We answer the internet's most searched questions about paragliding

What is a paraglider?

Imagine a kite that’s big enough to carry you into the air. Now imagine attaching a harness below and flying in a sitting position through the air, and you’re pretty close to picturing what paragliding involves. In order for the kite part, known as the wing, to generate sufficient lift, it’s composed of a series of chambers which fill with air and, along with the suspension lines, give it a crescent moon shape.

What kind of sport is paragliding?

An airsport. It’s a sport that involves flying, but - unlike most airsports - paragliders have no rigid bodywork and are unpowered. This means that there is no input of power either from a motor or a human. The paraglider is designed to harness the force of air currents. Generally, it’s a recreational sport, with practitioners flying for their own enjoyment, but there are also competitive events. Pilots can also use their expertise to offer paragliding experiences to the public.

How much does a paragliding experience cost?

The cheapest, most common and quickest way to feel the thrills of unpowered flight is to book a tandem flight with a paraglider pilot. A typical price range for an experience of this kind is £120-150, or more if you want to add a photo/video package to the flight. If you don’t want to be a passenger, you’ll need to take a course, learning to fly a paraglider yourself. One-day taster courses, which cost several hundred pounds, are an option, while multi-day training courses tend to cost £500 or more.

What does a tandem flight involve?

If you book a tandem flight, you’ll be contacted by the provider on the agreed upon date to arrange a meeting point, close to a launch site that’s enjoying favourable conditions. After arriving, you will normally have to walk some distance, usually uphill, to the upper slopes of a hill. Here, your pilot will talk you through the flight and set up the equipment. Finally, you’ll both be strapped into a harness and attached to the wing. The pilot will lead the flight, getting you airborne then taking you soaring through the skies for 20 to 30 minutes and finally landing safely at a convenient distance to return to the start point.

Is it risky?

For an experienced paragliding pilot who keeps their equipment in good condition and knows how to plan a flight in the prevailing weather (or call it off), there’s very little risk involved in this sport. For newcomers, it's essential to treat the practice with respect and listen to the instructions of veteran pilots.

Can a 100 kg person do paragliding?

Yes. In general, wings used for tandem flights can support crew weights of around 250 kg. Bearing in mind that you’ll be flying with a pilot, the weight for the passenger can vary. Most pilots will take people of at least 110 kg, with cut off points usually advertised as 120/125 kg.

Can a 14-year-old take part? 

There are no rules on minimum age for a tandem flight. But each pilot will have their own preferences. Some will take passengers of any age, others will only fly with adults. In terms of training, you have to be 14 years old to undertake a course overseen by the BHPA, the British Hang gliding and Paragliding Association.

Who is the oldest person to paraglide?

The oldest person ever to record a tandem flight (as a passenger) was Yu Te-Hsin of Taipei, who took what may have been the ride of his life at the grand old age of 105 years and 58 days old. In more common practice, many recreational pilots continue flying into their sixties or seventies.

Do you have to be fit?

In order to take part in a tandem flight you will generally be expected to assist in the launch. This means attacking a few steps - at a run - down a hillside. You will also have to bring your knees towards your chest and brace at landing. When it comes to training, you will find that upper body strength is required, alongside a base level of fitness and stamina, but it’s not necessary to be a marathon champion or a rippling Heracles. 

Can people with disabilities go paragliding?

In spite of the previous answer, there are paragliding operators who welcome people with limited mobility and other disabilities to fly with them in tandem experiences. It’s a case-by-case kind of game, but don’t hesitate to contact these operators in order to discuss your needs and abilities.

How far can a paraglider fly?

The longest flights on record are over 380 miles or 600 kilometres - that’s about the distance from Eastbourne to Edinburgh. Most tandem flights aren’t designed to cover a lot of ground as the aim is to land fairly close to the starting point, but there are some cross-country flights available in the UK which might take you on a journey of 20 miles or more.

How long does a flight last?

The shortest tandem experiences are of just 10 to 15 minutes. Sometimes this is all that’s possible given the conditions on the day of the flight, but most pilots aim to give you 25 to 30 minutes, so that you can really get a feel for the sport. If you decide to learn to fly in this way, your first flights will be counted in seconds, not minutes, but you’ll soon learn to stay airborne for longer. At the end of the day, if a pilot can find enough upward currents of air, they can keep going for as long as they want. Bear in mind that it’s the sun heating the ground, creating thermals, that's responsible for a significant number of these air currents.

Do you need a licence to paraglide?

You do not need a licence. However, pilots must comply with the rules of the air according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority. If you want to learn to fly a paraglider, you will need to familiarise yourself with these. If you’re going for a tandem flight, you don’t need to worry about it.

Where are the best places for paragliding?

In order for a wing to generate lift, it must have air passing over it. The most common way to get the lift for a launch is to run down a hill, towing the wing behind you until it swoops overhead and lifts you into the sky. This is why hills and ridges with grassy slopes are the preferred launch sites for paragliding. It’s possible to take off in the absence of a slope, so long as there’s enough wind (making a clifftops a common choice for experienced pilots), and vice-versa. Forested areas are to be avoided, as you need flat fields or a beach in order to land.

In the British Isles, popular places are the South Downs in East Sussex, the Isle of Wight, Dorset, Gloucestershire, the hills of County Antrim in Northern Ireland and of County Wicklow in the Republic.

Do paragliders have motors?

No. If you see someone flying under a wing with a motor-powered propeller on their back, they are powermotoring.

What happens if it rains on the day of the flight?

It’s just like Wimbledon, rain stops play. Unfortunately, precipitation, along with strong, gusty winds, are the most common spanner in the works when it comes to planning and carrying out a paraglider flight. It’s because the lightweight material that the wing is made of isn’t waterproof. It can take on water and become much heavier, causing the glider to stall or the wing to lose its shape - bad news in either case.

Who invented the paraglider?

The equipment and techniques that characterise this sport were invented in stages. The first proto-paraglider was tested by US Air Force pilot David Barish on a ski slope in the mid 1960s. Later, Domina Jalvert experimented with a modified parachute in Quebec. Finally, the first true paragliding flight was made by Swiss André Bohn in the French province of Haute-Savoie. He flew from the top of a mountain to the football pitch in a town hundreds of metres below in June 1978. The world’s first paragliding club was founded the following year and the sport has become a global phenomenon in the years and decades since!

What clothes do you need to wear for paragliding?

At a basic level, no specific clothing is needed to take part in this sport. Given the launch and landing techniques discussed above, we recommend a pair of walking boots with ankle support. In terms of clothing, more is more. Remember that you’re likely to spend an extended period of time on windy hilltops and then even more exposed to the elements in the air. Prepare yourself with layers, windproof outer shells and gloves.