First time a paraglider soared at the Ellenville flight park in New York. Most of the hang gliders had not even heard of a paraglider on the East coast. The cherry on the cake was the top landing. A double first in a way.
I first saw a pg in about 1985. We were at the hill and some crazy guy turned up and launched in what we thought was a parachute. Maybe it was. He took ages to get it up in the air... Funny how some things never change.
Hi Fergus, the 'steering seat' (I will let you see one I own next time you are in Scotland) was a early 'speed system', the harness is integral with the wing.
The 'A risers are attached to the front (at the side) of the seat board, the B's fixed mid board, while the C's are fixed to the rear of the seat board...
So tip your 'but' forward and the glider speeds up.. sit back and the glider slows down!
Clearly this system, while it did work had (has!) safety implications!
Awesome !! The majority of PG instructors today don't 'teach' about how the harness can be used to control the wing on the ground as well as in the air because they themselves have not been thought that way. Currently only ONE instructor in the EU teaches that fact of control - The current PG world record holder Mr. Murray Hay in Scotland ! Thanks for sharing this, it goes back to the LOST BASICS of PG flight ;)
I first saw a pg in about 1985. We were at the hill and some crazy guy turned up and launched in what we thought was a parachute. Maybe it was. He took ages to get it up in the air... Funny how some things never change.
gasdive 3 years ago
Must have quiet difficult to land seing as you have to tilt back on the seat to brake! Thanks for posting.
geniennis 3 years ago
Hi Fergus, the 'steering seat' (I will let you see one I own next time you are in Scotland) was a early 'speed system', the harness is integral with the wing.
The 'A risers are attached to the front (at the side) of the seat board, the B's fixed mid board, while the C's are fixed to the rear of the seat board...
So tip your 'but' forward and the glider speeds up.. sit back and the glider slows down!
Clearly this system, while it did work had (has!) safety implications!
murrayhay 3 years ago
Awesome !! The majority of PG instructors today don't 'teach' about how the harness can be used to control the wing on the ground as well as in the air because they themselves have not been thought that way. Currently only ONE instructor in the EU teaches that fact of control - The current PG world record holder Mr. Murray Hay in Scotland ! Thanks for sharing this, it goes back to the LOST BASICS of PG flight ;)
FegrusMojo 3 years ago