Paragliding Course P1 Day 1 (14th January 2006)

February 9, 2006

Today was my first day of paragliding and I was quite excited about it. My instructor is Mr. Manges Dighe and chief instructor is Mr. Eric Mendes. Mr. Shiv is an associate instructor. Today was the ground handling day so we reached the ground at around 10:00 AM. I was introduced following things:

1. How to judge the wind. Wind can be judged by feeling it, seeing the smoke around, seeing the trees and dry grass. While laying down the glider you should be standing in between the direction of the wind and the center of the paraglider. Optimum wind is around 20 kmph.

2. Aerodynamic nature of the paraglider. Air is filled in the cells of the paraglider which gives it “aerofoil” shape. Aerofoil shape (eg. the cross section of the plane’s wing) create the pressure on the top edge of the wing and hence picks it up.

3. How to tie the harness. Wear the harness from back. First tie the both leg straps then tie the chest strap. Note that the end part of the strap should be on the top and facking each other ( ==> <== ).

4. How to tie the paraglider’s risers with the harness. While tieing the risers of the glider keep your face foward (away from glider). Then take the riser straps and tie it taking above the shoulder. Make sure that the brakes are at the bottom and ‘A’ risers are at the top.5. What preflight checks should be done. Check whether carabiners are correctly closed with risers inside it properly. Check all three straps (chest and leg) are correctly tied and are tight.6. How to pick the glider up in the sky and how to take of (front launch). To pick the glider take the brakes in your hand (your back towards glider) then take the ‘A’ risers also in your hand. Keep your hand bended backwords and start running (actually accelerating) forward. Then slowly move your hands from back to the top (with the paraglider). When the glider is on the top, control the glider with the brakes. If the glider is going towards left (or bending towards left) pull the right brake, move left and vice versa. If the glider is trying to overshoot you, pull both the brakes slightly and increase your running speed (accelerate more).




At the end of my first trial (after one and half hour) I was very tired. This session was instructed by Mr. Mangesh Dighe. He is quite helpful person and easy to go with guy.