Paragliding Crash Landings - Perfect Piloting Under Pressure

The perfect landing goes something like this - a wide, grassy field with a gentle breeze tugging the windsock towards you, you flare at the perfect height, and land on the spot, smiling at the cute BBC reporter. The advanced pilots make it look so easy, touching down gently, exactly where they want to, not a blade of grass bent. But what happens when it all goes horribly wrong, and you are in the pilot's seat? When the field isn't there, you're being hammered by turbulence behind the trees, and your glider has just decided to quit flying? How can you land safely?

1. Checking out the lay of the land

It's a pretty basic idea, I'll admit, but often it is neglected in the excitement of finally finding a flyable hill. Always visit your landing field before flying. By placing a windsock in the field you can reduce the elements which can go wrong - at least you will know the wind direction. On warm, thermic days the wind is especially variable. I have ploughed a good section of field with my nose when the wind switched in thermic conditions during my final approach. A windsock would have spared the field some injury.

2. Always have a little bit on the side

If the Sink Monster (that big column of descending air) decides to send you to the earth in a hurry, do you have a Plan B? No matter how desperate, an emergency landing area (within very easy glide) tucked into your flight plan is a must. Evaluate your approach to both fields (primary and emergency) while you are flying, so when the turbulence hits you you have got one less thing to think about.

3. Small field, big ears

To land in the little grass field in the middle of the forest of tall pine trees, a variation of the normal landing setup may be needed. The challenge is that your normal glide angle is too shallow - even approaching the field from the downwind edge with your feet clipping the tree-tops, you are going to overshoot the field and fly into the forest on the far side. Tucking your wingtips in (big-ears) will steepen your glide angle. Tuck them before your final approach, maybe one hundred feet above the trees. Use weight shift to steer the glider into your normal landing pattern, S-ing off your height on the downwind side of the field, and coming in on a final glide. You may want to do a final S-turn below the height of the trees if they are very high, to lose as much height as possible.

4. Shear flying terror

Because the field is surrounded by trees, there will be a shear layer (interface between two wind-systems) which your glider will pass through. Turbulence may try to collapse your wing, although with big-ears in, you are unlikely to have further collapses due to the high internal cell-pressure. What you do have to be careful of is a stall, because of the high angle of attack. Be ready to tramp on your speedbar if you can't feel any wind in your face (you've stopped moving forwards). It is important not to pull the brakes too much as you pass through the shear into the wind shadow below. The glider has to increase its airspeed to maintain aerodynamic function. Allow the glider to dive if you have enough height to do so. Once the glider has levelled out, you will glide a long way because you are sheltered from the wind. This often means gliding off the field and into the trees, so keep the big-ears on and only flare them out on the final landing flare, one metre above the ground. It is better to have a hard landing (softened with a Parachute Landing Fall), than to overshoot the field and fly into the trunk of the trees. Besides, they'll call you 'Woody Woodpecker' forever. Unbearable.

5. Butterflies land softly

The first time I really needed the Butterfly Landing Technique was in Italy. Flying around Lake Como, you're often crossing large areas of houses with limited landing areas. We had just sunk out on a task on a tandem glider, and were forced to fly down a little street, turn left at the end, and put down in a small, small field. Everything looked good until the last second, when I spotted telephone lines circling the field. There was hardly any wind, and even with big ears tucked we were going to dangle from the 'phone line. So I butterfly-ed the glider in. Pull the brakes slowly to 3/4 on both sides, then release quickly, then re-apply the brakes to 3/4 continuing in a rhythmical, flapping motion. The 'flaps' are about two seconds apart. You can cause an almost vertical descent. The danger is that if you hold the deep brake for too long, you can stall the wing. You are close to the ground. So here's a tip you can use for every crash landing - assume the Parachute Landing Fall position before you even get close to the ground. Legs together and pointing down, knees slightly bent, legs turned 45degrees off the direction of motion. Landing gear is down - one less thing to worry about.

6. Timber!

When you realise that you are going to land in a tree do not panic. Remember to close your legs! Aim for the densest part of the tree. Flare (pull brakes) about 2 metres before the tree and simply stand into it. Be careful not to flare too early, as you will fall through the weak outer branches - you want to get to the centre part of the tree, where your chances of injury will then be greatly reduced. Secure yourself to the tree as soon as possible, remembering to get the glider under control, as it can re-inflate in the wind and pull you from the branches. If you're flying around lots of trees, essential equipment is a long, thin piece of cord (to haul up a rescue rope) and a wire-saw to cut your glider out of obstinate branches.

7. Water water everywhere

Firstly - stay away from water. It is safer to land on rocks rather than in shallow surf. However, if a water landing is inevitable, undo your legstraps (if you have the time). Land as normal with a big flare to ensure the glider and all its lines do not envelope you. Once the legstraps of your harness are undone, you can slip out of the bottom of your harness and swim down and clear of the lines and glider. If there is a high risk of water landings at the site you choose to fly, always carry a hook-knife on your harness so that you can cut yourself out of a tangle in the water.

