How Paragliding Works

Before we get into how paragliding works, let's investigate its history. Paragliding grew out of parachuting. In the 1960s, the military needed to train parachutists how to perform safe landings. Repeatedly going up and down in an airplane to drop the parachutists was complicated and time-consuming. In order to fit more landing practice into a day, they would attach the parachutists to a truck with a tow rope.

As the vehicle picked up speed, the parachutist would float higher and higher. Then the parachutist would release the tow rope and descend back to earth. Many parachutists soon became more interested in the floating part than the landing part. For fun, they would launch themselves off steep hills and parachute to the ground below, experimenting with how they could harness air currents to stay in the air longer. A new sport was born. The shape and design of the parachutes morphed as paragliders tried different techniques to get better and longer rides.

The solution came with the invention of the ram-air parachute. Also known as the parafoil, it changed everything. Developed by Domina Jalbert in 1964, the ram-air parachute altered the shape of the chute from round to rectangular. The parachute -- called a wing or sail -- was broken up into cells. As the sail caught the wind, air would "ram" into these cells, filling up or inflating the sail. The shape allowed the wing to glide or float rather than immediately descend, as a traditional parachute would.

In 1978, three friends in Mieussy, France used their modified parachutes to jump off a mountainside and glide to the ground, the first time it had been done. This is considered the beginning of modern paragliding.

Paragliding equipment has evolved, with more complicated suspension and steering systems. Nevertheless, they're all based on Jalbert's original design. Extremely popular in Europe, paragliding is still a micro-sport in the United States, with around 5,000 or so participants [source: Becher]. However, it's climbing quickly in popularity.

The main components of a paraglider are:

In simplest terms, a paraglider is an inflatable wing. It resembles a parachute, but its shape is elliptical rather than round. Wings are usually made of rip-stop nylon, which is a tear-proof and tough synthetic fabric. It's actually two layers of material sewn together with a gap between the two. Vertical fabric ribs support the gap, and in between each rib are cells. These dozens of cells work to trap air and inflate the canopy for gliding. The wing has a leading edge, which allows air to enter the cells. Experts agree that most wings are good for about 300 hours of paragliding (about four years) before they begin to stretch or weaken [source: Discovery].

Lines are the rigging cords attached to different areas of the underside of the wing. There are usually about four or five rows of lines. The last row of lines make up the brakes, or control lines, attached to the wing's trailing edge. These cords all stream down and are secured in a bunch on both sides of the pilot. The bunches of grouped lines are called risers and they suspend the pilot below the canopy. The pilot can use the lines to control the glider. Manipulating the lines changes the direction or speed of the glider as it flies. Lines are made of synthetic materials like Kevlar (aramid) or Dyneema (polyethylene). These types of materials won't stretch or shrink, which would cause the glider to become unbalanced. Nylon is a popular choice for risers because of its strength and durability.

Risers affix to carabiners, which in turn lock into the pilot's harness. A paragliding harness is the soft chair that suspends the pilot below the wing. It features multiple straps that keep the pilot safe in the harness as well as provide lumbar support.

Some pilots like to utilize a speed bar, which is a foot control. It attaches to the harness and connects to the canopy via pulleys. By pushing on the speed bar with his foot, a pilot can increase the paraglider's speed by changing the angle of the wing.

The reserve parachute is for the unlikely (but possible) event that the wing begins to irreversibly deflate. The reserve attaches to the harness in a spot that prevents accidental deployment. Reserve parachutes are specially made so that they can open quickly.

And of course, a pilot never flies without a helmet.

To fly a paraglider properly, you must understand not only how the equipment works, but how the wind works as well. But first, perform a safety equipment check. Are you strapped in tight to your harness? Does your helmet fit snugly on your head? Is your canopy properly laid out and are you properly attached to it?

Of course, you can't start flying until you figure out how to get off the ground. We call this the launch. Face into the wind and run or walk forward. Pull on the wing, which will cause it to start filling with air. Soon, the wing will transform from a piece of fabric dragging behind you on the ground into an inflated canopy rising over your head. The term for inflating the wing while you're on the ground is kiting.

At this point, the wing is above you and catching some airflow. Use the brakes to retain control of the wing and do an overhead check to ensure the wing is fully inflated and no lines are tangled. Now it's time for the final phase. Run down your designated slope to work up to flying speed. Sometimes all you'll need here is a brisk walking pace. Your wing slowly rises and gently picks you up with it. You look down and your feet are no longer touching the ground. You're flying!

But now what? How are you going to stay up in the air? Like a hang glider, a paraglider works with airflow to create lift. Air flows over both the top and the bottom of the glider and meets at the edge. Aerodynamics predict that the pressure on the bottom of the glider is higher than on the top of the glider. This creates lift upwards.

