Hang-gliding and para-gliding

[Chris Whitehead]

What's the difference between the two? Is para-gliding with a parachute? (I expect that is the difference, but please don't laugh, I don't really know much about this at all:)...

Chris

[stan koszelak]

In article <3e7cc$e132...@newshost.grace.cri.nz>,
SkyWalker <co...@landcare.cri.nz> wrote:

>Para-gliding also seems easier to learn. Its sort of like the difference
>between rafting and kayaking. It only really takes a day to get the hang of
>flying a paraglider, whereas it takes about a year for most people to master a
>hang-glider.

Watch it! Someone may actually believe this drivel. I agree that it takes
longer to learn to fly a hang glider (some worthwhile things are worth the
wait), but 1 day vs. 1 year??? This is an unforgivable exaggeration.

You can be "flying" a PG in a day, but it takes a long time to "master"
one to be safe in thermals. Learning to launch and land a hang glider
to the point of being independent from your instructor probably takes
from 8 to 12 days of lessons. You are certainly "flying" in these lessons
as well. I don't know where you get the "1 year" unless you get out to
the hill only once a month.

--

Stan Koszelak Mo-Yes Sortalite 147, shiny red truck,
kosz...@galaxy.ucr.edu dog, Fresh Mint dental floss
Riverside, CA, USA

[SkyWalker]

In article <4i1oit$d...@granite.sentex.net>,
mwhit...@sentex.net (Chris Whitehead) wrote:

Hi Chris,

Yes hang-gliding and para-gliding are very similar.

A para-glider (sometimes called parapente) looks like a parachute. Technically
they are a bit different, one is designed to produce lift, the other drag. It
is sort of possible to use them interechangably, thats how the sport started,
but it is NOT recomended. One big difference is that a para-glider pilot
starts with his canopy unfolded and laid out on the ground, there is no rip
cord to pull.

Paragliders are different from hang-gliders in that they have no rigid
airframe. That makes it possible to carry them easily in a backpack, whereas a
hang-glider really needs a car to transport them. But it does mean that a
hang-glider flies 'better'

Para-gliding also seems easier to learn. Its sort of like the difference
between rafting and kayaking. It only really takes a day to get the hang of
flying a paraglider, whereas it takes about a year for most people to master a
hang-glider.

Hope this helps explain the differences.

As for me, I fly and like both.

Cheers

=mjc=
#define ! NOT
#define AKA Jim, Driver of the Grader from Hell