John Gallagher – paragliding words of flying wisdom

March 23, 2021

Flying safety

• Don't fly on the earth's surface – you will usually just land there
• Days don't always improve in the PM
• Don't fly just because you came to fly if conditions are questionable
• Just because flying is occuring or has, it doesn't mean it's good conditions
• If bad weather is on the horizon and you are in the air, GO LAND
• If you get caught in a big wind, fight the long battle and try to hold ground or make progress forward.  Even if you are losing ground, you are moving forward.

Ready to launch

• A and B wings are more difficult to launch and they are slower
• U shape the wing so tips delay launching
• Pull the (2) center A lines
• Stay square to the glider
• Crouch down and put your weight on the harness before inflating the wing
• Pull wing up slowly in stronger winds – this gives you more time
• Move from crouch to standing up to depower the glider
• HANDS UP!
• NO tippy-toes walking around, tell the wind what to do!
• Stabilze the wing before launching
• Lean forward on your straps, get off the brakes, crouch down and run flat footed (helps keep traction on the ground)
• Do you have emergency procedures in place if things start to go wrong?

After launch

• Flight plan?
• Get out front pronto!
• Check and monitor airspeed
• Be ready to give others hand signals, as needed

Flying in the mountains

• Winds – what's the trend?  Get a full picture of what is going on in the region
• Get down FAST, as needed
• Use speedbar, practice getting places FAST
• Stay balanced in your harness at all times
• OUDI – can greatly assist in thermalling
• Getting blown back?  Keep the wing above you, be ready to throw your reserve