northcave 0 #1 September 19, 2007 If i found a hill like here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwdLOUg9-7M One with a good slope and clear from obstacles. Would be a good place to ground launch my canopy for someone who is just used to handling it from the usual 3.5k opening. I feel comfortable with my canopy and confident but just wondering what other advice people had. I'm about 60kg on a fair docile F111 170sqf. I assume a nice steady 10mph headwind would help when running down the hill trying to get airborne? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stayhigh 2 #2 September 19, 2007 if you ask ppl will tell you NO... so don't ask...Bernie Sanders for President 2016 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #3 September 19, 2007 There's plenty of Paragliding clubs/schools up near you and they have worked very hard to gain access to sites (some of which are very sensitive and could be lost if abused). SO, please...please...please contact them first before going out into t'hills. PLEASE. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenister 0 #4 September 20, 2007 find a qualified coach.... and make sure your health/life insurance is up to date... Ground launching has broken even some of the best canopy pilots in the world very badly... odds are against anyone with less experience and knowledge, but its your life risk it anyway you chose... just make sure there is video...____________________________________ Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yoink 321 #5 September 20, 2007 There aren't many qualified coaches around yet. There's the GLC in the States and a few people that teach ski-launched speed flying in Western Europe. There's also a GL school in Crimea, but that's about all I think. There aren't any qualified coaches in the UK at the moment - hell, there aren't exactly a lot of people ground launching over here yet. Tim, I echo Tony's advice - get to a paragliding school in your area. There's a fair bit more to site selection than just finding a hill and hucking yourself off it. The paragliders will probably be happy to give you some advice on predicting turbulance around hills, advice on kiting and launching as well as information on sites to stay away from. For now, practice kiting your canopy in a wide, open space. You'll soon figure out what sort of wind speeds are appropriate for that - start in light winds and work up! Practise both reverse and forward kiting - it's invaluable at the launch point. Edit: Something to think about - most experienced ground launch pilots suggest that the ideal wingloading is from about 1.3:1 to 1.6:1 - this isn't a 'you need a smaller wing' argument, but more of a 'until you've developed the skills to fly a parachute at that sort of loading competently, maybe you don't need the added dangers of swooping hills?' Keep practising up high and try and get some canopy coaching. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
