Paragliding and hang gliding

More than 40,000 people in Germany are paragliders or hang gliders. They have all realised the age-old human dream of flying. With the ultra-light paragliders and hang gliders, they take to the skies without the use of a motor and in a way that is compatible with nature. They are flying in the Alps, the low mountain ranges and in the lowlands. They are driven by the wind and thermals and a deep passion. Pilots describe the sport of paragliding and hang gliding as exhilarating, exciting and close to nature.

Hang gliding

Francis Rogallo's brilliant invention (USA 1948) only actually consisted of connecting 3 poles through a fan-shaped sail and spreading these apart with a fourth horizontal pole.This so called "Rogallo Glider" was the forefather to all subsequent hang gliders which took off in their manned form for the first time in the sixties.Today they are built from aluminium poles, stainless steel lines and synthetic sails. This type of hang-glider weighs between 20 and 40 kilos and provides a sail area of between 13 and 17 square metres.

The hang glider is steered by a steering frame which shifts the centre of gravity.The pilot is attached in a horizontal position to the so-called harness gear under the expanse of the sail. In this aerodynamically favourable position, a modern day piece of equipment can demonstrate a gliding performance of 1:12.

Paragliding

In 1974 the American Dan Pointer published a text book about "parasailing". In 1978 two French men became known for their flight attempts in which they used huge expanses of sails and experimented with running starts. Since 1987 paragliding in Germany has been approved by the Ministry of Transport. Today's paragliders are elliptical wings of 20 to 30 square metres whose chambers are filled by accumulated compresed air and stiffen up in flight. The pilot is connected to the paraglider by the rigging lines which run down the undersurface of the sail and by the harness gear. The paraglider is usually steered by steering lines to the right and to the left , which brake on one side. Simultaneous operation of the steering lines decreases flight speed. The gliding perfomance of modern day paragliders is 1:7.

Training

A hang glider or paraglider pilot in Germany must have a state approved aviation licence. This document is issued by the German hang gliding Association (DHV). The minimum age is 16 with parental consent. General fitness is necessary but a medical fit to fly certificate is not stipulated. Building on this general qualification, it is possible to attain specific authorizations, for example for tow starts and passenger flights.The unlimited aviation licence allows the pilot to complete rural, long distance flights.

Take off and landing sites

Take off and landing in Germany take place on airfields which have been authorized by the German Hang gliding Association. Initially the regional centre for hang-gliding and paragliding was the area around the Alps. However, as a result of the improved flight performance of equipment, further centres have developed in German low mountain ranges and, since towing winches have been in operation, there are more in the lowlands.

Safety

As with any kind of air sports, safety is of primary importance. Paragliding and hang gliding are demanding outdoor sports. In terms of risk, they are comparable to other demanding outdoor sports such as mountaineering or water sports. In order to practise these sports in a risk-minimised manner, good technical skills and a reliable assessment of the environmental factors are required.

Precisely because paragliding and hang gliding are so easy to learn, personal responsibility, self-discipline and risk awareness are basic prerequisites for practising this sport safely. It is particularly important to assess your own ability and the flying weather. The centrepiece of safety is authorized equipment with a certificate of quality, suitable personal equipment and pilot training completed in accordance with the rules.

More information about equipment tests

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