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What Is A
Paraglider And How Does It Work? Often mistaken for a parachute,
the paraglider is in fact a wing which follows the same principles
of aerodynamics as any other aircraft. The paraglider is a ram
air wing made up of many cells open on the leading edge (front)
and closed on the trailing edge(back). Air flows inside and inflates
the canopy to the shape of a wing.
Paragliders
are launched from gently sloping hill sides where the canopy is
first laid out on the ground behind the pilot. After a few steps
forward, the canopy fills with air and rises above, then a few
more steps, and you are floating up and away with the eagles.
The wing produces aerodynamic lift giving a glide ratio of approximately
8:1 ie, for every 1000m in height the glider will fly 8km in distance
before landing.
 To
maintain altitude, pilots seek out and fly in air that is moving
upwards ie, thermals or wind blowing up moujntain sides. Pilots
have total control over their craft with most able to land not
more than two steps from a chosen spot. All flying can be done
on a solo basis with no outside assistance necessary. The paraglider
pilot rides in superb comfort in a specially designed reclining
harness which also includes a reserve parachute.
Other equipment
carried by pilots include radio communications equipment, flight
instruments including altimeter and a GPS (Global Positioning
System). Flight times in excess of 5 hours, altitude gains of
10,000ft and distances of 250km to a pre chosen goal are quite
common in today's high performance canopies. Civil Aviation Safety
Authority (CASA) regulations states that anyone flying a paraglider
in Australia must hold a licence issued by the Hang Gliding Federation
of Australia (HGFA). |
