{"id":18243,"date":"2019-03-01T18:12:08","date_gmt":"2019-03-01T18:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/skydivemag.com\/new\/?p=18243"},"modified":"2026-04-05T01:46:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T01:46:03","slug":"fancy-speed-fly-or-paraglide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skydivemag.com\/new\/fancy-speed-fly-or-paraglide\/","title":{"rendered":"Fancy Speed Flying or Paragliding?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Enjoy a different type of feeling under canopy \u2013 Selfie by author Tim Parrant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So, you may be a skydiver wanting to learn Paragliding or Speedflying? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Absolutely fabulous idea! Especially if you want to become a better canopy pilot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what\u2019s the difference? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a\nskydiver we can fly a pattern and flare so we might think, what can be so hard about\nflying a Paraglider or even a Speed wing? There are many similarities but also\ndifferences. Here I will explain these related sports and their main\ndifferences plus outline the appropriate steps to transition from flying a\nskydiving canopy to these new wings… <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots<\/strong>“<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Paragliding <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Paragliding is the recreational sport of soaring from a slope or a cliff using a wide canopy attached to a person by a harness. A paraglider will use the rising air from hitting a slope or a hot air thermal to gain altitude. A paraglider can stay in the air for several hours at a time and reach thousands of feet in altitude. <\/strong>The goal of paragliding varies on different types of paragliding but can mainly viewed to stay in the air as long as possible using natural lift. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speed flying <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Speed flying is the recreational sport of gliding down a slope or mountain. It uses a similar canopy to a paraglider but it is much smaller in size and designed to have faster capabilities. A speed flyer will launch by foot and stay within proximity of the terrain. The goal of speed flying can be to constantly swoop the mountain. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speed riding<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Speed\nriding can be viewed as the same as speed flying though instead of ground\nlaunching by foot, you launch your glider with skis and both fly and ski down\nthe mountain. Speed riders will touch down and continue having their glider\nabove while skiing, then fly off again from the ground, several times throughout\nthe course of the mountain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aspect Ratio<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most 9-cell\nsport skydive parachutes have an aspect ratio of 3.1 compared to a standard\nparaglider ratio of 6.1 Therefore a paraglider can cover a much longer distance\nthan a skydive wing in straight flight in normal conditions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a\nskydiver it may seem difficult to appreciate or understand the distance that\ncan be covered between the two different wings. A skydiver will look at point A\nto B and think \u2018it\u2019s not possible\u2019 where a paraglider pilots will know it\u2019s\npossible with their glider and also calculate a path A to B and on to C to\nreach their destination. This is based on knowledge of what the wing is capable\nof in different weather and terrain conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid the POINT OF NO RETURN <\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sensitivity<\/strong>  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most\nskydiving parachutes are not very sensitive to small inputs compared to paragliding\nwings. Even high-performance canopies are not as sensitive as some paragliders.\nThis is because paragliders generally have longer lines and the risers are\nattached at the hips. At first a skydiver will likely use excessive input on a\nglider to keep it under control, especially with the toggles. It\u2019s important to\nbecome comfortable with the sensitivity of the glider before hitting the\nmountain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overreacting in a paraglide malfunction can have an adverse reaction<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Equipment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Harness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A\nskydiving harness is relatively the same across the brands. In paragliding\nthere are many different types of harnesses depending on the type of flying you\nplan to do. A paragliding harness for someone starting out should have\nappropriate back padding to prevent serious injury. A speedfly harness is a\nsimpler design and generally has no back protection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parachute<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Just\nlike skydiving, Paragliders and Speed Wings are classed into different categories.\nParagliders can be split into A, B, C, D, Competition and Acro. Speed wings\nusually don\u2019t have a classification but can be categorised into Mini Wing and Speed\nWing; and vary in sizes and characteristics. \nAs a skydiver transitioning into Paragliding\/Speed fly you should start\noff using an A or low end B wing and progress onto Mini Wing then Speed Wing, if\nthat is your goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reserve<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A skydive reserve parachute is a 7-cell steerable ram-air parachute where a paragliding reserve is most commonly a non-steerable round parachute and is thrown while the glider is still attached to you (no cutaway), so the procedures are very different. A Speed flyer will most likely not use a reserve parachute at all. <\/p>\n\n\n


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