8. Nasty surprises

The danger with weird obstacles is often that pilots change their landing technique and land with a tight turn near the ground, or with a big pendulum as they brake to avoid something which looks unfriendly. If you have to land in a bad area like a junkyard, treat it just as you would a normal landing. Pick a clear spot, or the object which you are going to hit, set up with a normal approach, come in cleanly and fast on your final glide, flare properly at the normal height. Even in zero wind conditions, a proper landing flare will bring your wing almost to a stop. It is easier to land on the obstacles with a slow, straight momentum than with a body that is swinging to avoid every object along the way.

9. Target fixation 
The tragic tale of a competent pilot in the USA who crashed into a 5foot wide water channel and drowned says it all. Unless you consciously choose a safer landing spot, you will hit the dangerous obstacle, because you are watching it. Once you identify a dangerous obstacle, identify a safe place, and watch the safe place. You've seen the obstacle, it's not going anywhere.

The only exception is when the dangerous obstacle is a Spanish fighting bull, in which case I recommend learning how to run.

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Paragliding for Newbies - Five Commandments

You're learning to paraglide. Obviously you're not the kind of person who plays it safe in life. Good for you. Life is short and you want to ride it for what it's worth. But lets not make it too short. Paragliding can occasionally be deceptively easy. When things go wrong they go wrong really fast. With this is mind here are a few rules for the brand new paragliding pilot, hard learned from my skin-of-the-teeth close calls and those of others:

I. Though shalt not be the first to launch. Experienced pilots love newbies. They have a name for the overly ambitious, green pilots who can't wait to get off the hill: Wind dummies. It's sort of like the food tasters medieval kings employed back in the day. If the taster didn't die, the king ate. If the wind dummy doesn't get whacked, the other pilots will launch. Don't be the wind dummy. If more experienced pilots are waiting there is usually a good reason. No one likes to wait for waiting's sake.

II. Though shalt not be tempted by the camera. You're up in the air and you can't wait to let everyone know on the social networks. Who can blame you? It's exciting and you want to share that rush with your buddies. Flying, however, is a multi-tasking business. Where is the next thermal? Where are the other pilots in relation to me? What's my wing doing? Am I drifting? What are my landing options right here if I sink out? You've got enough balls to juggle. Don't add another one by bringing a camera up with you. Accrue 50 hours first and then consider it. In the same vein your friend is on the launch or LZ with a camera consider them a siren singing on the rocks. You're going to swoop too close, push your glide too far, or lose your concentration at the wrong moment so that they can get that perfect shot. They can take pictures, but don't you play to the camera. You are new. Stick to your flight plan and forget about the lens. You'll be surprised by the photos later.

III. Though shalt buy your first gear from your instructor. Paragliding is not like handball or Frisbee. It's an elite sport that costs money. In exchange for what you put in you're going to have experiences that most people will never have. You've paid for the lessons, now pay for the right gear. It might be tempting to look online or ask around for something used to save a few bucks, but buyer beware. Until you have a strong grasp of paragliding you might end up with the wrong gear for your weight and level of experience. Sellers desperate to move old, dodgy equipment will be happy to dump it off on an unwitting buyer such as yourself. I made this mistake and almost took off on a glider that could have ended my life.. way too advanced, way too light on the wing. You'll have your first instructors name on your card for the rest of your flying career. He or she is part of your team. They've guided you from the training hill to the mountain. They'll be there for you when you need advice as you progress in the sport. Support their business and trust them to set you up with the right gear.

IV. Though shalt trust your gut. "If you head directly, you can make it on a straight glide," said the local pilot on top of the launch just outside of Rio de Janeiro. He wasn't flying yet. He was waiting for the day to heat up and become more thermic. I was new and anxious to get off the hill. Enough talking and waiting around! But that LZ sure looked 3x further than my pure glide ratio. "On a straight glide.. no lift? I can make it?" I asked again. "Yes," he confirmed. So I launched. First. I was half way to the LZ when I had to set up a landing on a thin strip of grass at a train station. The options weren't good. The landing was worse. My gut said I couldn't make it. It was right.

V. Though shalt have fun and revel in your newbieness. Whether it's surfing, snowboarding, or paragliding the most laughs and the brightest eyes seem to be on the beginner waves and bunny hills. A good percentage of the advanced crowd rides with a scowl on their face, quick to poo poo the new guy and downplay his experience as small time. They rode a bigger wave than you, flew higher than you, carved more treacherous runs than you. Don't let them rain on your parade. They are jealous. It's the principle of diminishing returns. You'll never beat the first time and you are embarking on a series of firsts. First time your feet come off the bunny hill, first time you launch from 300, first time off the top, first thermal, first spot on landing, first cloudbase, first XC. Revel in it.

