If you are thinking about buying a new paraglider this season, then getting one that matches your skill level is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. But how do you do that? Your school or dealer might say one thing while your friends and forums might say another.
In this article former paragliding world champion Rob Whittall has some simple, straightforward – and timeless – advice on how to choose a wing that will work for you.
Confidence is often overlooked, yet I think it is the most important factor in glider choice. If you feel good on a glider, you will invariably fly better than on one that makes you anxious.
If you lose confidence and get scared in a bad situation or rough air, you also lose the ability to make good calculated decisions. This is partly due to adrenaline and fear – they will cloud your judgement just when you need it most.
On the other hand, if you really enjoy your wing and feel comfortable under it, then your discomfort threshold will be much higher and thus you have a better chance of making the right decisions all the time.
Fashion
First, I would ignore style or fashion, and I wouldn’t be a slave to figures either: some pilots add up the results of the certification report and the glider with the best result is the one to buy.
I have also heard that pilots buy wings because their friend has one. Some are completely influenced by the top speed and manufacturer’s claimed performance figures.
Finally, some buy because the glider has a nice colour (matches their car!).
I would avoid these points and simply make an honest assessment of your capabilities and then go for a wing which will give you that all-important confidence when in the air.
What type of pilot am I?
Buying a glider is not cheap, and making a mistake can be expensive. So now is the time to be completely realistic about your capabilities.
If you are a leisure pilot flying less than 50 hours a year, then the choice is easy: an EN A or lower-end B wing will have the stability and handling to keep you confident even if you have the occasional lay-off of a month or more.
Don’t fall into the trap of dismissing these as ‘beginner wings’. The performance of these wings is excellent and many long-time pilots fly them after having unhappy experiences with hotter wings.
If you are lucky enough to fly most weeks and can keep current, consider stepping up to an EN B+ or EN C. Only if you are already confident, honestly experienced, and fly regularly should you even think of any rating higher than an EN C.
This gives you the freedom to think: “So, I have decided that I am, in reality, an intermediate pilot nowadays rather than my previous image of myself being a hot cross country and competition pilot. Thank heavens for that!”
Remember, this is a flying machine you are about to purchase – your safety could depend on this decision.
Test fly
Once you have narrowed down the field to four or five models, go and take a test flight on them. This is what will tell you the most – don’t listen to the sales pitch or think about the great offer the dealer will give you.
Instead, think about how each glider feels: Did it take off well? Did it feel twitchy or was it smooth as an oil tanker? Were you confident and comfortable every minute you were on it?
The one with the most “yeses” is probably the one for you.
It does not matter if your friends are buying a different model at a cheaper price – at the end of the day it is you that has to fly the glider, not them.
Remember, when you think about it, you are spending a lot of money. If the glider that really felt the best is a couple of hundred more, then you would be a fool not to buy it just because of the price.
Now, what size?
Size is always a problem, yet it’s quite simple really. Just take your naked weight and add 15kg. This will give you your “in-flight” weight. Knowing this, you can select the size of glider that puts you closest to the middle of the specified weight range.
If you fall on the border of two sizes, then just analyse what type of flying you do and choose accordingly. For example, if you expect to be flying in fairly strong winds quite often, then a little more wing loading could be a good thing to give you more speed, so the smaller size would be better.
On the other hand, if you are always flying in weak conditions, the bigger size might be a better choice as it will give you a slightly better sink rate, helping you to climb well.
However, if you often fly in strong thermal conditions you may feel more comfortable on the smaller wing. Don’t get too wound up about this: you will be safe on either of the sizes, so simply buy the one that feels the best to you.
The fun factor
Every pilot desires something a little different, but remember that fashion or fad is not important. Your comfort and confidence in the air is all that matters. At the end of the day it does not matter who was highest or who flew the furthest.
What matters is that you go home having had a great flight, with a big smile on your face, a headful of beautiful views and a fantastic feeling inside. Because that is what our flying is all about.
This is an edited extract from Fifty Ways to Fly Better
