We
hope this introduction will provide you with a better understanding
and appreciation of Paragliding and allow you to easily decide
if you're ready for some fun!
What
is Paragliding ?
How
does it work ?
What
makes it stay up ?
Who
can do it ?
Where
can I do it ?
How
safe is it ?
How
much does it cost ?
For
once man has tasted flight he will forever walk the earth
with eyes turned skywards.
For there he has been and there he longs to return.
Leonardo
Da Vinci.
What
is Paragliding?
When
most people hear about Paragliding for the first time, they confuse
it with parasailing (being towed behind a boat) or sometimes parachuting.
Paragliding is the fastest growing air sport in the world, to
find out why, please read on….
Paragliders are so simple and so effective that they seem almost
too good to be true. Just imagine: a personal aircraft that can
be kept at the bottom of a wardrobe and carried in your backpack,
yet can climb in silence for thousands of meters and carry you
for hundreds of kilometers. For many people it is a dream come
true!
The Paraglider canopy is actually a wing, which flies by using
exactly the same aerodynamic effects that keep aeroplanes in the
sky. However unlike an aeroplane, the beautiful thing about a
Paraglider is that they don't require an engine to stay airborne.
Forget the confines of airports, the narrow aluminium tube of
a passenger jet, and ordinary mortal style flying. Think instead
about skimming metres above a remote mountain top in the company
of a wedge tailed eagle, flying for hours using only your skill
and the invisible lift the air can provide, soaring high and cool
over beaches packed with hot and sweaty sunbathers. This is what
Paragliding is all about.
How
does it work?
Although similar in looks to a parachute, a Paraglider's main
design function is for flying and climbing in rising air currents,
not floating down to the ground. This is achieved by the sleek
shape of the Paraglider canopy, which is called an aerofoil. The
aerofoil is the same principle that all aircraft use to fly and
creates an upward force when air flows around it. The Paraglider
is held in shape by the pressure of the air flowing into the openings
at the front.
Amazingly,
without the aid of an engine, a Paraglider can stay in the air
all day, if the pilot chooses to fly in the rising air currents.
Even if the wind stops a Paraglider will continue flying normally
and will gradually glide down to the ground. The harness is a
comfortable armchair style where you sit back with a padded back
support - not hanging by leg straps! Steering is controlled by
left and right brake lines, which cause the glider to turn when
pulled.
What
makes it stay up?
The magic of invisible lift provided free by nature - Paraglider
pilots use the same techniques as eagles and other soaring birds
to climb high into the sky. When the sun heats the ground it creates
pockets of warm air, which eventually break free and float skywards
like bubbles. This is called a thermal.
A
Paraglider pilot can gently circle in this thermal and climb to
the desired height, sometimes thousands of meters above the ground.
Another type of lift is generated when wind hits any hill or cliff
and is forced to travel upwards. This creates an area of rising
air called ridge lift. Apart from the exhilarating views you are
part of, another exciting dimension to Paragliding is the amazing
feeling of utilising this invisible source of energy. Then you
are truly experiencing "free flight", no engines, no
noise, just you the sun and the wind.
Who can do it?
Anyone
can experience the thrill of a Tandem
flight. All you need is to be able to jog a few steps and
have a sense of adventure.
Paragliding is quite easy to
learn, anyone can experience it. From the young to the young
at heart! All you need is an average level of fitness. Even beginners
can be up and achieving low-level solo flights with about 1 days
tuition.
Where
can I do it?
The
Sushine Coast has 25 flying sites that cater for various wind
directions and conditions. Each one is spectacular with their
own unique characteristics. They are located in and around Noosa,
Mooloolaba, Caloundra, the Sunshine Coast Hinterland including
Montville and Maleny and the world famous Rainbow Beach. Because
of the close proximity of our sites we often fly inland first,
cruising thousands of feet above the fertile Sunshine Coast hinterland
until mid afternoon. Then we return to the coast and fly the cool
sea breeze and watch the golden sunset, to finish off a wonderful
day.
How
safe is it?
The Paraglider is probably the most inherently stable aircraft
there is and will automatically fly straight and level without
the controls being used. Like driving a car or SCUBA diving, Paragliding
is as safe as the person doing it. All Instructors and Tandem
Pilots involved in your flight are fully qualified and licensed
by the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia (HGFA). This is the
sporting body that administers Paragliding under regulations enforced
by the Government through the Civil Aviation Safety Authority
of Australia (CASA).
How
much does it cost?
Tandem
Flights: Click
here.
See the Sunshine Coast from an eagle's perspective and
enjoy the silence. Totally unobstructed 360 degree views in every
direction! No straining to try and get a look out of tiny plane
windows! If conditions allow you have the option of extending
your flight or going cross country, where we fly overland
using nature's thermals and wind currents to take us on a journey
to a new destination. What an adventure!
Tandem
Flight gift vouchers
are also available, making a unique gift for family and friends
that appreciate exciting surprises.
Paragliding
Intro and Learn to fly:
Click
here.
Feel the exhilaration of flying solo and using natures energy
to travel the sky.
Bring one or more friends and each receive a group discount
off all our prices. Based on the number of friends you book.
Paragliding
is definitely the cheapest form of personal flying
that exists. And in today's age of pollution and expendable fossil
fuels it is refreshing to enjoy something that is so easy on the
environment.
If
you wish to purchase your own equipment there is a limited second
hand market with a small amount of gear available. However it
isn't like other markets with a multitude of choice and options,
but sometimes you can be up and flying starting at about $2500.
If you prefer brand new gear, about $4500 will get you flying.
With new equipment you can be assured of the highest safety standards
and performance. New equipment will also maintain a much higher
resale value if you choose to upgrade to a higher performance
glider in a few years. There is a vast range of Paraglider canopies,
harnesses and associated equipment available, each with their
own features and flying characteristics. We can explain these
and advise on what might best suit your needs, then help you find
what you are looking for.
You
can truly achieve humankinds greatest dream, …..flying.
Thanks
for taking the time to introduce yourself to Paragliding. We hope
to see you in the air soon.