Paragliding is a blast. It's a sensation like no other. Although it's not as safe as shuffleboard, it's a whole lot more fun, and we can minimize our risk by sticking to the fundamentals learned from solid paragliding school and by always erring on the side of caution. Have fun and see you in the sky.

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Paragliding Meets Yoga Therapy

Para-Ascending - A new Yoga Therapy perspective

Life is all about perspective - whether we feel up or down, fearful or exhilarated, blessed or needy. This became abundantly clear as I hurled myself off a cliff recently, trusting that I would be held by the air currents sweeping into the wing of the Paraglider strapped to the instructor behind me. No ordinary moment.

Earlier forms of this activity were referred to as "Paraascending" and this moment of flinging myself into space reminded me a lot of what we do in Yoga Meditation as we leave behind the limited perspective of the human experience and throw our whole attention toward the expansion of consciousness into the vast dimensions of Spirit.

But let me back up. When I was invited to try paragliding, my first reaction was fear and resistance. Practicing the self-reflection that Yoga teaches us (Swadhaya) I realized that it is common for humans to hold this limited perspective when we face the unknown. Usually more apt to choose the familiar, we ponder new possibilities for a while, weighing the pros and cons. Even if we decide to take a leap of faith, we inevitably second guess ourselves and get afraid. Hopefully though, we receive reassurance, pack up, hike up, get ready and GO! Fortunate for me, my pilot didn't give me a lot of time to reconsider once we were at the top of the mountain. He set up, strapped on and said "When I say run - you RUN!"

I took a few deep yoga breaths, surrendered to powers far greater than myself, and RAN - right off the edge of a cliff! Suddenly suspended in mid-air 1,000 feet above the sea, I spent a few moments in futile fear (what could I have done at that point anyway?) and pointless panic. Then I relaxed and found my perspective. Floating in the exquisite atmosphere of the Great Light, I saw the choice - be afraid, tense and limit the experience - or relax, trust and fly!

In that moment the extraordinary became the ordinary. Every moment of every day is like this. The choice is always ours - in every encounter, decision, relationship, or direction in which we move in life. Expand or contract, appreciate or take for granted, fear or fly. Having ascended to the beautiful perspective from above, I say trust the currents. Take the leap. And when Life tells you to run... RUN!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7326772

Paragliders - Some Great Places To See Them

Paragliders are being flown in thousands of locations around the world. In fact if you are patient and know just where to go, chances are you could see one or two at a place near you. Are you a frequent traveller? Would you be interested in seeing some paragliding action in some spectacular surroundings? I'm about to highlight just a few exceptional places on this planet where there is a lot of paragliding activity from time to time. These locations are all very public too, so access is easy.

Since these places are very well-known in their respective parts of the world, no detailed 'who to contact and how to find it' information is provided here. The locals will soon point you in the right direction, if that's necessary.

You have probably guessed by now that this article is aimed at those who haven't thought about actually flying in a paraglider. However, most of the locations below do offer opportunities to get a ride in a tandem paraglider, if you so desire!

Torrey Pines, California, U.S.A.

Many members of the public roll up at Torrey Pines Gliderport in Southern California. Here, they can see paragliders and hang gliders launch from the cliffs into the Pacific Ocean breeze. Famous for many years for being a busy hang-gliding site, paragliders have become commonplace too in recent years. Plenty of space to park your car at the edge of the cliffs and watch the soaring action. Occasionally a pelican or 2 will sail past as well!

Interlaken, Switzerland

Paragliding goes back a long way in this region, almost back to the birth of the sport. So it's not surprising that paraglider-spotting is easy in this picturesque Swiss town. Oriented towards tourism, the town is located between lakes Thun and Brienz in the Bernese Oberland region. Being in the Alps, there are magnificent mountains nearby. Pilots launching from these mountains often use a landing area in Interlaken itself. Shoppers walking along the Bahnhofstrassein can watch the brightly colored paraglider canopies arriving and landing gracefully in the nearby park. A lot of paragliding takes place in other parts of the Swiss Alps too.

Oludeniz, Turkey

It's hard to beat this location for the sheer amount of paragliding activity in the one area. Most Americans haven't heard of this place, but it is a major paragliding destination for Europeans. As a watcher, there's no need to brave the somewhat exciting truck ride to the top of Mount Babadag, where the paragliders launch. Babadag is an imposing limestone mountain 2000 meters (6500 feet) high, overlooking the wide white sandy beaches of Oludeniz. With literally dozens of pilots flying on some days, some with passengers, there is ample opportunity to observe them landing on the beach back in Oludeniz. Many of these pilots make their living this way. The place to be is the Fly-Inn Cafe, a meeting point for people who are waiting to fly or who have just arrived back via the air. Upstairs is the slightly more up-market Ottomania Restaurant which has great views of the whole bay area.

