Information
on Paragliding
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Deltaplan
Around
1940's, a new aviation instrument was being
tested. This device takes off from the plain
of a hill by running and slips away until it
lands. The significant characteristic of
this device was its light and portable
structure. It was a formation of fabric
stretched over bars. Dr. Francis Rogallo, in
1948, named it 'portable delta wing'. In the
following years this instrument has
developed so far. First, it was made of very
cheap material. With the development of the
technology, there has been an increase in
the quality of used materials, quality of
design and the prices. Today, an experienced
parachuter needs, besides a 30-35 kg. delta
wing, a barometer, a compass, a speed watch,
an altimeter, an extra emergency parachute
and equipments that are shaped according to
the air turbulances. Additional to all these,
a plain take off field is required.
Paragliding
After
'delta plan', around 70's, some people
decided to develop another aviation
instrument that has a fixed shape and which
was not heavy. Many people started to make
flight experiments with frontier parachute
models. These were parachutes designed to be
opened after jumping out from the plane and
while falling down at the speed limit (198
km/s). After many tries, it was observed
that the high tension of the jump offs did
not exist at the hill take offs. And it was
understood that bigger parachutes would
bring better results. Producers started to
produce bigger parachutes from air-proof
fabrics. At the end, a new sport, which was
called 'hill parachute' was born.
Around
80's, the number of hill parachutes has
increased in comparison with the past.
Firstly a group of pilots, imitating delta
wings, started to take off from steep hills
by running. So, the hill parachuting started
to spread. Flights were organized from
Himalayan Everest and Japanese Fuji
Mountains. New records of hundreds of
kilometers and hours of flights were broken.
Hill parachuting has been so beloved it
almost folded up delta wings in two. Almost
all around the world mountain tops, colorful
parachutes were started to be seen.
Hill
parachute is easily aired and directed, it
is easy to land it. It can be opened and
packed up in a few minutes. With a truly
basic education, flying skills may be gained
in a few days. Today hill parachuting is the
least expensive aviation sport. With its
closeness to the nature, it is one of the
most preferred sports. And it became a world
wide industrial product.
Because of its light weight, it can be
carried easily like a rucksack. And because
this sport requires more free running-tracks,
it can be named as a freedom sport. Besides
the joy and the easiness, this sport like
the others has its own rules. Aviation can
not take a joke, perils must be foreseen and
precautions must be taken. For safe flights,
we have to know the atmospheric layer that
we're going to be flying in. We have to
learn how to use our parachute at different
weather conditions. And more important than
that, dangerous movements must be avoided.
Hill
parachuting is probably the easiest way of
aviation. Shortly, we wish you a good flight.
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EQUIPMENTS
OF PARAGLIDING
The
paraglide is a simple instrument. However, it is the
outcome of long, painstaking and complex design
studies. Length differences of the ropes or, simple
differences in the cutting of the fabric, may cause
much better or worse conclusions. Here are the
sections of 'hill parachute' for you:
CANOPY:
The fabric part of the 0bject is called 'canopy'
or 'wing'. Canopy is made of two layers of fabrics
folded onto each other, and it is meant to collect
the air inside when on air. In order for the air to
be able to fill into the wing, front side, which is
called 'attack side', must be open, and the back
side that prisons the air inside, which is called 'escape
side' must be closed. Thus, because the fabric is
air-proof, the wing prisons the air inside and takes
a certain shape. When the canopy is completely
filled up with wind air, it takes the shape of a
plane wing, which is flat bottomed and curved top
side. In a typical canopy, there exist 40-60 cells.
Length of these cells gives an elliptic shape to the
wing when looked at from above. 
This shape is called a 'platform'. To the sides of
the canopy, balancing pieces, which are called 'ears',
are placed. 'Ears' keep the parachute in balance and
by applying force outwards, they keep it strained.
Wings are produced according to: the weight of the
pilot, different flight conditions, length/width
proportions. At the edge of the wings, the cells
that called 'stabilizators' are closed. Stabilizator
takes the air form the side cells, it gets filled up
and enlarges.
ROPES:
Separates
into two as 'hanging' ropes and 'brake' ropes. In
order to decrease the weight and friction, ropes are
produced from strong, enduring materials such as
carbon fibers and darcon. Brake ropes are produced
in different colors in order to be distinguished
easily.
COLUMNS:
Columns joins
fabric with harness. Usually ropes gather at the
metal rings and joins with the columns. In general
they have 25mm of breadth. columns form a single
point from which pilots can control all of the ropes
at once. At the back of the columns, there are
little metal rings from where brake ropes pass and
little snap fasteners onto which the wheel-cross (brake
controllers) are fastened.
HARNESS: Paragliding
beaches generally shares the same basic structure. A
plastic or wooden seat, a combined air and foam back
protection is used, with a polycarbate outer layer
to protect against puncture and spread load across
foam cells. Reserve must be packed in an inner bag
with handle attachment on upper edge so that it is
pulled from the top. All harnesses are adjustable
according to all sizes and flight positions.
