Paragliders & Paragliding
Discussion
I tried it a few years ago.
One week intensive course in the Alps - leading to increasing flights - tandem, then solo.
Was very good - the weather is very stable in the Alps which makes for good training - it's a bit variable here for learning as you need quite a narrow window of wind speed.
Training was good, all in English, nice small groups with 1:3 ratio. Worked well as not far to travel at night, a chance to have a holiday as well!
I think the instructors were from here: http://www.lespassagersduvent.com and I stayed with these guys:
http://www.paraglidingholidays.com
Training was good; sadly my ambition overtook capability and in no way reflects on the training and I did have a big incident on my last solo - which was from a take off point over a high shelf. The wing went over me and past... I fell about 45ft and was caught up in trees which stopped me falling about 200ft. Walked away, but was a near run thing; caused by my own error. Result = very bad bruising and deep gouges across my back.
My advice is to research, learn some theory and do multiple tandems first. Ease yourself in slowly!
One week intensive course in the Alps - leading to increasing flights - tandem, then solo.
Was very good - the weather is very stable in the Alps which makes for good training - it's a bit variable here for learning as you need quite a narrow window of wind speed.
Training was good, all in English, nice small groups with 1:3 ratio. Worked well as not far to travel at night, a chance to have a holiday as well!
I think the instructors were from here: http://www.lespassagersduvent.com and I stayed with these guys:
http://www.paraglidingholidays.com
Training was good; sadly my ambition overtook capability and in no way reflects on the training and I did have a big incident on my last solo - which was from a take off point over a high shelf. The wing went over me and past... I fell about 45ft and was caught up in trees which stopped me falling about 200ft. Walked away, but was a near run thing; caused by my own error. Result = very bad bruising and deep gouges across my back.
My advice is to research, learn some theory and do multiple tandems first. Ease yourself in slowly!
Give these guys a call
paramotorclub
Get in contact with Simon Westmore, I went to school with him and he is now very experience and probably one of the best paramotor pilots in the UK, he was on the team for the skycar expedition.
paramotorclub
Get in contact with Simon Westmore, I went to school with him and he is now very experience and probably one of the best paramotor pilots in the UK, he was on the team for the skycar expedition.
Speaking as a relative novice who's done a bit of paragliding over the last 10 years - it's a fab sport, but not without its frustrations and risks.
I started learning in the UK, and it felt like a struggle against the weather. Paragliding is very weather dependent anyway - and even more so when you're initially learning or with low experience. I spent a number of days eating icecream on the top of the local hills, just waiting for the conditions to be right... and whilst that was entirely enjoyable in itself, I decided to stop using my vacation to munch Cornettos and gave it a break for a while. The good news, however, is that your desire for solo flight will probably be fulfilled on your first day of training - although you can do tandem flights with an instructor, most schools will have you airborne on your own on Day 1. This was a great high-point for me... along with gaining my first part of the paragliding license, the EP (Elementary Pilot).
Some years went by, and I looked into the feasibility of overseas training in somewhere with more favourable weather. Two years ago, I spent a week on the Bordeaux coast with a British paragliding school. Everything clicked into place here - 5 out of the 7 days were flyable, and before long I was spending hours at a time soaring up and down the mile-long sand dunes of Dune de Pyla, and gaining my CP (Club Pilot) license in the process. It really is an amazing sport - for me, it's the mixture of adrenaline, skill and pure serenity that does it. For reference, the CP license now gives me the ability to fly without tuition but still within a club environment.
Rather impressed by the overseas approach to flying, I spent a second week abroad in Madeira. This was with the same school as in France - and even as a "qualified" pilot, the extra confidence to be found from still flying with your instructor was not to be underestimated. Madeira was quite different from France; take-offs some thousands of feet up the cliff, and landings on entertainingly small beaches. I preferred the relaxed, zero-stress of Dune de Pyla for sure... and that was even before I landed badly - scrapes only, fortunately! That said, a fantastic week of flying, made even better by the great company from like-minded individuals. Slight insanity helps.