Lima, Peru

The city of Lima in Peru, South America, extends right down to a series of coastal cliffs. It's commonplace for the general public to see paragliders quite close-up as they soar along the cliffs. The district of Minaflores in particular is a nice area for shopping and dining, in full view of the Pacific ocean and all the flying action. You can explore the Larcomar mall, perhaps relaxing in a restaurant such as the Mangos or the Vivaldino, with a window seat. Or, just take a stroll along the footpath (sidewalk) atop the cliffs. Either way, you are sure to see paragliders sooner or later, provided weather conditions are favorable. In blustery weather, the seagulls have the air to themselves!

Hartbeespoortdam, South Africa

This is actually the name of a dam, although the name also refers to the man-made lake which it creates. Some say the area looks a bit like Switzerland as a result! Not far away are the large cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg. To view paragliders, it's hard to beat a cable car trip on the Hartbeespoortdam Cableway, which is in fact the longest monocableway in Africa. From this moving vantage point, you can enjoy panoramic views of the dam and it's surroundings. Soaring birds such as the Black Eagle, Fish Eagle and White Backed Vulture are often joined by paraglider and hang-glider pilots.

Voss, Norway

Now to the winter paradise of Voss, in Norway. Situated between Norway´s most famous fjords, the awe-inspiring Hardanger and Sogn, this town is a hub for extreme sports of all kinds. There is a park where you can just relax and maybe spot a paraglider or two approaching from the nearby mountain, overflying a fjord on the way. If the weather co-operates! Voss can be reached by train from nearby Bergen, affording a very scenic trip beside the fjords.

Conclusion

During your travels, you might find yourself within an hour or three of one of these places. Never seen a paraglider, ever? Why not take the opportunity for a memorable experience seeing paragliders in flight! The longer the stay, the less chance of disappointment due to unsuitable weather of course. Alternatively, a phone call to one of the local paragliding organizations might help you time your visit.

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Paragliding at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming

Want to soar high in the sky with stunning aerial views of the Teton Range, Snake River and Jackson Hole valley in Wyoming? Want to fly like an eagle and experience the inexplicable feeling of pure freedom and exhilaration? Try paragliding from the top of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort! The Aerial Tram takes you up the famous Rendezvous Mountain. You'll start paragliding from an elevation of 10,450 feet as gentle breezes let you fly over the most spectacular scenery.

I experienced this amazing adventure on my birthday in early September (thanks to my friends!). It was a wonderful surprise. I'd been staying in Teton Village, home of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, for months watching paragliders land with huge smiles on their faces. I knew I wanted to try it.

The Tandem Paragliding Experience

We headed up the tram on a sunny and cool morning. The winds were light, and it looked like the perfect time to paraglide! We were paired up for tandem paragliding with very experienced instructors. I was a bundle of excitement and nerves. My instructor expertly explained to me exactly what would happen, and I felt very confident in a successful flight.

We both had our own harness, and I sat in the front position for the best views! For launch, we ran a few fast steps together. I ignored my anxiety and felt my courage and adrenaline take charge. The momentum and breezes picked us up and within seconds I was sitting in a comfortable seat flying in the sky!

My nerves disappeared instantly as I sat back in awe. I was flying! What a glorious feeling. I was floating in the air! It was inspiring, peaceful, relaxing, exciting and slightly unnerving all at the same time. Hearing and feeling only the wind against my face was magical! Soaring with breathtaking views of Wyoming's rivers, mountains, meadows and forests was sensational!

Paragliding: What To Know

* Professional pilots at Jackson Hole Paragliding take you on your adventure. 
* You'll be airborne for about 20 minutes - it's the most amazing 20 minutes ever! 
* With the high elevation and winds, it can be cold while flying. Dress appropriately. Wear tennis shoes, long pants, a wind breaker and warm layers of clothing. 
* Bring your sunglasses. 
* Bring a Camera (I tied the strap to my wrist and captured a few of these shots while airborne.) 
* I recommend picking a sunny day with light winds for the best time experience. Believe me, you will want to fly again!

Try paragliding! It's amazing!

Paragliding in Manali - Solang Valley Slopes

Paragliding is a combination of parachuting as well as hang gliding. In Parachuting, the parachuter has to jump from an air craft whereas in Paragliding, Paraglider has to run down the hill at 40 degree slope. Due to running, air is filled in the columns of the keel and it helps the glider to take off. For the purpose of Paragliding, the Solang valley slopes are perfectly made.

When the conditions of the weather are perfect then it is possible for a paraglider to rise to a height of even 3000 metres and it is also possible for a paraglider to stay in the air for a longer period. In some areas of Kullu valley like Solang Bijli Mahadev, Marhi and Fatru, Paragliding is organized all the year round. Usually two different types of flights are offered; inexperienced clients are offered short flight which is taken above 100-150 ft high. They join the pilot in the double seated paraglide and enjoy the thrilling experience by viewing the surroundings from the top.

