Index	What is new ? / Quoi de neuf ?
Technique Flying skills / Talents de pilotage Aerology / Aérologie Launch / Décollage Maneuvers / Manoeuvres Reserve parachute / Parachute de secours Safety / Sécurité Repairs / Réparation Test / Essai Weekly news / Nouvelles hebdomadaires Image Video / Vidéo Certification Aerodynamics / Aérodynamique Wing manufacturer / Fabricant d'aile Association Handbook / Manuel Discussion Flying site / Site de vol Reality check / Retour à la réalité Humor / Humour Miscellaneous / Divers	Hangar sale. Learn to fly with me. Helmet with face UV protection. Best low drag harness PHI / Maestro 2: Observations. 2020 USHPA Commendation: Trophy + Article. Radio antenna connector and holder screw Best Audio-Only Vario (2019) Ozone / Buzz Z6: Observations. PHI / Maestro: Observations. PHI / Tenor: Flying impressions. Flight from Marshall to Soboba, 2017/9/29. Comfortable, efficient reserve repacking. Fun flight 2015/3/27. Improving Tips for Paraglider Pilots. Considering laser eye surgery? Paraglider Airspeed Converter.
Please support this site / S'il-te-plait supporte ce site

Technique

• Flying skills / Talents de pilotage:
  1. Tips for Paraglider Pilots / Conseils pour Parapentistes
  2. Cross Country Paragliding by Nikolay Yotov (SkyNomad).
  3. Active Flying by Karl Slezak (Source).
         Spanish version, translated by Hermenegildo (Blog).
  4. Will Gadd:
     • Thermals: Part 1 - Collectors, Wicks and Triggers, Part 2 - Thermals and Clouds, Part 3 - Thermalling Technique.
     • Cross-Country Flying 101.
  5. Bob Drury:
     • Zen and the art of circles: Part 1, Part 2.
  6. Air Lore by Greg Hamerton.
  7. Speed to fly:
     • Speed To Fly Basics by Flybubble.
     • Performance airspeeds for the soaring challenged by Jim D. Burch.
     • Speed to Fly by Mark Thompson, aka Bomber.
  8. Competition:
     • Common beginner mistakes in competition by Josh Cohn.
     • Tips from competition pilots, a compilation by Tim O'Neill.
  9. Mark Thompson, aka Bomber (E-mail):
     • Tips & Tricks for Your First Competition.
     • Thermalling in a Headwind.
     • Ten Tips to Get You There.
     • Flying Height Bands.
     • Natural Thermalling - What is it ?.
  10. Instructional paragliding articles by Jeff Greenbaum.
  11. Guidelines for intending competition pilots by Jenny Ganderton.
  12. Wing Tips by Claude Fiset.
  13. Jay Rebbeck: Thermals: Part 1 - How to Thermal Better, Part 2 - Getting Up to Speed.
  14. Useful technical solutions by Jiri Stipek.
  15. Thermalling Tips by James Freeman.
  16. How to survive thermalling in crowds by Joe Greblo.
  17. Rob Whittall: Flying Tips, Dealing with deflations.
  18. How To Avoid Cloud Suck by Steve Roti.
  19. XC retrieval tips by Andre Odinius.
  20. Soaring in a Thermal: Bank Angle, Speed, and Radius by Larry Bogan.
• Aerology / Aérologie:
  • Articles on weather and flying pointers by Dixon White.
  • Peter Gray:
    • Cooling Some Thermal Superstitions.
             Dennis Pagen's response.
    • More about the Role of Water Vapor.
    • Do Thermals Spin ?
  • Recognizing a convergence by Gary Brock.
  • YouTube > What a Thermal looks like by Brett Janaway.
  • Anatomy of Thermals: Thermal Bubble by Peter Gasparovic.
  • Thermal Lore by Dennis Pagen.
  • Understanding Aerology: Fizzy/Sticky air mass by Kelly Farina.
  • Skew-T Diagram:
    • Lecture with Larry Bunner. Extra reference.
• Launch / Décollage:
  • Mitsos reverse launch by Bruce Goldsmith.
  • Cobra launch by Jeff Greenbaum.
• Maneuvers / Manoeuvres:
  • Aerobatic tricks by Acromania.
  • just acro.
  • Wing-Overs by Gabriel Jebb.
  • Barrel Roll secrets by Paul Szpeed.
• Reserve parachute / Parachute de secours:
