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Crossing over to the Dark side
By Chad Bastian and Lee Anne Norris
I’ve spent enough time on all kinds of flying machines to learn that most pilots, whatever
their aircraft, share one goal – They Want To Get More Airtime.
I fly free flight paragliders, powered paragliders (PPG), hang gliders and even the occasional
PPG and HG trike. The result is that I have become a better all around pilot than I could have
become on any single machine.
I have a quiver of toys that allows me to fly almost every day. This versatility gives me more
airtime, not to mention greater opportunities to explore the air and its intricacies; understand
the societal pressures on all aspects of our sport; and develop a lot of great friendships
with others that share this flying dream.
Unfortunately, while crossing the line between flying venues, I am often reminded that there
is a battle waging within our sport. I constantly hear comments placing one form of flight
against another. Sadly, a lack of facts, a self-important certainty that “They” are
less knowledgeable, more dangerous, or just not as cool as “Us” keeps two flying
communities at odds. If we can overcome this bias, we could begin working and flying together.
The two sports combined political strength could open more flying sites and create positive
public policy supporting all air sports. So come on, the air’s great, cross over and
unite!
The 10 Best Reasons to Cross Over
From PPG Pilot to Free Flight
1. Get More Airtime. Many PPG pilots avoid the thermic times of day. While they are eating
brunch, reminiscing about the sunrise flight they had and looking forward to a sunset flight,
free flight pilots are capturing the power of thermic updrafts and getting great flights in
the mid-day conditions.
2. Get More Airtime. One of the greatest limiting factors on flight time in a PPG is fuel.
Combining the techniques of soaring free flight with a motorized flight allows the PPG pilot
to switch off the motor and power to the thermals - conserving fuel and lengthening their flight
time.
3. Get More Airtime. Soaring free flight allows the pilot to take advantage of natural kinds
of lift, such as ridge lift, without the expenditure of fuel. On one notable day, I actually
spent 10 hours straight (anything for a new record) enjoying the air at a local cliff soaring
site - without a motor.
4. Learn Safety Maneuvers. Taking the motor off allows a PPG Pilot to take part in an over-the-water
Maneuvers Clinics. The pilot can then experience first hand, in a controlled environment, the
collapses and stalls that can occur in any paraglider and how to quickly and capably recover
from these incidents.
5. Take On New Challenges. Free Flying introduces the PPG pilot to a new intimacy with the
air. A good thermal pilot will thoroughly understand weather and rely heavily on their senses
of touch, hearing, sight and even smell to give them clues about what the air around them is
doing.
From Free Flight to PPG
6. Get More Airtime. PG pilots spend the morning hours waiting for the earth to heat and for
thermals to begin their ascent to the skies before they even set up their gliders. They are
sitting on launch waiting, while PPG Pilots are flying the silky smooth air of morning.
7. Get More Airtime. PPG pilots can fly a potentially great soaring site where access to the
launch area is nonexistent. With a motor, a pilot can launch from miles away, motor to the
site, shut off the motor and soar with the birds.
8. Get More Airtime. Take advantage of a missed launch window. One of my favorite flying sites
is where a morning convergence sets up. At this site, the wind switches from straight in, to
over the back, creating a perfect but very short-lived moment to launch into the convergence
and free fly for miles. Some pilots inevitably miss that tiny launch window. They will end
up chasing the lucky pilots for miles down the valley. With a motor in the trunk, if I miss
the "switch", I can launch over the back, climb up and join the gaggle in the convergence!
9. Find Safer Landing Options. Landing during thermic periods can result in the free flight
pilot being forced to land downwind in switching conditions. The PPG pilot can avoid this by
using the motor’s power to gain altitude and go around again if the wind direction suddenly
changes while they are on their final approach.
10. Take On New Challenges. One of the most exciting and challenging XC competitions combines
motoring and soaring flight. One of the tasks in these competitions requires the free flight
competitor to put away their gps and stretch, using only a map and a compass to complete the
course. Another task includes thermalling and endurance and may allow gps, but to make it more
difficult they require launching with a small, pre-measured amount of fuel. These tasks can
be complicated even further by requiring the pilot to declare how many turn-points they will
make and an exact time for their return. A pilot taking part in this competition can expect
it to build upon their thermalling and motoring skills, as well as require them to master fuel
and time management. |
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