The paragliding take-off phase is a crucial stage of the flight. It requires analysis, concentration and a certain technique to inflate the glider on a precise, controlled heading.
How do you take off in a paraglider?
For a paraglider to fly, the wing must be inflated and reach a minimum speed in order to create sufficient lift. To do this, the pilot must prepare the wing carefully on the ground to avoid any cravat or key in the lines that could cause problems during inflation. Once the pre-flight preparation has been completed, the pilot can move on to the actual inflation stage, i.e. using the wind to allow air to penetrate the sail's caissons which are open at the front and closed at the back, to give the wing its aerodynamic shape. There are two ways of doing this: either there is a minimum of wind or breeze on the runway and the kite inflates effortlessly, or it's dead calm and you have to run to create a relative wind, a bit like with a kite. The first technique is called inflating the sail face and the second inflating the back of the sail.
Deco dos voile: the basic method taught to beginners
The backsail take-off technique is the first inflation technique that you learn in paragliding school in Annecy. Beginners fly in the calmest possible conditions to avoid any turbulence in the air. In these conditions, take-offs often take place without any wind early in the morning. Pupils then learn by introductory course run at the right speed, using the front risers to boost the leading edge of the wing and the airflow into the cells. As the name suggests, during a backsail launch, you run with the wing at your back. So you don't see it, you feel it. During the run-up, you have to push the glider up your back and stabilise it above your head to avoid a front tuck, while keeping it well centred without it slipping to the left or right. This control is achieved with the controls and by positioning and centring the pilot under the canopy.
Face sail technique for stronger wind conditions
When the wind or breeze is blowing at the launch site, it is not necessary to do a backsail. The pilot can launch facing the wind. To do this, he prepares his glider facing into the wind and does a half twist with his lines to get his back to the wind and facing the glider. All you have to do then is tension the lines on the front to straighten the leading edge. The cells inflate by themselves and the wing unfolds and inflates automatically. The pilot can then take his time to check the entire line cone. Then all that remains is to give the wing a boost by offering more resistance in the risers and taking one or two steps backwards so that the wing takes off and starts to gain speed. It is then necessary to stop the wing at the zenith to avoid being overtaken. Take-off with a face glider ends with a turning the pilot the right way round to cancel the twist half-turn and a short run-up of a few steps.
The Cobra technique
When the wind is really strong (more than 20/25 km/h) take-off against the wing becomes complicated because the paraglider produces a lot of traction. It's possible to run towards it to limit the energy, but with a tandem glider it's much more complicated to manage the passenger. It may be a good idea to do a cobra take-off. This sharp technique uses the window edge of the take-off zone. The window edge corresponds to the area between 90° and 60° to the right or left of the wind axis. An experienced pilot can use this area to launch his paraglider perpendicular to the ground by first raising the feather and inflating the wing, cell by cell, vertically. The wing then unfurls like a snake in the air without exerting any significant force on the pilot. The pilot then lets the wing slide over his head and returns it to a horizontal position in line with the wind, taking care to keep it at its zenith. This inflation technique requires a good deal of training on a slope in strong winds before it can be mastered perfectly on a real launch site. Find out more about a complete cobra take-off tutorial.
Video of a tandem paraglider take-off
Find out what happens during a take-off in paragliding in Annecy with one of the Grands Espaces monitors:
