Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure
sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider
aircraft with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits in a harness
suspended below a hollow fabric wing whose shape is formed by its suspension
lines, the pressure of air entering vents in the front of the wing and the
aerodynamic forces of the air flowing over the outside.
Despite not using an engine, paraglider flights can last
many hours and cover many hundreds of kilometres, though flights of 1–2 hours
and covering some tens of kilometres are more the norm. By skilful exploitation
of sources of lift the pilot may gain height, often climbing to altitudes of a
few thousand metres.
Paragliders are unique among soaring aircraft in being
easily portable. The complete equipment packs into a rucksack and can be
carried easily on the pilot's back, in a car, or on public transport. In
comparison with other air sports this substantially simplifies travel to a
suitable takeoff spot, the selection of a landing place and return travel.
Paragliding is related to the following activities:
- Hang gliding is a close cousin, and hang glider and paraglider launches are often found in proximity. Despite the considerable difference in equipment the two activities offer similar pleasures and some pilots are involved in both sports.
- Powered paragliding is the flying of paragliders with a small engine attached.
- Speed riding or speed flying is the separate sport of flying paragliders of reduced size. These wings have increased speed, though they are not normally capable of soaring flight. The sport involves taking off on skis or on foot and swooping rapidly down in close proximity to the slope, even periodically touching it if skis are used. These smaller wings are also sometimes used where wind speeds are too high for a full-sized paraglider, although this is invariably at coastal sites where the wind is laminar and not subject to as much mechanical turbulence as inland sites.
- Paragliding can be of local importance as a commercial activity. Paid accompanied tandem flights are available in many mountainous regions, both in the winter and in the summer. In addition there are many schools offering courses, and guides who lead groups of more experienced pilots exploring an area. Finally there are the manufacturers and the associated repair and after sales services.
- Paraglider-like wings also find other uses, for example in ship propulsion and wind energy exploitation, and are related to some forms of power kite.
- Kite skiing uses equipment similar to paragliding sails.
From Billing, the range runs all the way to Dharamsala Himachal Pradesh
ReplyDelete, separating the Kangra valley from Chamba. To the north of the meadow is the high peaks and to the south the plains. The fall from the meadow is about one kilometre and an average straight TTB ( top to bottom) flight to the Chaughan landing area lasts for about 30-40 minutes. If the conditions (like weather, wind speed and direction, cloud base of 4000-5000m etc) are right, one can make a ‘Cross Country’ distance flight from Billing to Manali or Billing to Dharamsala (90km). The flying is generally ‘ridge-hopping’ ie. getting lift from the ridges or cliff edges running down from the main spine of the range. ‘Ridge lifts’ caused by wind hitting a hillside and ‘Thermals’ (columns of hot air) are used by the glider to rise higher. Thermalling is an essential skill for flying in Billing. In Billing, thermals are found on a regular basis over a temple hence called the ‘Thermal Devta’, halfway down the eastern spur running down to Bir. The temple can be identified from the air by a red ribbon tied to a tree top. In the Billing – Dharamsala flight route there are 15 or so ridges. You can have the company of the Huge Himalayan Griffin Vultures during flight. Billing is also easily top- landable.
Thanks for sharing such as informative post. I extremely liked your post. Bir is the best paragliding site in the state of Himachal Pradesh. In fact Touching Cloud Base offer complete lessons in paragliding. In these lessons, everything from basic launches and landings to ridge soaring and thermal flying are taught. To learn paragliding know the bir billing paragliding cost.
ReplyDelete"powered paraglider" are relatively easy to learn to fly, and being foot launched, do not need an airfield or runway. They can take-off from an open, flat field with no need to find a hill site facing into wind, or even to wait for the wind to blow.
ReplyDeletei really like paragliding,..
ReplyDeleteIt's perfect stuff about paragliding,.
" schedule a tandem flight"
Thanks Edward....
DeleteParagliding is certainly an amazing adventurous sports with lots of thrills. You can fly like a bird and free to explore the sky. Certainly this sport is not for everyone but for skilled people. For newbies, they can enjoy paragliding with skilled pilots in Tandem.
ReplyDeleteThis is really a great information about paragliding and Bir Billing is really the best place in Himachal for the paragliding adventure. We at SkyCandy are providing the paragliding for the adventure lover at very affordable price.
ReplyDelete