  • Choose the right reserve parachute by Flybubble.
  • Basic parachute use... A practical perspective for paraglider pilots by Betty Pfeiffer.
  • Packing / Pliage:
    • Service I offer: Reserve Parachute Repacking Tools.
    • Round:
      • With packing tabs.
        • Aeros / OK. User's manual: English (Source).
        • Aeros / SX. User's manual: English + German (Source).
        • Airea / Smile.
        • Gin Gliders / G-Lite. User's manual: English (Source).
        • Gin Gliders / Yeti, One G. User's manual: English (Source), Français (Source).
        • Free Flight Enterprises / PDA, LARA. User's manual: English (Source).
        • High Energy Sports / Quantum. User's manual: English.
        • Icaro / Jet or Limit. User's manual: English (Source).
        • Independence / Annular EVO. User's manual: English (Source).
        • Mac Para / Aegis. User's manual: English (Source).
        • Ozone / Angel V2 (V2 has packing tabs, not V1). User's manual: English (Source), Français (Source).
        • Paratech / PS1. User's manual: English, French, German.
        • Skywalk / Pepper 2 Light (same as Gin Gliders / Yeti). User's manual: English + German (Source).
        • Sup'Air / Shine. User's manual: English (Source), Français (Source).
        • Sup'Air / Light or XtraLite. User's manual: English (Source), Français (Source).
        • Trekking / Série F et AP. User's manual: Français, Source
        • UP / Profile Light. User's manual: English (Source).
      • Without packing tabs.
        • Apco / Mayday. User's manual: English (Source).
        • Niviuk / Cires. User's manual: English + Français + Spanish + German (Source).
        • Ozone / Angel (V1: No packing tabs). User's manual: English + Français.
        • Skywalk / Pepper Light. User's manual: English.
    • Square, Hexagon, Octagon:
      • Gin Gliders / Yeti Cross. User's manual: English (Source), Français (Source).
      • Gin Gliders / Yeti UL. User's manual: English (Source).
      • Niviuk / Octagon. User's manual: English + Français + Spanish + German (Source).
      • Niviuk / Octagon 2. User's manual: English + Français + Spanish + German (Source).
      • Ozone / Angel SQ. User's manual: English.
      • Ozone / Angel SQ V1+V2+Pro. User's manual: English (Source), Français (Source).
      • Skywalk / Pepper Cross Light. User's manual: English (Source).
      • Sup'Air / Fluid. User's manual: English (Source), Français (Source).
    • Square Round:
      • Companion / SQR. User's manual: English (Source), Français (Source).
    • List from others:
      • Parapente360 (Français).
  • How to correctly put your reserve parachute in your harness by Raul Rodriguez.
• Safety / Sécurité:
  • Tree rescue / Débranchage:
    • Tree self rescue kit.
    • Tree Rescue for Paraglider Pilots.
    • Tree Self-Rescue for Paraglider Pilots.
  • Wilderness survival / Survie en nature:
    • Nice harness! What’s in it besides your butt? Or, survival for the adventurous pilot, by Tim O'Neill.
  • Attitude: Reality check / Retour à la réalité.
• Repairs / Réparation:
  • Rip in wing / Déchirure de l'aile:
    • Ozone info: English / Français.
  • Line / Suspente:
    • Broken Line Sheathing / Gaine de Suspente Brisée.
    • Finger trap loop (for unsheathed lines):
      • Line Splicing Tips and Techniques by Stu Caruk.
      • Single Braid Splice by berkeley point.
    • Line set replacement.
    • Line set trim adjustment, by Andre Bandarra, 2017/8/31 (video).
  • Riser / Elévateur:
    • Replacement:
      • Nova Ion 7 XC-Riser install, by Jérôme Daoust, 2023/11/3.
    • Low friction ring:
      • Replacement methods, by UK Airsports, 2019/10/1.
  • Zipper:
    • Fix a zipper that doesn't close, by UCAN Zippers USA, 2014/10/20.

Test / Essai

• Wing / Aile
  • If I had to buy a wing today
  • Comparisons:
    • EN-B comparison by Ziad Bassil.
    • Comparaglider.
    • Paraglider Performance Comparison / Comparaison de Performance Parapente.
  • DHV: Plastic rods, yes or no?
  • Wing Articles / Articles sur les Ailes
  • The value of a test flight
  • Where wings are made.
  • Be a better buyer / Sois un meilleur acheteur
  • Thermik Magazine L/D measurements (Old snapshot)
  • Max L/D source comparison
  • Who reviewed this wing ? / Qui a essayé cette aile ?
• Accessories / Accessoires
  • Articles on Accessories / Articles sur les Accessoires
  • Best low drag harness (2022).
  • Best reversible airbag harness (2011).
  • Best regular harness (2011).
  • Best airbag harness (2011).
  • Best regular harness (2005).
  • Best Audio-Only Vario (2019).
  • Best Video Software. Excel document.
  • Best Camera. Excel document.

Weekly news / Nouvelles hebdomadaires

1. The Oz Report. Mostly HG stuff, but sometimes news for us too.
2. Rough English translation of DHV - News (in German). English version (may not have the latest info).
3. Ojovolador: Flying World.
4. Obsolete (2009): Paragliding News - Product oriented / Nouvelles Parapente - Orienté équipement

Image

• My collection / Ma collection
• Believe it or not / Crois-le ou pas .

Collection - By order of preference / Par ordre de préférence:

1. Andy Stocker.
2. Olivier Montel: Albums et Vol Libre et autre.
3. Vol Passion.
4. Bertrand Gabolde.

Video / Vidéo

Free / Gratuit:

• Tips for Paraglider Pilots - Video / Conseils pour Parapentistes - Vidéo.
• My collection / Ma collection.
• Other/Autres collections (by order of preference / par ordre de préférence):
  • Paragliding channel HD on Vimeo.
  • Alexander Caravitis: Incidents and accidents.
  • MMK. Edessa (38.9 MB) is an animation must-see, showing an accelerated competion task. Educational.
  • Marcin Kostur.
  • Zero-P.
  • Para Film Production.
  • Andy Stocker.
  • Mac Para Technology - Video Gallery.

Certification

Wing / Aile

• German / Allemande: DHV. See also DHV rating comments. Reports:
  • Last 3 months
  • Last 6 months
  • Last 12 months
• European / Européenne (EN): Summary, Reports.

Aerodynamics / Aérodynamique

• Design software:
  • BGD - Simulation driven design of paragliders. Presentation by Tom Lolies. Video, 2022/2/12.
  • Paraglider design secrets with Hannes Papesh. Video, 2019/5/10.
• Wing Loading by Adrian Thomas.
• See How It Flies, Airfoils and Airflow, Flow Around an Airfoil, by Marco Colombini and John S. Denker.
• Common Misconceptions in Aerodynamics, by Doug McLean. Best part of video from 9:21 to 37:00.
• How Airplanes Fly: A Physical Description of Lift by/de David Anderson & Scott Eberhardt.
  See also / voir aussi: Critique of "How Airplanes Fly".
• Kutta condition.
• Dynamic soaring (how to recover energy from the wind gradient) / Comment récupérer l'énergie du gradient de vent.
• Paraglider airfoils, JavaFoil. by Martin Hepperle.
• AirSpeed Indicator Types.
• Paraglider Airspeed Converter.

I you want a simpler explanation of Lift, see: Lift demons. ;-)

Wing manufacturer / Fabricant d'aile

General / Général:

• Gliderbase.
• Para2000: Data for all wings / Données pour toutes les ailes (Obsolete as of December 2018).

Comparing specifications / Comparaison de spécifications:

• Gliderbase.

Individual / Individuel:

• Advance
• Aeros
• AirCross
• AirDesign
• AirG
• Air-Pol
• Apco
• Axis
• BGD
• Drift
• Dudek
• Flow Paragliders
• FlyFat
• Flying Planet
• Gin Gliders
• Gradient
• Icaro
• Independence
• ITV
• KimFly
• LittleCloud
• Mac Para Technology
• Nervures
• Niviuk
• Nova
• Ozone
• ParAAvis
• ParaDelta (in French)
• PHI
• Pro-Design
• Sky Paragliders
• Skywalk
• Sol
• Swing
• Triple Seven
• U-Turn
• UP
• Windtech
• Wings of Change

Association

• Australia / Australie: HGFA (Hang Gliding Federation of Australia)
• Belgium / Belgique: FBVL (Fédération Belge de Vol Libre)
• Canada: HPAC (Hang gliding and Paragliding Association of Canada)
• France: FFVL (Fédération Française de Vol Libre)
• Germany / Allemagne: DHV (Deutscher Hängegleiter Verband e.V.)
• Hong Kong: HKPA (Hong Kong Paragliding Association)
• International: FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale)
• Ireland / Irlande: IHPA (Irish Hang-Gliding and Paragliding Association)
• Italy / Italie: FIVL (Federazione Italiana Volo Libero)
• Korea / Corée: KPGA (Korea Paragliding Association)
• Netherlands / Pays-Bas: KNVvL (Royal Netherlands Aeronautical Association, department of paragliding)
• New Zealand / Nouvelle Zélande: NZHGPA (New Zealand Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association)
• Poland / Pologne: Paralotnie (A popular site)
• Portugal: FPVL (Federação Portuguesa de Voo Livre)
• Slovenia / Slovénie: SFFA (Slovene Free Flying Association)
• South Africa / Afrique du Sud: SAHPA (South African Hang gliding and Paragliding Association)
• Sweden / Suède: SSFF (Svenska Skärmflygförbundet)
• Switzerland / Suisse: SHV (Schweizerischer Hängegleiter-Verband)
• UK / Royaume-Uni: BHPA (British Hang-Gliding and Paragliding Association)
• USA / Etats-Unis d'Amérique: USHPA (United States Hang gliding and Paragliding Association), Store.
  • Magazine: Read online past issues.
  • Learning to fly under USHPA's 2016 RRG.
  • How it got its new name.
  • California: Orange County: Orange Thermal Club.

Handbook / Manuel
You can view this information on your computer at home, on the computers in the library, or through a computer rental.

• Basics / Notions de base:
  • English: Pocket Aviation by Panayiotis Kaniamos, is a complementary reference or course aid to qualified instruction.
• Airspace / Règlementation aérienne:
  • English: Airspace tutorial by Rob McKenzie.
  • English: Understanding USA Airspace for Paraglider, Hang Glider and Ultralight pilots (on YouTube) by Ty Gunnlaugsson.
• Online class:
  • USA P2 Paraglider Training.
• Meteorology / Météorologie:
  • Français: Manuel Parapente
• Right-of-way / Priorités:
  • English: Right-of-Way Rules for Paragliders by Jérôme Daoust.

Discussion

• Written / Ecrit.
  
  • English.
    • Paragliding Forum is the Best.
    • For Towing: The Towing List.
  • Français. Je te recommande de joindre le Forum Francophone et de choisir le format "digest".
• Glossary:
  • Gliding Glossary by Wolds Gliding Club.
  • Petit lexique Français-Anglais / Small French-English glossary by Ligue de Nord Picardie de Vol Libre.
  • A comprehensive glossary of weather terms for storm spotters

Flying site / Site de vol

Ordered by personal preference (quality+proximity) / Ordonné par préférence personnelle (qualité+proximité):

1. Marshall (California, USA) is a thermalling site with XC potential, easy/safe launch and grassy LZ. C'est un site de vol thermique avec potentiel pour XC, décollage facile/sécuritaire et atterrissage gazonné.
2. Soboba (California, USA) is a thermalling and soaring site (Danger: Launch can be in wind shadow). C'est un site de vol thermique et dynamique (Danger: Le décollage peut être sous le vent).
3. Elsinore (California, USA) is good for XC. C'est un bon site pour les XC.
4. Palomar (California, USA) is a thermalling site. C'est un site de vol thermique.
5. Mentone (California, USA) is a thermalling site often usable when Marshall is not due to North wind. C'est un site de vol thermique souvent utilisable quand Marshall ne l'est pas dû à du vent du Nord.
6. Torrey Pines (California, USA) is a good ridge lift site by the ocean (see Hazards). C'est un bon site de bord de mer (voir Dangers).
7. Kagel (California, USA) is a good mountain site. C'est un bon site montagne.
8. Blackhawk (California, USA) is great for XC, but rarely used. C'est un excellent site pour les XC, mais rarement utilisé.

Guides to flying sites over the world, rated by order of preference (related discussion):

1. Paragliding Earth.
2. Locations using Google Earth software:
   • World sites by Gerry "Scare" Grossnegger and the Oz Report. Contents of this network link will update itself as the editors add more sites. Includes links to local web pages. More info here and here.
   • USA sites by Wayne Clingingsmith.
   • Airspace by Lloyd Bailey.
3. Leonardo / World Takeoffs.

Reality check / Retour à la réalité

Ordered by personal preference / Ordonné par préférence personnelle:

1. Paraglider Pilot Profiling .
2. Why Can't We Get A Handle On This Safety Thing ? by Mike Meier.
3. Sustainable Fun.
4. Doing It With Style by Paul Gazis.
5. Paragliders and Rowing Boats by Richard Grant.
6. Ground Effect by Pete Powell.
7. Warning - Unsafe Flying Conditions Ahead by Wills Wing.
8. What If by Lowell Skoog.
9. Listening to that Little Voice of Warning by Paul Gazis.
10. Competitors: Good for them !
11. It's cool to sink out by Chris Santacroce.
12. Stopping.
13. Death:
    • Death of a Star.
    • Grief by Lowell Skoog.

Humor / Humour

• English:
  • Collection:
    • Mine: Jokes and Images.
  • Nick Wisser:
    • Big Mouth, er, Big Ears
    • Eye on the Sky: An Interview with Andy Gravityboy
    • Glider Feedback
    • Cutting Through the Marketing Talk
  • Pie in the sky by Rod Bailey.
  • Warning by Les Sharp.
  • Dictionaries:
    • Paralingo by Ken Hudonjorgensen.
  • Frequently Asked Questions, and the Answers by Paul Gazis.
  • Tim Parish:
    • Paraglidig? Anything like Paragliding?
    • Build own paraglider?
    • Children's literature
  • Mort by Greg Hamerton.
• Français:
  • Scoops en l'Air.
  • Règles aériennes (par Benoit Trupin).
  • Dessins humoristiques, Ligue de Nord Picardie de Vol Libre.
  • Dessins humoristiques par Thierry Mainsart.
• Other/Autre:
  • Parapentolândia. A collection of funny images.

Miscellaneous / Divers

• My home page / Ma page web.
• Log book / Carnet de vol:
  • Excel format: English+Metric, English+Imperial, French+Metric, Spanish+Metric.
  • Apple Numbers format, by David Webb: English+Imperial. Offers: Launches and LZs selection from a dropdown, auto totals.