One of the most desirable things about paragliding is that, in the right conditions, you can stay aloft for hours at a time, traveling for miles. Paragliders look for rising air in order to catch a current that will keep them aloft for the longest time possible. There are three basic types of rising air:

Controlling a paraglider is actually quite simple. The controls you hold in your hand connect to the trailing edge of the wing. Depending on how you pull the controls, the wing will change shape and therefore change behavior. Pulling on the controls makes the glider fly slower. Releasing pressure makes it fly faster.

Example: If you want to turn to the right, pull on the right control and release pressure on the left. This makes the right side of the wing fly slower and the left faster. Before you know it, you'll be turning right. Of course, it's all a matter of finesse and practice. Yanking on the controls can cause the wing to act unpredictably.

You can also shift your weight to help steer the glider. Moving your weight toward one side or the other will also bring subtle shape changes to the wing. Weight-shifting is helpful when you're using both hand control lines and need to add an extra layer of control.

Now that you're airborne and moving around, you probably want to go higher. Here are a few techniques:

Coring is the term pilots use when they climb via a thermal column. When you find and enter a thermal column, you turn in circles within it (around its core). After climbing to the top of a thermal column, you can continue drifting and gliding until you find another column.

Ridge soaring is another technique you can use to fly along the ridge of a mountain or large hill. As we talked about on the previous page, the updraft created by the mountain will keep you in the air. However, ridge soaring can be dangerous if wind conditions aren't just right. If you fly close to a ridge, always shift your weight away from the ridge. This way, in the event of a wing collapse, your glider will head away from the ridge as well, instead of crashing into it.

If your wing begins to deflate, due to turbulent air or your own miscalculation, you should know that it will usually reinflate on its own. In the rare instance it doesn't, you can deploy the emergency parachute to land safely. Emergency parachutes work best when you're up high and they have a chance to completely deploy. If wing deflation happens close to the ground -- shortly after takeoff or shortly before landing -- the parachute may be unable to deploy quickly enough, and serious injury could occur.

Minimize the chances of accidents by ensuring you're properly trained before ever attempting to paraglide. Ensure you're using a safe glider, you're aware of wind conditions and fly in a place suited to your experience and comfort levels.

What good is a sport without a whole bunch of cool gadgets to go with it? The three most important gadgets for the paraglider are the altimeter, the variometer, the radio and the GPS.

An altimeter keeps track of your altitude. All types of aircraft feature altimeters. They tell you how far you are from the ground or terrain below. It helps you maintain necessary clearance as well as keeps you a safe distance away from other gliders or aircraft. Altimeters used by paragliders measure altitude based on air pressure. They are usually digital and built inside a variometer, GPS or sports watch.

Variometers (also called varios) are indispensible to paragliders. It tells you how fast you are climbing or falling, relative to the ground. They're used mostly for thermal lifting. Varios have audio indicators, so you don't have to bother looking at them. When you hit a certain vertical speed, the vario will start to beep, with the pitch increasing as your lift increases (or decreases as you sink). You can also check a digital readout to see your speed in a variety of measurements.

Paragliders use radios to keep in touch with other pilots as well as people on the ground. Paragliding instructors always use radios when they're training new pilots. Usually the microphone is right in the helmet so the pilot can stay in constant contact with his or her instructor on the ground.

Global positioning systems (GPS) are becoming quite popular with paragliders and other recreational aircraft pilots. Using a GPS, a paraglider pilot can assess his or her speed and follow preset routes. Some people also use the GPS once they've landed to analyze their routes and flying patterns to see if there's room for improvement. In competitive paragliding, a GPS is necessary to prove that a pilot hit all the required turning points in the race route.

You can find a paragliding school near you with just a few clicks of the mouse. Once you find a school, do some research. Find out its affiliations, instructor experience and safety records. A good place to start is the U.S. Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHGPA).

Most paragliding schools feature a training hill, where students can practice launching and taking small flights. You don't have to wear any special equipment to paragliding class. The school will provide you with a glider, harness, helmet and radio. Most schools suggest you wear sturdy hiking boots and clothes you don't mind getting dirty, and that you bring a pair of light gloves to keep your hands from being cut by the lines. The best way to learn to land safely is through practice -- so you'll be hitting the ground over and over again. In addition, keep in mind that the higher your altitude, the colder it gets. So, dress in layers.

Expect to pay about $200 for one day of instruction (about four to six hours). You can purchase multi-day packages as well as certification courses. Lessons usually include a demonstration by the instructor, observation of other paragliders and ground classes. When you've learned all you can on the ground, it's time to go up. Some paragliding schools offer a tandem ride, where you can enjoy the experience without being responsible for controlling the glider.

A typical lesson will have you in the air at least once by the first or second day. And most schools state that you'll be ready to fly unsupervised after only about five to seven days of instruction [source: Federal Aviation Association (FAA) doesn't require you to have a license for paragliding. However, the USGHPA features a voluntary pilot rating system to which most paragliders adhere.

If this all seems like fun to you, start saving up your pennies. A full kit, with a new paraglider, harness, reserve parachute and helmet will cost you $4,000 to $6,000. Used equipment is less costly, but you should first ensure the equipment is safe and not worn-out before making a purchase.