The inexperienced client in company with the pilot takes care of maneuvering the glider. The maximum time duration for this flight lasts for one or one and a half minute. Whereas on the other hand there is a high flight which last for 20-30 minutes and this high flight is conducted by experienced pilots. The tourists who are interested enjoy the thrilling experience of short flight by joining the pilot in the double seated paraglide.

For more than three hours, paraglider enjoys the paragliding if the condition of the weather is perfect. Usually people enjoy the trip of paragliding, if the condition of the weather is perfect for a prolong time. Any person interested in paragliding must be above 15 years of age. The person going for paragliding must weigh between 45 to 85 kgs. For this adventurous sport training is very important. The best season for paragliding is from February to June and from September to November. A five days course is also conducted which cost about $135.

While doing paragliding, one can experience ethereal serenity while sailing in air and above the ground. One can enjoy the beautiful view of Manali from height. While doing paragliding, Manali seems to be surreal and peaceful. While doing the paragliding, glider enjoys the bird eye view of the beautiful scenery below. This experience of paragliding gives the glider an exhilarating feeling. Many people just enjoy in watching the paragliding by the glider.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5596024

Hang Gliding and Paragliding in Lanzarote

When Winter starts to take hold of the rest of Europe Lanzarote is the place to hang glide and paraglide. Lanzarote makes up one of the Canary Islands and is a far south as you can go and still be in Europe. In Winter the air mass in Lanzarote changes bringing clear air, light winds and good thermic conditions. Although Lanzarote is a small island and therfore the flying sites are close to the sea this does not have a detrimental effect on the formation of thermals.

Winter time flying in almost any other European country means getting seriously cold. On average the air temperature lowers one degree centigrade per one hundred metres you go up. Taking off in seven degree weather then going up eight hundred metres means the air temperature will be zero, this is without taking into account wind chill. These sort of conditions mean that most pilots have to store away their hang gliders and wait for warmer weather. That is unless you get yourself over to Lanzarote.

Lanzarote hang gliding and paragliding season

Summer in Lanzarote brings trade winds and hazy weather, not good for flying. Autumn in Lanzarote starts in September when there is a notable change in the weather. The air clears and the Winter winds die away. It gets cooler at night and thermals start to form in the day. The flying season has begun. Reliable flying conditions start around October when the air is getting much colder at night and the temperature gradient is much larger. Thermals are now steady with larger cores.

Hang gliding sites in Lanzarote

The wind direction and strength dictates where the best flying can be found on any given day. The best known site is the Famara ridge run, after that Mala, El Cuchillo, La Asomada, Orzola area, Playa Quemada (paragliding only), Femes (paragliders only), plus some other little flown areas.

Famara ridge run

Wind coming from the North to North North West means Lanzarote´s most famous flight of the ridge run is on. Local pilots will take off in winds up to forty kilometres per hour from the lower Teguise take off. This hill is very rounded so there is little turbulence. You can set up next to where you park you car and take off is thirty metres away. You can also top land on this hill with a large bomb out area right in front. Walk up takes fifteen minutes.

The higher ridge run take off is locally known as ´Chimidas´. Normally this is a guaranteed go up take off spot. Top landing near this take off is very dangerous as there are severe rotors. Landings from the high Teguise take off can be made about 300 metres in front just on the other side of the road, at the lower take off or in the lower take off bomb out field. All of these landing areas are pretty easy with wind socks marking the wind direction.

Flying the ridge run from both Teguise take offs.

If you fly from the lower Teguise off you have about a kilometer to fly until you go past the higher take off. Going up from here is not as sure a thing as the higher take off but there is an added bonus of being able to land back by your car plus the extra challenge. Thermals cycle through here so timing can be the order of the day. On other days with a good North West wind hitting the ridge directly going up only means flying in a straight line. Normally you will gain height in the next couple of turns in the ridge then fly over the electric pylon, across a flatter ridge, across a gap then onto the same part of the ridge as the higher take off. Once here the flying gets much easier. Just be careful when crossing the ridge back that takes you on to the main cliffs behind Famara beach. If the wind is in the North there can be some rotor on this so do not go to far into the valley, get as much height as you can then fly out and onto the main cliffs. The Las Nieves church is about the limit of how far up the valley you should, then turn back and keep gaining height. Once you max out your height fly out, around and on to the main cliffs.

When you get on the main cliffs the air becomes super smooth and your vario will just keep smoothly beeping as the up drafts take you to cloud base. Now its just smooth gliding all the way to Orzola at the Northern tip of Lanzarote. Stand by for amazing views and truly stunning scenery. You will be able to see the sea on both sides of the island. As you approach Orzola you will see the island of La Graciosa. On good days you can glide over to the island right across the sea and back to regain height. The only thing to be careful of is the wind shifting to the east. If this happens you will lose all lift and be forced to make a bottom landing. Certain sections of the ridge run have limited landing options and a very tough carry out.

