oliwb
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| posted on 26/9/06 at 08:40 PM |
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Any Paragliders??
I know theres a couple of sky divers about but does anyone on here paraglide?? I'm really keen to learn but don't understand all the
differences with BHPA and BHPC etc etc....Anyone enlighten me??? Oli.
If your not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room!
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 26/9/06 at 08:56 PM |
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Think there might be more than a couple although I've retired
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RazMan
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| posted on 26/9/06 at 09:01 PM |
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I used to some years back - but I unfortunately had an accident which stopped all that. I really miss it  No better way to get the adrenaline fix -
but driving crazy powered kit cars comes close enough .......... for now 
[Edited on 26-9-06 by RazMan]
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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StevieB
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| posted on 26/9/06 at 09:38 PM |
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I work witha guy who is in the GB paragliding team - he works for 6 months and spends the rest of his time flying around the alps for training and
competing against the French in the Blariot Cup. I'll ask him for some general directions for biginners to take.
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oliwb
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| posted on 27/9/06 at 07:32 AM |
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I had a tandem flight in the alps and it was ACE! But know I'm back in the UK and thinking of trying it proper its very tricky to know what to
do!
BHPA and BHPC seem to be very seperate and not like each other very much. So much so that there are 2 clubs in Aberdeen one bhpc the othe bhpa. They
don't speak to each other and wont say what the differences are just that it becomes obvious on the hill. But all the schools are bhpa bar one
I found on the internet! The bhpa ones all have flashier websites too! 
I'm not sure what the best way to do it is. I've found a school fairly localy (about 45 mins away), but they do most of their teaching
out in France. Seems theres a few ways into it:
£2,999 for an all in package deal - 2 weeks in France to get to CP level plus all the kit.
£710 for 2 weeks in france to CP level but hiring
Or they can do courses up the road for me (though not recomended for the very reasons you mention!) which will cost £1,300 borrowing equipment.
Its really tricky because you don't wanna save up and buy the gear to sh1t yourself one day during the course and change your mind! Would
rather do the CP course then buy but that adds a shed load as the equipment is easily £3K by the time you've got harnesses, reserves etc
etc....Wish someone in the circle would give some proper advice and stop trying to put the other governing body down! The guy locally seems a nice
fella and he's only up the road so think I've found the right school just need to work out how to pay for it all and which order to do it
in!
I've got traction kites already and am a sailing/windsurfing instructor so I've got a bit of experience in broadly related areas. I may
try and buy a really cheap paraglider off ebay to practice on the ground with for a bit - you just know I'll end up going airborn on it at least
once though! Cheers Oli.
If your not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room!
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Syd Bridge
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| posted on 27/9/06 at 08:42 AM |
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You gotta be barkin mad to want to do the hang/para gliding stuff. 
My missus worked for a local firm specialising in the personal insurance of this 'sport'. From easter to end of October they got a claim
every weekend! Here on the island, they do it over the southwest downs area.
An ambulance is kept on full time standby in West Wight, and the rescue helicopter from Lee-on-Solent is always ferrying some poor soul from the area
to the neuro unit in Southampton every weekend in summer.
Looks like fun, but beware of the dangers.
Cheers,
Syd.
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RazMan
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| posted on 27/9/06 at 09:03 AM |
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The dangers are all too real for me although if I had a chance, I would do it all again.
I started with the Green Dragon Club who were (are?) based in Essex. After a couple of tow flights at Wanstead I was hooked and promptly booked a few
courses in Wales & Sussex. Pretty soon I found myself flying in a national competition at Winchester. The idea is to get towed to 2000ft and
perform some aerobatics before landing on a target.
I was using an extra large Harley canopy designed for tandem flights (I was a bit of a salad dodger even then  ) and when I realised I was going to
overshoot the target I pulled on the toggles too much and stalled at 50ft. I hit the ground swinging backwards ankles first, breaking my knee
ligaments and messing up three vertibrae in my spine. It took me six months to walk again.
