Paragliding equipment
We are going to explain you everything you need to know about paragliding equipment in our paragliding guide. This can be useful if you want to attend to a paragliding course or simply understand better what is paragliding.
What paragliding equipment do I need?
In case you are thinking about taking a course to learn to paraglide and you are looking for paragliding equipment for sale, we will explain which all the components of paragliding equipment are.
At Overfly Tenerife, we always recommend you to confer with your instructor before buying a paraglider since there are many models and manufacturers. Your instructor is the one who best knows how to advise you which is the paragliding equipment that adapts properly to your flying style. If you have any doubt, you can also contact us!
Paragliding wing
The paraglider wing is the most important element of paragliding equipment and it consists of two main layers, top and bottom surfaces. These, in turn, are joined by a fabric called ribs — forming between them what we call “cells” or “boxes”.
It has an aerodynamic design that allows it to have a glide ratio, in some cases, close to 13:1. The paragliders wings are made of a fabric that has no porosity, so air can’t pass through it. The most commonly used materials in paragliding are polyester or nylon.
Paragliding harness
The pilots are comfortably seated in the paragliding harness. They are made of very resistant materials and, in their majority, they have protections that protect the back in case of take-offs or landings failed.
The paragliding harnesses vary according to the needs of the pilot. There are others for the passengers of a tandem flight, which are also perfect for paragliding lessons, XC harnesses for long distances, acro harnesses special for acrobatics, harness for tandem paragliding pilots and even small ones for children.
paragliding helmet
An essential safety element that must be part of your paragliding equipment is the paragliding helmet. It fulfills the function of protecting our head and face from possible incidents during a takeoff or a landing that does not go very well, especially when we are learning.
There are two types of helmets — open and closed. The closed ones protect the jaw and face better. It is extremely important that the helmet is properly homologated to be used for paragliding flights.
Reserve parachute
The reserve parachute is the most important security element that we must have in our paragliding equipment. The reasons for using it are several — you can commit an error, collide with another pilot in a distraction, weather conditions can change, failure in our main equipment, and so on.
There are many models and types of paragliding parachutes that can be adapted to our needs. Confer with your instructor in case you doubt which reserve parachute you can choose. He or she will know how to advise you properly.
Other paragliding fight instruments
The purpose of the variometer is to help the pilot to locate the core of the thermals that will allow him to have a greater height gain and, consequently, to stay longer in flight and to travel greater distances. The variometer indicates the rates of ascent or descent with short audio signals and also by means of a visual screen.
Another element of our paragliding equipment is the paragliding radio which is used to communicate with other pilots who are flying or to inform the group’s attendants where the pilot wants to land.
The paragliding GPS (Global Position System) is an indispensable accessory in any paragliding competition since it allows us showing the route that we have drawn during the flight.
Paragliding flight company located in Costa Adeje, Tenerife, with more than 30 years of experience
Top 10 Paragliding Equipments
If you’ve clicked this article, that means you’re interested in knowing how to choose the right Paragliding wings for you. Have you completed a course in summer school, or do you just want to paraglide?
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Reasons Looking for Top Top 10 Paragliding Equipments
Reasons Looking for Top Top 10 Paragliding Equipments
In the first case, you really need wings for yourself. Otherwise, it’s better to enroll in a paragliding school, and train with the school’s gear and under the guidance of an instructor. That training will not only ensure your safety when you go paragliding, it will also give you an idea of what to do when choosing your first pair of wings. You have to understand that it is impossible to choose the correct gear without the experience and knowledge that a school gives you.
Take your time shopping! First familiarize yourself with the topic and only then take action. When you decide to go paragliding, you should be fully aware that it is an aircraft sport, and therefore, it’s difficult to be 100% safe. Your wing should match how good you are at Paragliding, otherwise you’re putting your health at risk, or you risk not being satisfied with your wings and the quality of your flights.
How do you choose the right paragliding equipment, and what should you know when going shopping?
First off, it’s important to know that the parameters of the aircraft will play a huge role in choosing and buying your wing, and there are several different types:
• Flight characteristics of the glider
• Safety class paraglider
• Generation of paraglider
• Area of the paraglider
• Material of the dome and slings
• Manufacturer price
List of Top 10 Paragliding Equipments
To help you, here is a list of the ten best paragliding parachutes on the market for all different pilots:
Phaeton 38
Phaeton 38
It is a great model designed primarily for hovering flight in tandem. The Phaeton series has excellent aerodynamic properties, which are comparable with models of single domes similar extensions. Tandem pilots with experience in flying won’t fail to note the increased aerodynamic efficiency and the high-speed range, which allows you to make very soft and accurate takeoffs and landings, so it is necessary when passengers do not have any experience in paragliding. The wing allows for really steep and long maneuvers and all this, of course, does not sacrifice the inner reliability and comfort of the wings.
