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February 9, 2006
After finishing my P1 paragliding course I took one day off and then I started my next level ground handing. This ground handling course was also for 4 days from 19th January 2006 to 22nd January 2006.
First day we went to the nearby ground (I don’t remember the name of the place) in Harapsar where I did P1 first day ground handling. First day I was taught wally making with A and D risers and reverse launching techniques. Initially it looked very confusing with all those crossed wires around my hands.. taking turns etc..but then slowly it started making sense. Wind conditions were good so I did the ground handing for about 3 hours.
Few things to remember from the day:
1. In reverse handling catch the right brakes in right hand and left brake in left hand.
2. Always make practice to turn towards one site only. I remember that I have to move my LEFT over my head.
3. After turning how to remember FROM WHERE to catch the brakes. I remember: “For the riser which is below, get the brakes from below and for the rise which is on top, get the brakes from top.”
Next 3 days I used the techniques I learn today of reverse launch. So in next 3 days I did 6 more flights from deer hill and also saw a lot of deers and rabits.
This ends my ground handling couse.
February 9, 2006
This day we got together (myself, Eric, Shiv and Colonel) and went to a hill called Kanifnath, but to our surprise the wing that day is in wrong direction so we didn’t fly at all. 
bad day. Kanifnath is at a height of 1000 ft from the landing ground. I was so excited about this flight but all in vain.
February 9, 2006
Third day of my P1 paragliding training course. I was ready for my second solo in the morning at Deer Hill again.
Wind conditions were not as good as yesterday but
still good to take off. First front launched takeoff was aborted as the glider overshot me (as I did not pull the brakes).
Then I took off second time easily with some brakes due to less wind speed. Flight was again around 2 minutes. But today I
was trying to concentrate more on landing. When I was at around 50 ft height, I got out of harness and was ready to run. Wind
condition at the landing area was near to nill. So gave one wrap to brake around my hand. When I was at a height of around
5 to 6 ft. I flared (pulled both brakes completely), and I landed easily. Wow! This landing was easy.
Went up again for my second flight of the day (and third flight overall). It was again very similar to the first one but this
time there was no abort.
After two flights the wind condition started getting strong so we had to come back. Session ended with some briefing by Mr.
Mangesh Dighe on what went wrong (or right) with today’s flight and what and where can I improve.
February 9, 2006
This is the day of my first solo flight. I completed my initial ground training yesterday so today we moved to a small hill
called ‘Deer Hill’. Deer hill has the height of about 300 ft. from the ground level. Take off area is adequite for
beginners. We reached there (at the bottom of hill) in the Maruti Gypsy (A jeep in India). Climbing hill took around 10 minutes. Then I got ready
for my first flight. There was enough wind (around 15-18 kmph). I was put up with helmet, radio and knee-caps also. I was ready to take off. Due
to good wind conditions my take off was very very easy (fully assisted by Mangesh and Shiv). Mangesh was giving me
instructions all the time on radio whether to turn left whether to turn right. My overall flight time was around 2 minutes. This
was my first solo flight and believe me I really really loved it. Wow!!! I was feeling just like god. I was seeing all around.
Before launching I was thinking that I may get afraid but I was not. It was really a good experience. Due to good wind
conditions I missed my landing target and landed little ahead (around 30 meters). The landing was not at all smooth. I
actually crashed down on face. Reason? I was thinking a lot about launching before launching but I never thought about landing.
So I completely forgot to flare and run. Then I was told by Mr. Mangesh that the good practice for landing is that you
should get out of the harness (get into standing position) before landing. When you are around 5 feets above the ground
flare (pull both your brakes to extreme) and try to run on the land. But I had forgotten all this while landing. So overall
not at all a good landing or I would say very bad landing.
That was the only flight for the day as the wind conditions were getting stronger. Not very good for a beginner like me.
The day was ended with some more brief instructions (like what I did right and what I did wrong) by Mr. Mangesh.
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.
February 9, 2006
I have finished my following courses in last one month.
1. P1 paragliding course with Wings & Flights Paragliding Club. (4 days)
2. Ground Handling with Wings & Flights Paragliding Club. (4 days)
3. P2 paragliding course with Temple Pilots, the paragliding club in our city.
I started my P1 paragliding course with Mr. Eric Mendes (as my Chief Instructor).
For the first day I was given only ground handling. Mr. Mangesh Dighe (the Instructor) taught me how to forward launch, how to take care of the glider and how to fold it.
Second day of my P1 paragliding course was on a small hill (Deer Hill near Pune city, 300ft). This was day with my first solo flight. Wind conditions were very good. My first solo flight was given after a lot (yes, I mean a lot) of instructions. It was completely assisted flight. My takeoff was easy. Instructor was all the time on radio giving me instructions, so flight was also very good. Landing was very bad. It was like crash landing. The reason? As it was my first flight so I was thinking a lot about how to take off and how to fly. In this I totally forgot about what precautions I need to take while landing. So I totally forgot to flare and the wind conditions at the landing area were about nill. Anyways, the overall flight was for 2 minutes.
My third day of my P1 paragliding course was also from the same hill. That day I took two flights. Both were with smooth takeoff and landings. This time I remembered to flare. The flight timings were again around 2 minutes each.
On my fourth day of P1 paragliding course we went to a 1000 ft. hill (named Kanifnath, near Pune city) but we couldn’t fly because of bad wind condition. This long flight is still pending for me. I still have to complete that flight. 
That was all for my P1 paragliding course in Pune city of India from Wings & Flights Paragliding Club. It was fun. After this I took the ground handling course for 4 days from the same paragliding school. Than I did my P2 paragliding course from Temple Pilots Paragliding Club. I will write my experience about the next 2 courses in next post. That is all….Bye.
February 9, 2006
Hello everybody.
So finally I have decided to start my own blog on this website. I remember I started a small blog quite some time back (I think around an year back) at blogspot. I will move all those posts to this blog with back dates.
I plan to put all my paragliding activities on this blog.
So lets start…