Paragliding compared to other sports


Compared to Hang Gliding, paragliders fly slower and have a lower gliding ratio. Both of them loose altitude within the air mass at around 180 feet per minute flying straight at minimum sink rate. Paragliders can turn narrower at a low sink rate which makes them a little more efficient in small cores or strong narrow thermals. Sometimes they can climb higher than hang gliders. Portability is a lot better on a paraglider, since it has no rigid pieces and fits into a backpack. It can be taken on an airplane as normal luggage. Also some very light paragliders and harnesses are being designed and produced these days for climbers to fly down the mountains instead of walking down. Being a non rigid wing, paraglider canopies can adapt to any turbulence by collapsing and reopening with no input from the pilot if a low rated paraglider is being flown.
 
Compared to Sky Diving, paragliders have a lot better gliding ratio and minimum sink rate. The main difference between these two sports is that for skydivers the parachute is only a safe way to get to the ground after enjoying the free fall. For paraglider pilots (as well as for hang glider pilots) the highest achievement is to stay as long as they can in the air, then fly as high as they can, and finally fly as far as they can.
 
Compared to sail planes or gliders, the goals are basically the same (stay in the air, fly high and far) but performance is a lot lower on paragliders.
Of course, portability and also prices are clearly different.
 
Compared to parasailing, the main difference with paragliders is that parasails are attached to the boat through the tow line during the whole flight. Paragliders can be towed up if no mountain or ridge launching areas area available, using pay in or pay out tow rigs, and then release from the tow line to start free flying. This practice is common in flat areas where mountains are not available, and actually most of the distance records in paragliding are flown at the flat lands, using towing as a way to get into the air. The current paragliding world record for open distance has been flown in Texas, with 265 miles in 10 hours and 38 minutes.
 
Paragliding can be powered or unpowered, and the difference between powered paragliding and free flight is that paraglider pilots normally choose the strong midday thermals or ridge lift areas to be able to stay in the air, and powered paragliding pilots choose the calm morning or evening air for their flights. Also, powered paraglider pilots usually fly pretty close to the ground and as said, free flight pilots gather as much altitude as they can in order to lengthen their flights.
 
Same as in almost every aerial sport, aerobatics in paragliding is a variety practiced by some pilots looking for more adrenaline.
On the other end, just a short “sled ride” (flight with no lift), after a hike up some mountain, is the joy of the day for some pilots.