Spending a bit of time out in the Middle East, I got rather excited when I found a paramotor school - this seemed like a good antidote to dodgy British weather, in the sense that low-wind days become fair game for flying. Paragliding needs a certain amount of wind for ridge soaring, you see. Unfortunately I didn't get on too well with this - a mixture of the language barrier, my slight hesitancy in launching directly towards a six-lane highway and staggering around with a 30kg motor on my back in desert climates have persuaded me to leave that until I'm back in the UK for good. Unfortunately a lot of British paramotor schools insist upon you purchasing your own kit upfront... which might delay this a bit.
I'm now hoping to return to France over the summer - casual floating for hours above soft sand is where I like to be. I should at least try it more in the UK too... but the appeal of flying in sunshine over slightly-lower-risk terrain is quite strong!
Some figures: EP license is about £400, CP license is about £400. A full set of brand new kit is about £3500; a set of second-hand kit can be as low as £1000.
I started learning in the UK, and it felt like a struggle against the weather. Paragliding is very weather dependent anyway - and even more so when you're initially learning or with low experience. I spent a number of days eating icecream on the top of the local hills, just waiting for the conditions to be right... and whilst that was entirely enjoyable in itself, I decided to stop using my vacation to munch Cornettos and gave it a break for a while. The good news, however, is that your desire for solo flight will probably be fulfilled on your first day of training - although you can do tandem flights with an instructor, most schools will have you airborne on your own on Day 1. This was a great high-point for me... along with gaining my first part of the paragliding license, the EP (Elementary Pilot).
Some years went by, and I looked into the feasibility of overseas training in somewhere with more favourable weather. Two years ago, I spent a week on the Bordeaux coast with a British paragliding school. Everything clicked into place here - 5 out of the 7 days were flyable, and before long I was spending hours at a time soaring up and down the mile-long sand dunes of Dune de Pyla, and gaining my CP (Club Pilot) license in the process. It really is an amazing sport - for me, it's the mixture of adrenaline, skill and pure serenity that does it. For reference, the CP license now gives me the ability to fly without tuition but still within a club environment.
Rather impressed by the overseas approach to flying, I spent a second week abroad in Madeira. This was with the same school as in France - and even as a "qualified" pilot, the extra confidence to be found from still flying with your instructor was not to be underestimated. Madeira was quite different from France; take-offs some thousands of feet up the cliff, and landings on entertainingly small beaches. I preferred the relaxed, zero-stress of Dune de Pyla for sure... and that was even before I landed badly - scrapes only, fortunately! That said, a fantastic week of flying, made even better by the great company from like-minded individuals. Slight insanity helps.
Spending a bit of time out in the Middle East, I got rather excited when I found a paramotor school - this seemed like a good antidote to dodgy British weather, in the sense that low-wind days become fair game for flying. Paragliding needs a certain amount of wind for ridge soaring, you see. Unfortunately I didn't get on too well with this - a mixture of the language barrier, my slight hesitancy in launching directly towards a six-lane highway and staggering around with a 30kg motor on my back in desert climates have persuaded me to leave that until I'm back in the UK for good. Unfortunately a lot of British paramotor schools insist upon you purchasing your own kit upfront... which might delay this a bit.
I'm now hoping to return to France over the summer - casual floating for hours above soft sand is where I like to be. I should at least try it more in the UK too... but the appeal of flying in sunshine over slightly-lower-risk terrain is quite strong!
Some figures: EP license is about £400, CP license is about £400. A full set of brand new kit is about £3500; a set of second-hand kit can be as low as £1000.
If you fancy popping up the A303 from Devon, there is an "International Microlight Aircraft Exhibition" at Popham Airfield (6 miles west of Basingstoke) on the Sat 1st and Sun 2nd May.
www.popham-airfield.co.uk
apprentice
www.popham-airfield.co.uk
apprentice
I have been paragliding for years, its a great sport and very enjoyable but you need the correct training.
I learnt in the Peak Park as I live there, my closest flyable hill is but 10 minutes away, albeit the wind direction has to be a NE,
Anyway it will cost you around 500 to complete the elementary pilot course (EP)this then leads on to the Club Pilot(CP) which will enable you when completed to fly solo and not under an instructors supervision.
Cost for CP about 600. It is also recommended once completing the EP you purchase your own gear; this will enable you to get used to it and learn its characteristics.
The EP will take about 5 days max and CP about the same.
So to summerize cost of training around 1100.00 depending on ability. Cost of the gear budget 3500ish.
Everything is also weather dependant so you may find the course takes quite a while to complete or maybe you will get lucky with the weather.
I have a great instructor friend who trains in the peak park, I am happy to pass his number on.
Also I would like to add that paragliders are very safe to fly, you should always fly to your ability, if in doubt or feel doubtful dont fly, simple!
good luck it really is a great sport
I learnt in the Peak Park as I live there, my closest flyable hill is but 10 minutes away, albeit the wind direction has to be a NE,
Anyway it will cost you around 500 to complete the elementary pilot course (EP)this then leads on to the Club Pilot(CP) which will enable you when completed to fly solo and not under an instructors supervision.
Cost for CP about 600. It is also recommended once completing the EP you purchase your own gear; this will enable you to get used to it and learn its characteristics.
The EP will take about 5 days max and CP about the same.
So to summerize cost of training around 1100.00 depending on ability. Cost of the gear budget 3500ish.
Everything is also weather dependant so you may find the course takes quite a while to complete or maybe you will get lucky with the weather.
I have a great instructor friend who trains in the peak park, I am happy to pass his number on.
Also I would like to add that paragliders are very safe to fly, you should always fly to your ability, if in doubt or feel doubtful dont fly, simple!
good luck it really is a great sport
As above but I would recommend doing the training abroad as the weather is more reliable. I done my EP at Dune du Pyla in France and my CP in Cyprus. Both the courses were with Sunsoar Paragliding (formerly Northern Paragliding) based in the Dales. I haven't flown for a couple of years now but I'm going to get back into it in the summer with a couple of refresher days so I don't do something stupid.
Cheers for the replys guys.
The rist element of it does'nt bother me so much, neither is it the cost (although this does sway things a fair bit.)
It's my birthday in the summer & instead of the obligatory cash from the parents i spend on clothes i'd rather spend it on something a bit more exciting.
Once you've done your CP license, does that mean you can fly from wherever is accessable (legal)?
Theres a hill / cliff about 5mins from my house i've seen guys going off of before, i like the idea of flying off it & floating home again (about a mile away)!
Although this may all be in my dream mind!
The rist element of it does'nt bother me so much, neither is it the cost (although this does sway things a fair bit.)
It's my birthday in the summer & instead of the obligatory cash from the parents i spend on clothes i'd rather spend it on something a bit more exciting.
Once you've done your CP license, does that mean you can fly from wherever is accessable (legal)?
Theres a hill / cliff about 5mins from my house i've seen guys going off of before, i like the idea of flying off it & floating home again (about a mile away)!
Although this may all be in my dream mind!
lawrence567 said:
Cheers for the replys guys.
Once you've done your CP license, does that mean you can fly from wherever is accessable (legal)?
Theres a hill / cliff about 5mins from my house i've seen guys going off of before, i like the idea of flying off it & floating home again (about a mile away)!
In short, yes. Once you've done your CP license, does that mean you can fly from wherever is accessable (legal)?
Theres a hill / cliff about 5mins from my house i've seen guys going off of before, i like the idea of flying off it & floating home again (about a mile away)!