On the right day the Lanzarote or Famara ridge run is an easy and amazing flight, ne of the most scenic in Europe.

With the wind in the right direction and flying with a guide to show you the way this is an easy and very rewarding flying route that could be carried out even by relatively inexperienced pilots.

Hang gliding in Mala

Getting there-

Mala is on the Eastern coast of Lanzarote just before Arrieta. This site favours a North Easterly wind. To find the Mala take off takes a little bit of doing and some off road driving. You do not need a four wheel drive car but the road is a little bumpy so just take it slow and easy.

To get to the take off you will need to take a right slip road the main raod heading towards Arrieta. The slip road is a good 4 km before the Arrieta. You will know it becuase at the bottom is a small roundabout with a left turn that goes under the road. Take this left and you will come to another small roundabout, go straight on here and up onto a dirt track. At top turn left, this will bring you back along side the main road until you approach a bridge going over the road. Turn right at the bridge and head up the side of the valley. Follow this way all the way to the top as it follows the side of the valley. At the top you will see an abandoned house with a parking area. Park in the parking area. The hang glider and paraglider take off area is across the damn.

Flying Mala

Once you have carried you kit across and damn and set up the take off is just in front. It is a little shallow so in light winds hang gliders will need a strong run. The local wind direction will dictate your tactics of how best to gain height. Normally the best left is found on the higher ridge to the left. Gain some height on the take off ridge then work you way over to the main ridge. In the corner between the take off ridge and main ridge there is a little gully which seems to throw off small and powerful thermals regularly. This site can be really nice and thermic but the first 100 metres of height gain can be crucial. Once above the top of the main ridge you just need to hunt out a good thermal and take it back into the valley behind. On a good day this valley has all the best thermals. Some great flights can be had both by going over the back cross country or by pushing out in front and jumping from cloud to cloud. A world famous pilot made it all the way to the huge volcano about 8 km in front and back.

Landing in Mala

Top landing in Mala can be a bit tricky as the air flow is not very laminar. On your landing approach the wind speed can drop when you get below about 5 metres from landing. Some pilots make the big mistake of pushing out when the air speed drop and they all of a sudden seem to speed up. This is a big mistake as you will stall. The best technique is to come in with a little extra speed so that when you hit the wind sheer you still have enough speed to keep flying. If you decide to top land you will still have to carry all of you kit back across the damn. The other option is the bottom landing area. This is a much easier landing option. The field is very big and there is a wind sock. The area has easy car access.

Paragliders in Mala have no real problems top landing as the glider stays in the faster cleaner air all the way to the pilot being on the ground. Just watch out for the wind speeding up.

After the ridge run site Mala is easily the next most popular flying site in Lanzarote. The thermals can be really nice with plenty of cross country options.

Hang gliding and paragliding in El Cuchillo

El Cuchillo works with a NNE wind to NE wind. It is a small ridge located on the west coast near Tinajo. To find this site you will need to get to the town of El Cuchillo then do a little off road driving. There are two set up areas. This site can be very thermic and bumpy. The site has some great cross country options. One pilot took off from here and landed in Fuerteventura.

You take off here and fly across the ridge in ridge left until you find a nice thermal. Your thermalling skills will come in very handy here. One thermal can easily take you to cloudbase and off and a long and exciting cross country flight.

Landing in El Cuchillo

The El Cuchillo ridge produces a strong rotor. If you decide to land behind the ridge make sure you go well back. Most pilots thinking about landing behind the ridge make sure they have at least 100 metres of height over take off before gliding back to the landing area. This is usually market by a small tassel and is about one kilometer behind take off. Bottom landing at El Cuchillo is not a problem and there is plenty of room just dont go too far out in front as the farmers fields soon begin.

Flying La Asomada

This site is used when the winds turn East to South East. It is a small ridge about 5km inland from Puerto Calero. If anyone is flying you will see them from a distance. You can top land this site without too much of a problem, just dont go too far back as you will land in the area where grapes are grown. The grapes are not a problem but the small semicircular wall around them are. On a good day you can gain height on the main ridge then hop back to the much higher mountain behind. From this mountain you can hop from mountain to mountain North all the way to Tias. If the flying conditions are not very good there is plenty of room to bottom land at La Asomada just make sure you do not leave the hill too low as there are electric cables to get over.

Paragliding in Lanzarote

There are a lot more sites on Lanzarote for Paraglider pilots as they can be more flexible with take off and landing areas.