I still want to get back to flying again but my missus just gives me 'the look' when I start talking about it. Ah well, back to the garage
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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clutch_kick
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| posted on 27/9/06 at 12:57 PM |
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I'll teach you how to fly an Airliner ... a bit safer hahahaa.
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iank
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| posted on 27/9/06 at 01:15 PM |
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Friend of mine used to fly 'proper' gliders.
He was of the opinion they were death traps - apparently if you get caught by a gust of wind in the wrong direction (sideways?) it can collapse the
parachute with no possible way of recovering before you hit the ground.
Might have been skier vs. snowboarder style sour grapes, but it sounded plausible.
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speed8
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| posted on 30/10/06 at 10:59 AM |
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A late reply as I only just found this (after being told by someone else).
BHPA vs BHPC. I'm not sure of the difference but some of the schools, iirc, used to be BHPA until the insurance problems of a few years ago
which put some schools out of business. Some schools restructured, some rode through the storm and some packed up. A few turned up later or continued
operating outside the BHPA. One of the guys on the BHPC list of schools has been in trouble on a few forums because his ideas and methods are, shall
we say, interesting.
I went through the same as you a few years ago. Do it local? Do it abroad? Do it at all? etc.... I ended up going abroad for the EP (Dune du Pyla) and
managed it with a few days flying. Then went abroad again (Southern Cyprus) for the CP. I didn't quite get the CP but I only needed a few top
landings to finish off so I just went out with the school on days when it was likely I could do them. All of this was with Northern Paragliding
(Sunsoar Paragliding).
I would recommend the overseas route as, from experience hang gliding, it can take a long time to do it in the UK.
I would also use their kit for the EP and then get your own for the CP. Mainly due to the fact that you will be dragging your shiny new wing across
the hill and catching your lines, learning how to pack it etc. Better to do it with a school glider (which are only a couple of years old anyway). It
will also give you a chance to try out a few different gliders during your training as they all have slightly different handling characteristics
(although DHV1's are fairly benign).
I'm not hugely experienced, I don't fly enough in the UK to get huge hours and do most of my flying on trips abroad but if you've
got any questions PM me and I'll try and answer them.
Just like LCB there is a forum for us. Have a look at www.paraglidingforum.com
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spunky
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| posted on 31/10/06 at 10:36 AM |
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I Fly... well try to. I have a paraglider and a paramotor/wing setup.
Robocog has summed it all up excellently.
Considering all the interests I have, sport bikes, enduro racing, skiing, scuba, I think that Paragliding is the most intense adrenaline rush and also
relaxing sport. That may not make sense, but in good conditions, 'feeling' the wing catch the thermals and letting it carry you around is
very satisfying and relaxing.
I believe BHPC is a splinter group after a big falling out with BHPA members assuming they could fly any hill even though a club may be personally
leasing it for it's members. I'm belong to Airborne in Halifax, which is BHPC which I believe was one of the instigators of the split.
TBH if youre thinking of taking it up, stick to BHPA clubs, and, as has been mentioned, it's hard work in this country because it is so weather
dependant. Consider learning abroad. France, Turkey, Tenerife. Apart from consistant weather you can drive or cable car to the tops of the mountains.
Much better than hiking with a 30Kg rig on your back.
I was told Paragliding is the highest insurance risk sport other than base jumping
Just do it,
John
And for a taster of exactly what an adrenaline rush it can be, check this Video. Its quite a famous one and has been topic of much discussion. What he
did right, what he did wrong etc. Sound is essential. Enjoy
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2559389195612380066&q=crash
[Edited on 31/10/06 by spunky]
The reckless man may not live as long......
But the cautious man does not live at all.....
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RazMan
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| posted on 31/10/06 at 01:23 PM |
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Wooooooo that brings it all back !
Cheers,
Raz
When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box
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