.