Rental accommodation in Lanzarote

Visiting hang glider and paraglider pilots need somewhere to stay. The best place to stay is in Famara, this is where the best flying sites are. You will be able to see pilots flying the ridge run and El Cuchillo if you rent a bungalow in Famara. Famara also has the added bonus of a fantastic sandy beach. One scenario for a perfect flying day if you come with your family could be the following: You take your family to the beach and spend the morning with them. In the afternoon you leave them having fun on the beach and head off to the Famara ridge run take off area. You spend a few great hours flying the ridge run then as the day ends you swop down over the beach and make a perfect landing on the beach to the applause of your family. Then its sunset drinks on the terrace of you Famara bungalow overlooking the beach. The end to a perfect day.

Lanzarote is a great flying destination to suit all levels of pilot. There is still plenty to do if flying conditions are not available plus you can bring the family and give them a great winter break.

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Why Carry a Reserve Chute While Paragliding

Reserve parachutes are an obvious safety measure, but are often misunderstood in the sport of paragliding.

It should be noted that the use of a reserve chute when paragliding is a very rare event. Many highly experienced pilots have flown for many years, even decades and never had to use one, but here's why they are carried.

When skydiving, the use of s reserve is clear. If the main parachute does not open, or opens partially tangled, the diver cuts free from one chute, and deploys the reserve parachute. Voila... safe return to earth.

Paragliding however presents its own peculiar issues. Firstly, a paraglider pilot only takes off when the main wing is open and working perfectly. So why is a spare chute needed? The answer lies in a fundamental difference in design between paragliders and parachutes. A parachute is an air brake designed to slow your descent in a controlled manner. Most parachutes descend in an aerodynamically stalled condition. That means that there is turbulent non laminar flow over the top surface of the parachute.

Paragliders however are a true wing, and only fly when the airflow is laminar and non turbulent. The wing loading is much lower in a paraglider and therefore the wing is less aerodynamically stable. If a paraglider wing is stalled, is no longer flies... it becomes very unstable, and usually folds into a horseshoe shape.

Due to this characteristic, paraglider pilots must fly there wings carefully. The relative airspeed of the wing and angle of attack need to be controlled by the pilot using the brakes. Failure to do so may lead to instability or wing collapse.

Therein lies the need for a reserve parachute in the sport of paragliding. Many pilots flying competition wings (which are extremely high performance, but very unstable) actually carry two spare chutes. This is primarily because some main wing collapses can result in the bundle spinning. Releasing a spare safety chute simply twists into the main wing in a process called candlesticking. As you can imagine a candlestick doesn't fly too well, but the pair of twisted chutes usually stop spinning. The second reserve is launched for a safe return to earth.

This raises the next issue. The whole process described above takes time, and time is altitude. There is virtually no point in carrying a spare parachute if you are flying sand dunes at 40 meters above the ground. Be guided by your instructor about actual equipment performance as it does vary. Most reserves need at least 30 to 50 meters to deploy effectively.

Naturally the market has demanded that producers develop fast opening reserve parachutes specifically for the paragliding industry. The producers have responded with a dazzling array of equipment from plain round chutes to center pull chutes to steerable arrow shaped reserves and even rocket propelled chutes for ultra fast openings.

Marco is a avid pilot of many types of aircraft. Marco recommends the following website as a complete guide to the sport of paragliding including resources and images.

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Top 6 Places to Learn Paragliding in India

Paragliding is one of the easiest ways to fly in air like a bird. It is the most adventure sport in the world and becoming popular day by day. India is also best place to learn it. There are various locations in India where you can learn flying in the air easily and safely.

1. Billing: Billing is located at Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh Billing is India's most suitable place for paragliding and hand gliding. The ideal time for learning flyting here is March to May.
2. Bir: -Located at 14 KM South from Billing, bir is also located in Himachal Pradesh.It is one of the hot place to learn paragliding.
3. Manali:- Manali is located in central part of Himachal Pradesh. It is 32 KM from Kullu and 280 km north of the state capital Shimla. Though it is a famous hill station in India it is also a good place to learn paragliding. Weather here is very cool and perfect for paragliding.
4. Paragliding in Kamshet, Pune, Maharastra:-Though pune is famous for education, to learn paragliding in Pune, Kamshet is best place for it.It is located 43 K.M from pune.
5. Panchgani Maharastra:-Hill Station in Maharastra which is located 18 Km from Mahabaleshwar on Wai road also serves landing field for Para gliders.
6. Nandi hill is also one of the paragliding destinations in India which is situated in Bangalore.

There are also other places where you can fly in India but above are most common places used by paragliding trainers. Paragliding is adventurous. It is done at various heights. But you need professional paragliding training before you fly. Flying should be done under expert's observations and guidance. You need to equip with latest equipments like shoe,safety material etc.

There are various flying clubs in India which offers paragliding training. Safety should have highest priority while flying as while landing can cause problems. Wind condition and bad weather can affect the flying conditions.So proper training should be taken before flying.

