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What is paragliding?
Paragliding is as close to the feeling of flying like a bird as you will ever get. It is free flight (non-powered) in its purest form. A paraglider is a foot launched flying wing. It is convenient because it is easy to carry, easy to setup, and easy to fly. Paragliders are constructed from nylon and coated with silicone (UV protection). The pilot is suspended from incredibly strong mylar or kevlar lines. The pilot flies in a harness positioned like a reclining chair for maximum comfort in the air. When flying, you can actually soar like a bird - taking advantage of rising air in the form of thermals or ridge (wind) lift.
Are paragliders the same as parasails?
Most people have a tendency to confuse paragliding with parasailing. Parasails are large parachutes generally pulled behind a boat at the beach or at a lake. Paragliders are launched from hills, mountains, cliffs, or from tow winches. Paragliders are dynamically closer akin to the wings of a 747 than to a parachute. A parachutes purpose is to bring you down to the ground slowly. The purpose of a paraglider is to go up higher into the air allowing you to fly for hours at a time, covering miles of terrain, by utilising the upward movement of air to keep you afloat.
Hang gliding vs. paragliding?
The major difference lies in the wing shape and design. Hang gliders are solid wing structures, utilizing an aluminum frame to create a V-shaped wing that resembles the stealth bomber. Paragliders are soft wing structures (no internal frame) that once inflated have an elliptical shape. Because paragliders have a slower flying speed they are much more forgiving. As a result the learning curve is usually quicker on a paraglider. Also, paragliders fold up into a small bag.
Total weight of the paraglider, harness, reserve parachute, helmet is usually around 15-20kg. A hang glider rolls up into a bag that is about5m long and weighs 25-30kg. Paragliders are carried in a large backpack, whereas hang gliders require a vehicle with extra racks. Obviously paragliders are the more convenient of the two. Hang gliders will always be faster than paragliders because of their solid wing structure, yet with the slower flying speed, paragliders tend to be much more manoeuvrable, and can fly in lesser conditions.
Safety
The main factor concerning pilot safety is pilot attitude. There is a saying in the flying community, "There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots." The bottom line here is that most deaths occur due to pilot error. Very rarely do we see equipment failures. The majority of fatal accidents occur because pilots were flying in weather conditions that were too extreme, or pilots were doing dangerous manoeuvres close to the ground. Our main concern in your training is pilot safety. We can teach you how to judge meteteorological conditions, physical terrain dangers, weather changes, etc., but it is up to you the pilot to judge whether the conditions are safe for you to fly in.
Are there any age restrictions?
Paragliding is about peace and serenity. Paragliding does not require a large amount of physical strength therefore many people can enjoy the sport for hours on end. More important than actual physical conditioning is physical and mental alertness. On the other hand if you are looking to lose a couple of pounds paragliding is a great way to get yourself back into shape. It is illegal to train children under the age of 14 and those under 16 must be signed off by their parent/guardian. We have trained people up to the age of seventy.
What certifications do I need to fly?
Paragliding works on a certification system. Pilots receive ratings throughout their flying career that should reflect the pilot skill level. The ratings are as such:
Beginner Pilot - Student can only fly under instructor supervision and instructor radio contact.
Basic Licence - Student is now considered a full fledged pilot and can fly solo at nearly 90% of our flying sites nationally.
Sport Licence - Student has now passed a number of flight requirements and has amassed many logged hours. At this point you are considered a competent pilot and can fly almost every site safely.
Tandem pilot- This requires a minimum of 300 solo flights and 2 years prior flying experience as well as holding a sports licence for at least one year before you can start working towards getting this certification. Even then, the decision whether to allow you to carry passengers is decied by the SAHPA committee based on your flying track record.
What will it cost me?
The training will be the first cost that you incur. At Wallend-Air, it costs R9,600.00 to receive your Basic Licence rating. We allow you to use school equipment at no charge during your novice training. As your skills progress we will give you the opportunity to fly a number of different gliders in different conditions, before making a decision to purchase your own. The required flying equipment is helmet, harness, reserve parachute, and glider. This will cost you between R20,000 and R30,000 depending on what features you like. If properly maintained, this equipment will last you at least 4 years.
Can I find used equipment?
Used equipment is available from a number of different sources. The problem is that it is hard to tell if used equipment is safe. The number one factor that damages paragliders is UV exposure. It breaks down the glider coating and allows air to escape from the canopy reducing the internal pressure and making the canopy more prone to collapse.
It is hard to really tell how much UV exposure a glider has received. Pilots will tell you it only has 80 hours of flight time on it, but how many 100's of hours was it sitting in the sun? As new pilots you are still learning and thinking a lot while you are in the air. We do occassionally carry used equipment from former students that have upgraded their gliders. In this case we are in a good position to accurately judge the number of hours of flight and UV time the glider has been exposed to as well as the general upkeep it's been given. We will also perform an annual inspection and line check to assure that the glider is still within specifications.
Because our purchasing protocol is so particular, quality used equipment may be difficult to find in your size and budget, so a lot of patience will be required to find the best deal for you. Our recommendation is to buy new equipment the first time.
How do I get started?
The best way to start is to take one of our introductory weekend courses or go for a tandem flight. We have qualified instructors who work with us full time, so reservations are available 7 days a week. This means that we are available to work around your schedule. Once you discover the wonder of paragliding, the intro course can be fully applied to your Basic licence certification.
How long will the course take?
The Basic licence generally takes 9-14 (average 12) days to complete. Because Wallend-Air averages less than 3 students per instructor, you will receive the personal attention you need to advance your skills quickly. Learning to paraglide well, however, will be a long time obsession. Once you have trained with Wallend-Air, you're part of our family. You will be encouraged to join us for fun flying trips several times a week as well as have the opportunity to take part in more formalized courses, clinics and tours.
Why learn at Wallend-Air School of Paragliding?
The instruction at Wallend-Air is unsurpassed by any other school in South Africa. Currently we have 3 full time instructors and staff that are available to teach our students on a daily basis. One of these instructors was a member of the SA Team. Our instructors have a thorough knowledge of educational theory, heaps of enthusiasm, years of paragliding instruction experience and have flown countrywide and around the world. For more about choosing a paragliding school, and why Wallend-Air, click here.
Where do I sign-up?
Click here!!! Or come visit us. Click here for directions.
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