Vitamin 2
Vitamin 2
A great choice for students, beginners and weekend pilots. This is a great wing to learn to fly and make their first steps, or glides, in the sky. Easy start, a responsive handling and a high level of security – these are the main characteristics of the wing that are necessary for training and confidence in the air. A wide range of safe running control lines helps novice pilots feel better and avoid any mistakes mid-flight. It has a large open air that rapidly fills the wing, allowing students to learn and easy to start in a short period of time.
BRIGHT 5
BRIGHT 5
It is the fifth generation of Dome wings for novice pilots and for those that fly for pleasure. Bright5 – this dome has modern characteristics, but also maximum passive safety and convenient operation. The main development orientation is to delight the pilot in flight. If you are a pilot only flying from time to time, or the security of your flight along with prevention of issues are the most important, the Bright5 is the wing for you. Of course, these same characteristics during a nice summer are a good help in cross-country flights. If you are a paragliding trainer and you want to provide the most comfortable and secure service, then Bright5 will not disappoint you. According to Gradient, Bright5 is the best of educational domes created by the firm.
PRIMA IV
PRIMA IV
This product is equally well-suited for initial training as for free-flying pilots and beginners. Now, this classic paraglide’s wings upgraded again – the 4th wing version launched on the market. Paragliding is exactly the same as before, but with the technology of Flexon ™, first time developed by the APCO. Prima IV is also more resistant to various weather differences, with an updated design, modern handling – much more precise, sensitive and responsive than the previous versions.
KARMA EVO
KARMA EVO
As the name implies KARMA EVO is the evolution of the legendary Karma paragliding wings. It has all the advantages of the Karma but has been completely redesigned from the base to be a worthy representative in the modern line APCO for beginners. The wing is available in two sizes – S and M. KARMA EVO was created as a result of years of feedback from schools, instructors and pilots from around the world. It’s super easy to fly and move forward, with simple but smart design and an excellent handling that does not tire you out, even after long training sessions. It is a pleasure to fly on it and it will excite you for a long time after flight school.
Mentor 3
The Mentor 2 paragliding wings were the base for the Mentor 3. The first prototypes of the Mentor 3 showed a huge potential for improving the quality and fine details. That’s the reason why they didn’t change the basic design of the Mentor 2 glider. Thus, Mentor 3 is the result of several well designed and optimized construction details. The basic specifications remain almost unchanged. However, they achieved a significant gain in quality, as compared to what they have been able to achieve with the previous models. As its successor, Mentor 3 offers the same level of stability and accuracy. It can fly calmer and even more efficient in streams than its predecessor. The excellent stability in all speed ranges remains the same, only with a much better value for money. It has a slightly increased the maximum speed as well.
MuSCat-2
This paragliding wing is for novice pilots. It has a high level of passive safety, confirmed by the certification CEN «B». The security of the Muscat wings have been confirmed often by time and the many pilots that began learning and practicing with it. Simple operation and high passive safety allow easy flying for pleasure for years to come! Muscat previously released the first generation that had different sizes – from 15 to 18 m2.
Muscat is widely used in flight schools and well-proven – thanks to a great start, quiet, no extremely sharp management, and a lack of tendency to parachute on the winch. It should be noted that the Muscat wing can fly with a paramotor – that can have a top speed of over 55 km/h. The design of the paraglider is simple and classic – all supported by slings and diagonal ribs. The air intake is open throughout the scale – this can be done to facilitate the start. The upper surface is made of Gelvenor fabric, which provides it with excellent quality.
ZENITH EVO
It is the new revolutionary wing for the middle class from Windtech. It is designed for pilots that seek wings with a light and robust design without compromising security. This is the first sports wing, certified to a lower category as a result of superior design, research work and three years of development and testing of prototypes. Windtech’s Zenith has speed, agility, and comfort in turbulence like no other wing on the paragliding market.
The safety in the air is simply amazing, and the ability to climb on a weak and broken “Terminal” is incomparable. This is one of the best in the market and it can, under certain conditions, compete with premium-class wings. ZENITH’s optimal load distribution and the stiffness of its unique profile allows you to make full use of its potential in flat polar curves and maintain high speed under all XC flights. The purpose of the design of the Zenith paraglider is to create a simple recreational wing with the ability to get the most out of it during long XC flying with turbulence.
