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Paragliding Taster Day

Paragliding is the simplest and most basic form of flight available. The necessary equipment fits into a single rucksack and can be made ready for flight in a few minutes. There are four basic parts to the equipment; the glider (a rectangular area of cloth that looks a bit like a square parachute but is fundamentally quite different), a harness that you sit in, a helmet, and an emergency parachute system that the vast majority of pilots will never use (but you should still have one for that one in a million chance).

Once you have prepared your equipment, you can launch yourself from a hillside and soar the sky like a bird, controlling your glider by a combination of moving yourself (weight shift) as well as via the control handles. If you fly into an area where the air is rising faster than your glider is sinking, you will also rise. It is by using areas of rising air that it is possible to make flights of several hours.

The landing is straightforward and gentle. Sometimes we land at the bottom of the hill, sometimes back on top where we took off from, and sometimes we fly for many miles over the countryside and land somewhere completely new.

What You Get From the Experience

When you arrive at the paragliding school (about 20 miles north of Dorchester in Dorset) you will be briefed on which launch site you will be going to. You'll then learn all about the paragliding kit, how to inflate your glider and finish the day with some low level gliding (as long as the waether conditions are favourable). This is a fantastic course to give you the basics of paragliding and how to progress onto the next level. This day also counts as part of your Elementary Pilot's License training

• Ground control

• Launch

• Take Off

• Get Flying

Availabilty

The Paragliding taster day is available all year round depending upon conditions.

Weather

Paraglding is dependent upon the weather. You should make sure that you call the paragliding school on the day before and on the day of course to make sure that the weather makes flying possible.

Duration

The course takes a full day.

Clothing / Equipment

The paragliding school will provide all the equipment and safety gear required for the course. You should take sufficient clothing to ensure that you don't get cold as much of the day is spent outside. Stout footwear that offers ankle protection is recommended as is something to eat and drink.

Restrictions

The minimum age for this activity is 16. You should be reasonably fit and if you have any medical conditions check with the school to make sure that they will not affect your ability to partake in the course. This price includes £10 BHPA Membership giving you third party insurance cover for the day.

Location

Dorchester, Dorset

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