In reality you normally have landowners/farmers/national trust etc who own the land you want to fly from. Most areas have a local club (you can find yours on the BHPA website) who have negotiated access rights/parking/etc for the benefit of local and visiting members. Certain times of the year like lambing and shooting season can be quite sensitive for flying as the farmer may not like you flying on/over his land during these periods. The local club normally produces a sites guide, or puts it online, and details any sensitive times/takeoff areas/parking/wind directions/etc so that you know all about it when you get there. They'll also have a coaching officer who can arrange for you to fly with some regular members to get to know the sites and share lifts to the hills kind of thing.
Hi,
The advice given so is correct. But I think I should point out the cost of equipment can be had much cheaper than previously mentioned if you consider second hand.
I am an experienced paraglider (Pilot Rated) but only yesterday I choose to change my glider to a bigger one (as I ate all the pies) I picked up a real bargin from ebay. I paid £820 for a wing with 9 hours on it in like new condition. It would have cost £2200 new. It arrived today and can confirm that it is as described.
Now I just need to sell mine
, Not to the OP I might add as it is a 1 - 2 rated wing and too advanced for them.
Having said that I am experienced and know what I am kooing for so if you do consider buying second hand, take someone with you who knows what they are doing.
Once you have started your EP \ CP training I am sure you will hook up with some locals who are willing to help you out.
I just wondered as a side not if it would be possible to set up a new Paragliding \ Paramotoring section on Piston Heads, maybe under a sports section?
Good luck if you do choose to take it up.
The advice given so is correct. But I think I should point out the cost of equipment can be had much cheaper than previously mentioned if you consider second hand.
I am an experienced paraglider (Pilot Rated) but only yesterday I choose to change my glider to a bigger one (as I ate all the pies) I picked up a real bargin from ebay. I paid £820 for a wing with 9 hours on it in like new condition. It would have cost £2200 new. It arrived today and can confirm that it is as described.
Now I just need to sell mine
, Not to the OP I might add as it is a 1 - 2 rated wing and too advanced for them.Having said that I am experienced and know what I am kooing for so if you do consider buying second hand, take someone with you who knows what they are doing.
Once you have started your EP \ CP training I am sure you will hook up with some locals who are willing to help you out.
I just wondered as a side not if it would be possible to set up a new Paragliding \ Paramotoring section on Piston Heads, maybe under a sports section?
Good luck if you do choose to take it up.
Cool well i think i'm going to save up some cash & see if i can get my basic license.
You reckon circa £500 for the first license?
I know a load of guys paraglie off of Labrador bay in Devon which is about 5 mins away from me!
Plus i live on the top of a hill so if conditions were favourable i could use the fields as my parents friends are the farmers!
Obviously it's all down to wind / location etc but it'd be handy if i could!
You reckon circa £500 for the first license?
I know a load of guys paraglie off of Labrador bay in Devon which is about 5 mins away from me!
Plus i live on the top of a hill so if conditions were favourable i could use the fields as my parents friends are the farmers!
Obviously it's all down to wind / location etc but it'd be handy if i could!
The cost is all dependant on how commited you are and how fit you are walking up and down the hill whilst training. As well as being lucky with the weather.
I think these guys are verys good and in you neck of the wood.
http://www.flightculture.co.uk/tuition_3.html#elem...
As you can see they charge £175 for the first day and £125 there after. In my opinion most reasonably keen people can do it in 2 - 3 days if they are close together.
if they are not quite right for you or you prefer to have a look at alternatives try here.
http://www.sdhgpgc.org.uk/ then choose trainging on the left.
Let us know how you get on.
I think these guys are verys good and in you neck of the wood.
http://www.flightculture.co.uk/tuition_3.html#elem...
As you can see they charge £175 for the first day and £125 there after. In my opinion most reasonably keen people can do it in 2 - 3 days if they are close together.
if they are not quite right for you or you prefer to have a look at alternatives try here.
http://www.sdhgpgc.org.uk/ then choose trainging on the left.
Let us know how you get on.
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