Golden Eagle is a paragliding club in India which offers paragliding training in India. It is located in Bir. Professional paragliding training in India with golden Eagle. Our professional trainers can help to to learn paragliding.Visit Golden Eagle site to know more about it.

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Paragliding in Strong Wind - How to Escape to Safety and Avoid The Rotor

The day is glorious when you arrive. You step to the edge. You launch. Presently, you are high above the valley, gliding here and there, watching the other pilots drift forwards of the ridge. Clouds begin to cover the sky. You watch pilots tuck their wingtips in and head for the valley. You wonder what is going on. Then you see your shadow, far below. You are going nowhere. You are trapped! The wind is howling, pushing you back, and you drift backwards, towards the looming mountain ridge behind.

1. Get away from big obstacles

Fly upwind of any mountain as fast as you can - hands up off the brakes, and check your penetration (forward speed over ground). The glider can be accelerated in smooth air by at least 25% by pushing the speed bar. If your glider lacks a speed bar, pull down on the A and B risers (it's tiring). Some paragliders fly faster with the wingtips tucked in than with them inflated. Test that on your next flight, before you need it.

2. Get down

Wind usually increases as you get higher, especially in pre-frontal conditions, when the airflow is laminar. Quite often you can escape the wind by descending towards the ground, where the wind-speed is less. Use 'big ears' (tucking in the outer A-lines of your canopy to collapse the wingtips underneath). Do not spiral or use a B-line stall, as both of these manoeuvres will cause you to drift downwind. Narrow valley systems (like the Alps) constrict the air below, which can cause very strong valley-winds. If you are presented with a narrow valley below you, it may be best to try and slope-land, or to land near a wider part of the valley.

3. Do both

It is quite safe to tuck the ears first, then to push out on the speedbar as well. This increases your forward speed and increases your rate of descent, and the glider remains very stable.

4. Recognise that you're going over

The earlier you can do this, the better your chances of taking action. Analyse your flight path after trying the first three steps. If you are going backwards rather than forwards, and are drifting back towards the mountains, you need to make a decision. Tuck bigger 'big ears'. Is there any way in which you can safely slope-land low down on the windward side of the mountain? Better to have a windy slope-landing in constant airflow than to land in the rotor turbulence behind the mountain.

5. Up, up and away

Make the decision quickly, don't fight a glider all the way down into the compression on top of the ridge to work out you are not going to make it. Get as much height as you can in the situation. As the wind blows over the mountain, it is forced upwards in places. Wherever there is lift (cliffs), the horizontal component of the wind will be less (it's going up, not sideways), so you will have improved forward speed. You may be able to climb in the lift for some time, building up more height and safety.

6. Go for the gap!

Manoeuvre yourself towards the best-looking crossing point. Conical peaks are great when they have large drop-offs on all sides. Any area where there is a 'bite taken out of the ridge-line' will have a venturi effect and increased wind speed. These are good areas to run through, as the airflow is usually smoother - less prone to rolling rotor turbulence. Climb, climb, and as soon as you reach the top of the lift band, you must turn and run.

7. Air space

Having acquired the most height possible, you now want to increase your ground clearance. Fly at an angle across the wind, away from the peaks. Thus you avoid the worst of the rotor, and race away with the wind. As the ground falls away beneath you, you have more and more space in which to fight the beast.

8. Run

If the route is clear, run downwind. To get your best glide angle, fly off brakes but don't use the speedbar. It is more effective to stay as high as possible for as long as possible, while the wind pushes you from behind. After some time you will enter the sinking air at the back of the mountain. Be ready to catch any wobbles and thumps on the brakes. Pray.

9. Rotor!

Most paragliders are designed to stabilise, so be prudent with your brake-input. Let the glider fly, but fly actively - dampen out the wild surges, keep the wing as much above your head as possible. And keep heading downwind.

10. Touchdown

If at any point during the escape, you find yourself close to the ground, turn into wind. A downwind landing into rocks is deadly. Even into wind, the landing will be unpredictable. Neutralise your glider, by front tuck with the A-lines (which requires good timing in strong wind. Practice it on a field.) Unclip from your harness immediately after landing! Gusts of wind can tear you away down the slope, even though your landing was fine.

11. A round of applause

Whoa! You made it through! Congratulations, you've got one big story to tell the guys in the pub. I hope that this is the last time you need to go over the back, for this is one game where it is better to score a One than a Ten. Those guys that landed out in the valley earlier on? They were the real winners today.

12. A note on reserve parachutes:

You may have noticed that I have not mentioned throwing a reserve. The reserve is your last chance: you know you are going to die, so you throw your reserve. It may prevent a hard landing, although in rotor this is unlikely. But you will be dragged far and fast on the reserve, and slammed into anything in the way. It is difficult to collapse most reserves. I recommend having quick-out buckles on your harness.

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