Power paragliding-- pros/ cons

[OHCHUTE 0]

I don't know where to post this topic as it's not parachute specific topic but could turn into social discussion....

I've looked at a couple of video's of people operating power paragliders. It appears some of the same techniques are used in manuvering the parasail (chute) much like a parachute. Also, when considering parasailing (non power), one can even thermal, something you can't do skydiving, not that you'd want to as sky diving is more prefered than climbing in a thermal.

So my questions are: why not learn to power paraglide before learning to skydive. There might be more opportunity as you don't need an aircraft. Also, can you use a parasail, and thermal upwards from a skydive plane, provide you find lift on the way down. It would seem just as much fun floating around for two hours, as it would be decending in 45 seconds etc. I guess one question to ask is: do they make paragliding parachutes that can be deployed once leaving the aircraft.

Your thoughts?

[Andy9o8 2]

I may be wrong about this, and I know very little about paragliding. I have a vague recollection of seeing a video, probably on YouTube, of a paraglider launching from a balloon, with his glider-canopy fully stowed in a bag attached (I think) to the gondola. Since his glider-canopy was not yet deployed or inflated when he launched, I suppose that technically qualifies as both a direct-bag skydive and a paraglider flight.

[OHCHUTE 0]

If you have $8,000 to spend on skydiving or power paragliding I'd be half tempted to try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlbQ0xbbpOQ

From the back of your car and an open field....

[Southern_Man 0]

I believe it is recommended to learn to paraglide before using the motor (powered paragliding). Don't know much about it except there are a couple guys here in town who do it and I see them riding around once in a while.

"What if there were no hypothetical questions?"

[jakee 1,596]

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So my questions are: why not learn to power paraglide before learning to skydive.

No reason at all. If you want to learn how to para-motor, learn how to para-motor. If you want to learn how to skydive, learn how to skydive. If you want to do both, do both. If you've got the time and money then nothing's stopping you.

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I guess one question to ask is: do they make paragliding parachutes that can be deployed once leaving the aircraft.

Kinda yeah, kinda no. Fundamentally the characteristics of a wing that make it fly more efficiently will make it open worse.

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[normiss 897]

JFGI that tool's name.
Then avoid him like the plague.
Then spend some time browsing USPPA

Good luck as well.

I hope to get into Paramotoring this year.
Hopefully annual bonus is 100% this year!!!


ETA: Shouldn't this be in General???

[Andy9o8 2]

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Shouldn't this be in General???

Powered paragliders can be an excellent platform from which to loiter over veterans' funerals and shoot at gays with an assault weapon to protest abortion.

[normiss 897]

All general purpose attack vehicles should be in general.
Well, right up until you get to the word 'attack' I suppose.

[Andy9o8 2]

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All general purpose attack vehicles should be in general.
Well, right up until you get to the word 'attack' I suppose.

Well, if they're owned by the US military, then they're all referred-to as "defense".

[normiss 897]

You mean I have to register this thing TOO???

[davjohns 1]

fly hang gliders. I've spent some time discussing the pros and cons with paraglider pilots. Get the advice of a paraglider instructor before you try anything. My thoughts:

1. I'm pretty sure a paraglider sail will not do well in a terminal velocity situation. It's not built for that.

2. Thermals very rarely go over about 8,000ft. Paragliders can very much thermal, just not as well as hang gliders.

3. You would have to learn to paraglide before adding power.

4. My philosophy is that my hang glider is about flying. Skydiving is about freefall. I think of my canopy as just a way to end safely.

I know it just wouldnt be right to kill all the stupid people that we meet..

But do you think it would be appropriate to just remove all of the warning labels and let nature take its course.

[OHCHUTE 0]

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fly hang gliders. I've spent some time discussing the pros and cons with paraglider pilots. Get the advice of a paraglider instructor before you try anything. My thoughts:

1. I'm pretty sure a paraglider sail will not do well in a terminal velocity situation. It's not built for that.

2. Thermals very rarely go over about 8,000ft. Paragliders can very much thermal, just not as well as hang gliders.

3. You would have to learn to paraglide before adding power.

4. My philosophy is that my hang glider is about flying. Skydiving is about freefall. I think of my canopy as just a way to end safely.

I'm looking at portability. Hanglider you need cliff or tow. Paraglider you need cliff. Power paraglider you need an open area. Then there is kiteboarding, snow, ground, water.

I realize there are many different aspects to any type of chute or kite sport.

[Calvin19 0]

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I don't know where to post this topic as it's not parachute specific topic but could turn into social discussion....

I've looked at a couple of video's of people operating power paragliders. It appears some of the same techniques are used in manuvering the parasail (chute) much like a parachute. Also, when considering parasailing (non power), one can even thermal, something you can't do skydiving, not that you'd want to as sky diving is more prefered than climbing in a thermal.

So my questions are: why not learn to power paraglide before learning to skydive. There might be more opportunity as you don't need an aircraft. Also, can you use a parasail, and thermal upwards from a skydive plane, provide you find lift on the way down. It would seem just as much fun floating around for two hours, as it would be decending in 45 seconds etc. I guess one question to ask is: do they make paragliding parachutes that can be deployed once leaving the aircraft.

Your thoughts?

Hello,
I have 10 years skydiving/BASE experience (D and~600/600 jumps respectively), 8 years paragliding experience (P4 and ~2000 flights) and only a handful of powered paragliding flights.


I have deployed a paraglider (several steps) after exiting an airplane at 18,000' (and it is at best a complex process) that I don't see being very worthwhile except in as a novelty.

The equipment for a ground launch paraglider flight vs a deployed paraglider flight has a heavy contrast. Doing a high pull on a larger more efficient skydiving canopy is really fun, and has a different appeal than a 8 hour soaring paraglider flight.

No, "they" (I hate that word; 'they') don't make one that does that. Several people in the past, including myself, has dabbled in making what would be a 'fully free-fall deployable paraglider' but found after a few tries that the construction is very different and the type of fun you want to have is specific to the two different sports.

Paragliding is very very fun, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to soar. I also hang glide, but I have not rigged my glider in years. Try everything! It's all fun and there are fun people to meet and awesome, beautiful places to go in all if it. (IMO the destinations for PG are much more beautiful than that of skydiving [flat, mostly farm land VS mountains/ocean cliffs)

-SPACE-

[Calvin19 0]

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fly hang gliders. I've spent some time discussing the pros and cons with paraglider pilots. Get the advice of a paraglider instructor before you try anything. My thoughts:

1. I'm pretty sure a paraglider sail will not do well in a terminal velocity situation. It's not built for that.

2. Thermals very rarely go over about 8,000ft. Paragliders can very much thermal, just not as well as hang gliders.

3. You would have to learn to paraglide before adding power.

4. My philosophy is that my hang glider is about flying. Skydiving is about freefall. I think of my canopy as just a way to end safely.

I'm looking at portability. Hanglider you need cliff or tow. Paraglider you need cliff. Power paraglider you need an open area. Then there is kiteboarding, snow, ground, water.

I realize there are many different aspects to any type of chute or kite sport.

You can tow PGs just fine from a scooter, truck, or boat. Aero-tow (just as expensive as a skydive) is extremely rare on a PG, but common on HGs.
Portability and versatility you cannot beat a PG or PPG. But Hang gliders (HGs) have SPEED, energy retention, and they don't have the nasty collapse issues that PGs have.

-SPACE-

[OHCHUTE 0]

If you could figure out a way to deploy paraglider via skydive would be really cool especially to do thermals or to go cross country.

Yes this is cool. Step off the cliff and float around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOfBb5OdkVw

I realize the weight/ noise with motor attached.