AIRWOLF
Paraglider U-turn AIRWOLF – It has an upscale wing for cross-country flights, which provides excellent resistance, even during flights of 6.0 and higher flying qualities. From the very first moment of flight, the pilot feels safe, with this wing that has excellent safe measures that he can rely on during the most difficult flights. These are all excellent characteristics inherited from its ancestor. The safety during flight is provided through the U-Turn PPNplus technology. Instead of Mylar tabs to maintain the profile of the bow, it makes use of synthetic rods, not only in areas of the walls with stitched airbags but also directly over the air intakes. Thus, in difficult conditions during flight, the inside wing maintains normal pressure for much longer, which retains airflow and guarantees safety.
10. ARCUS 7
For novice pilots, Arcus is almost a synonym for paragliding. More experienced pilots associated with the Arcus wing say that it is easy to manage, which, along with safety and pleasure provides very good flight characteristics. And now Arcus acquires a new dimension. The new generation of “family Arcus” is primarily characterized with even greater security than its predecessors. But on closer inspection there are many changes. ARCUS 7 is the optimal wing that continues the successful history of Arcus. This wing is oriented both to pilots that just finished flight school, as well as the “experienced fliers” with easy handling, safety, and impressive performance. ARCUS 7 is also a very versatile wing that will guarantee a good, safe flight.
What components is the paragliding made up of?
It is common for people who are not very familiar with paragliding to end up confusing it with other sports, such as Paratrooperism and Delta Wing, although the truth is that they are completely different sports.
Also, many people also think that in reality the paragliding is simply a harness connected to a parachute. Therefore, in this article we wanted to delve deeper into the components that make up a paragliding, so that you are clearer how this activity is carried out.
The components of a paragliding equipment
As mentioned above, we will now focus on delving into the different parts of a paragliding equipment:
Paragliding wing:
The paragliding wing, called Wing or glider is similar to a parachutes with the naked eye, but the truth is that its shape is quite different.
For start, parachutes have a round or rectangular shape and have the primary goal of capturing air in order to stop the descent speed, while paragliders wings are designed to glide and fly smoothly.
To achieve its goal, the paragliding wing is elliptical and carefully designed to allow its structure to stay in the air for longer. It is true that in large part this depends on several weather factors, which if they are suitable can be kept in the air for several hours.
As for its materials, the paragliders are usually made of nylon, as it is a very resistant and durable material, so it is perfect for this task. Although at first glance it may appear to be a single piece, the truth is that its cover is composed of two separate sheets (intradoo and extradoo cells), which aim to inflate in order to catch the air.
Risers and lines:
By looking at the glider carefully you will see that some “lines” stand out, which are like wires called cordines. These meet the main objective of connecting the sail to the paraglider, allowing the pilot to control the paraglider as desired.
In general it can be said that there are about 30 lines on each side of the paraglider, which once they are grouped are called risers. On the risers are anchored the controls that the pilot uses to determine the direction and speed of the paraglider.
Harness or paragliding chair
The risers mentioned above are attached to the paragliding chair using carabiners, which is also known as a paragliding harness.
It is in the harness or in the chair that the pilot and passengers (if any) are seated so that they can go comfortable during the trip. Contrary to what many people think, the seats are actually very comfortable. The harness uses straps that are responsible for giving good safety to the pilot, preventing it from falling off at any time.
Security sistem:
The three parts mentioned above (wing, harness and cordines) are what are needed to enjoy the paragliding experience. However, there is also a safety sistem on the paragliding equipment that is necessary to be able to have a good experience and that the pilot can be safer.
The paragliding rescue parachute is one of the most commonly used safety equipment, which can be used during an emergency and as a paragliding reserve. The wing is highly unlikely to collapse or fail critically, but the parachute is there to make sure the pilot’s life is not in danger.
The helmet is another safety element to be used at all times, so many consider the helmet to be one more part of the paragliding. As you can imagine, it has the main function of protecting the head and face of the pilot and passengers to prevent them from being harmed in any incident.
Now you have all the information you need about the different parts of the paragliding that are needed for this aerial sport to take place. So you should already have a better idea of how this sport is performed and why it is one of the most popular options.
Source https://overflytenerife.com/paragliding-equipment/
Source https://topadventuresports.com/paragliding-equipment/
Source https://www.tenerifetopparagliding.com/en/components-paragliding-equipment.htm