The most important part of your first week of training is learning how to control the glider on the ground.
YOU WILL NOT FLY SOLO until you demonstrate solid ground handling/kiting skills both in the reverse and forward position. The sooner you “get it” and learn how to feel the glider and respond with the proper inputs, the sooner you will leave the ground.
Ground handling - also called kiting - will allow you to develop an intuitive understanding of the glider. In the air, gravity and your weight do most of the work for you. On the ground, you have to move with and control the glider in order to stay centered beneath it. If you don’t stay centered under your glider, it may rotate quickly off to one side. Practicing your ground handling will help you feel where the glider is without having to look at it. When you have the “feel” of the glider, you can anticipate what it is going to do and make an input before the glider gets too far off center. These skills translate directly to launching and landing and will make you a better pilot. It is easy to only want to fly once you get your rating but practicing ground handling is essential for a long and safe flying career. Your ability to control the glider in a variety of conditions and situations will add to your range of appropriate launching and flying conditions as well as increase your comfort level.
The Paraglider
Familiarize yourself with the parts of the paraglider. Take time to visually inspect any glider you plan on flying. What does the fabric feel like? Does it have that “still crispy” sound? Are there any visible signs of wear on the lines or risers? You are trusting your life with this piece of gear, don't be afraid to get up close and personal with it.
Key terms:
- Leading Edge, Trailing Edge - front and rear edges of the glider
- Risers - the heavy nylon webbing that connects glider to harness with carabiners -A, B, C, & Brake lines - each set of lines is connected to the quick links on the upper end of the risers -Cell Openings - the gap in fabric at the leading edge of the glider
- Cascades - the points along each set of lines where they split
- Big Ears line - the outermost A line that is isolated on most gliders and both sides are pulled simultaneously to create “Big Ears”
- Stabilo line - the outermost B line that is usually a different color and connects to the outer tip of the glider.
- Chord - the width of the glider from leading edge to trailing edge -Span - the length of the glider from tip to tip -Aspect Ratio - The ratio of the Chord divided by the Span
The Harness
This is the first piece of gear you will interact with before every flight. Being comfortable in your harness - both standing and sitting - is an important part of getting started.
There are many different harness manufacturers with lots of different styles of harness out there and most make a solid product. Regardless of which company’s gear you choose to buy, be sure to understand its advantages and disadvantages for the kind of flying you plan to do.
The most important parts to be aware of for training purposes are the buckle system, the speed system, if there is a stirrup, and the location of the reserve handle. Take a close look at the harness you will be using each day (it may be different) and be sure to ask questions if anything looks out of place.