FLIGHT-TAKE
OFF- LANDING
Flight
You
can't just go do it. You'll have to take lessons for
a brevet. Without a brevet you're not allowed to fly
and most of all without a brevet it is very
dangerous for you and other people The best thing to
do is to go to a place or country where there are
mountains. It is also possible to fly in countries
where there are no mountains. A long running path is
necessary for the pilot. Streamer and windsock must
be fixed vertically next to the run path. To escape
the turbulences, there must not be another hill
across. A clean field is necessary to spread out the
parachute.
 Take
Off
Controls:
At the beginning, the wind must come from the front
with at most 30 degrees. For the experienced pilots
it can be 90 degrees. Last controls have to be done.
Control ropes must be checked if they are at the
bottom and open. After putting on the helmet harness
is entered. First the leg columns and then chest
columns are fastened. Leg columns are not fastened
so tight in order to leave a space for action. Stand
right in the middle of the wing. Usually there's a
sign at the wing that points at the mid-point. Arms
are opened to the sides. In side the hand must be
the controlling ropes and the front column. Other
columns must be on the shoulders. In this position
running starts. Important point is: handles must be
pushed not with arm powers but with the power of the
chest. When the wing is on the top point, handles
are left, so inside the hands only controlling ropes
stays. When running towards the take off, if leaned
on to the sides, a run must be made towards the
inclined direction so the wing gets straight. After
straightening of the wing running continues. Be
careful at this point. Even after taking off running
never stops. 'Running' is the part you will have
difficulties with at the beginning. To stop running
and sitting into the harness after the take off, is
one of the frequently made mistakes. This mistake
causes injuries and harm to the Harness.
Only after taking off completely harness must be
entered and parachute must be conducted. Wings turn
towards the direction you pull the ropes. Even
though you have to take the wind from the front when
taking off and landing, the direction of the wind is
not important while flying.
Landing
25-30
meters to the ground, the wind must be taken from
the front. Harness is left and 1 or 2 meters to the
ground brake ropes are pulled till the end. This act
is called 'dynamic stall'. When necessary, ropes
must be wrapped around the hand and pulled till the
end. From the moment of touching the ground, running
starts. While running continue pulling the brake
ropes. When wing lies back, running stops and
packing of the wings must start. First, not to
tangle the brake ropes they must be affixed to the
snap-fasteners on the column. Meaning of 'stall' in
paragliding dictionary is 'losing altitude' and 'disordered
flight'.
EMERGENCY
DURING FLIGHTS
Equipment
Problems
Breaking
of the ropes of brake is, even though not frequently,
an encountered situation. In similar situations, in
order to make the turns without the brakes,
different methods might be tried. To pull the back
column on the side that will be turned to or better
weight inclining method will help to make the return.
Asymmetric
Closure
One
of the frequently confronted situation in
paragliding. The ratio of these closures changes
according to the structure of the wing or the
strength of the turbulence. One side of the wing is
closed and the other is open. And from the closed
side, with the effect of the friction, movement of
turning begins. In these cases what must be done is
to slow down the turning as much as it is possible,
and moving to the closed side and leaving. Excessive
application of brake may put the wing into (stol).
Front
Closure
In
case of decrease in the load that's on the front
ropes or because of a strong turbulence, wing's
front closure happens. What must be done is to pull
the strings till the end, and by letting them free
getting the wings to their normal position.
Getting
Dragged In Strong Wind To The Back Of The Hill
As
soon as you realize that the wind is changing
direction, idea of 'landing' is the best. Because it
is possible to get dragged to a hill-back and it may
be imminent to face with a rotor turbulence.
If the wind gets over our limits, all possibilities
to escape must be tried. Brand new 'speed system'
can reach to an over 10km/h and makes leaping
forward possible for the parachute. In cases of lack
of this system, in order to speed up, both of the
column A's may be leaned forward a little. But, over
leaning may cause front closure, so one must be
careful. If none of these methods works out, by
closing the ears, landing as quick as possible must
be tried. While approaching to the ground, to close
the parachute soon, you should prepare the necessary
order when on air. Never make a brake in order to
stop the parachute, it give a negative reaction.
Opening
The Supplementary
Supplementary
parachute is used in cases it is thought that our
parachute isn't able to land us. Supplementary
parachute, holding it from its handles, must be
thrown away from being tangled with the wings, and
it must be packed immediately.
Rainy
Flights
If
rain starts during the flight, direct landing must
be done. Because, water will enter into the escape
side, the mass will increase the weight and the
parachute will have a stol. This will limit
your movements.
Tie
This
is the case of fabric part of the wing enters
between the ropes. This happens in cases of vingoverden,
spiral and not coming out of the stol. When
faced with this situation, turning must be slowed
down, and brake must be applied. Which is closed
must be opened. If not, without panicking, the
supplying parachute must be opened.
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