Articles – Index
All below articles are property of Airtime of San Francisco ©. To access the subscription articles, please purchase a subscription at my airtime store.
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Paragliding Lesson Preparations (Free Article) |
Article describing what to bring, and what to read prior to beginning a paragliding lesson program. |
| Learning Winglish (Free Article) |
Relaxation is the key to kiting. Andy has a moment where he connects to his wing and begins to learn winglish. | |
| Preset Hand Kiting (Subscription Required) | An article describing how to feel and connect to a paraglider for kiting and while flying. This article is great to read at the beginning of any lesson program. | |
| Preflight of Paraglider (Subscription Required) | How to inspect the paraglider prior to a flying session. | |
| Lifting the Wing (Subscription Required) | The key to kiting is how to lift the wing overhead each and every time. This article summarizes the main techniques for achieving this… | |
| Reverse Connection (Subscription Required) | Article showing step by step instructions for connecting to a paraglider for a Turn Transition or Reverse Launch. The steps are combined with the harness connection preflight checks. | |
| Accordion Packing (Subscription Required) | How to pack a paraglider using the accordion folding method. | |
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Reverse Launch Primer (Free Article) |
Article written by Joe Bosworth (Of Australia). Overview of good Reverse Launch practices. |
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Landing and Flare Timing |
Article describing the 7 – 5 – 3 “two stage” flair technique for landing the paraglider. |
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| Paragliding Safety Primer (Free Article) |
Long Term safety in paragliding needs some prioritization and looking out for the little things. This article discusses some systems and techniques you can use to achieve this | |
| Torpedo Launch Basics (Subscription Required) |
Article describing how and why to use a Torpedo Launch. | |
| Flight Plans and Primary Flight Paths (Subscription Required) | An article conveying the importance of having a flight plan and how this minimizes hazards for student and every flight. | |
| Speed to Fly (Subscription Required) | Article I wrote describing speed management relating to glide ratio in a Paraglider | |
| Figure 8 landing Approaches (Subscription Required) | Article describing the Figure 8 landing approach in a Paraglider. | |
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Avoiding BlowBack at Mussel Rock (Free Article) | Article I wrote about avoiding Blowback at Mussel Rock – AKA “The Dumps”. People often think flying paragliders at this beautiful coastal site as being ultra safe, but many visiting and some locals have experienced blowback. |
| Avoiding BlowBack (Free Article) |
Same article as above, but I revised (de-referenced from Westlake Cliffs) for the USHPA Hang Gliding and Paragliding magazine and it was published December 2004 USHPA Magazine. | |
| Active Flying (Subscription Required) | Article defining “Active Flying” in a Paraglider. | |
| Airspace (Subscription Required) | Ultralight crafts, where we can an cannot fly with regard to the FAA part 103 rules. | |
| Critical Flying Situations (Subscription Required) | Basics of methods to deal with critical flying situations ( like spins, spirals, collapses ) | |
| Rotors and Mechanical Turbulence (Free Article) |
Article discussing how mechanical turbulence is created and how to be aware of where it is and avoid… This is now incorporated into the Mussel Rock Site Guide. | |
| Flying Near Water (Free Article) |
Landing in water should be prevented at all costs. This is a section of the Mussel Rock Site Guide that discusses how to avoid landing in the water, the importance of flying with a hook knife, as well as how to deal with it if you land near or in the water. | |
| Light Wind Ridge Soaring (Subscription Required) | Article I wrote about flying Paragliders in Lighter Wind Conditions. Published in July 2005 USHPA Magazine. | |
| Right of Way Rules (Free Article) |
The Basic Right of Way Rules for Free Flight crafts (Paragliders, Hang Gliders, Sailplanes) | |
| Mussel Rock Site Guide for Paragliding Pilots (Free Article) |
Site guide for Mussel Rock, AKA “The Dumps” This article combines the Blowback and Rotors articles and adds launch and water landing avoidance / emergency procedures. | |
| Addendum to Right of Way Rules (Free Article) |
Article I wrote about some issues within the Right of Way rules that need better definition. Published in August 1996 USHPA Magazine. | |
| A/C Paragliding Launch (Subscription Required) | Article describing a technique that uses the A and C or D riser to better manage wings quick ascent during high wind launch situations. | |
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Safety Activism |
Article discussing how to become active and enhance safety via social networking etc. | |
| Paraglider Sizing Discussion (Free Article) |
An article to help pilots understand some of the sizing criteria for choosing the right size paraglider. | |
| Thermal Basics (Subscription Required) | Basics of flying in thermals. Where to look for thermals, how to turn and what to avoid. | |
| Cobra Paragliding Launch (Subscription Required) | Pictures and description of the Cobra launch technique used in higher winds to circumvent the pull of eye of the wind reverse launches. | |
| Coastal Wind Shears (Subscription Required) | Information about wind shears that occur in the San Francisco Bay Area at the coast. | |
| Information | ||
| 1996 Article by Paul McHugh (Free Article) |
“Taking a Flyer On the Sport Of Paragliding” – I took Paul McHugh of the San Francisco Chronicle – Outdoor Section for a brief Tandem Flight and he wrote this article about the experience. | |
| Rating Requirements (Free Article) | USHPA Part 104 – rules governing Paragliding. This document lists the requirements for each rating, tasks for demonstration, and operating limitations for each rating. | |
| P2 Study Guide (Subscription Required) | A study guide to help you prepare better for the P2 Written Examination. | |
| P3 Study Guide (Subscription Required) | A study guide to help you prepare better for the P3 Written Examination. | |
| Flying at La Salina, Baja, Mexico (Free Article) |
A site intro and basic information about flying in and around La Salina, Baja, Mexico. | |
| Tandem Paragliding Preparations (Free Article) |
Article about what you need to know, bring with you and understand before flying tandem in a Paraglider. | |
| Article from South Bay Accent Magazine (Free Article) |
Interview style article for general info about Paragliding. | |
| External Sites with Articles | ||
| Sky Nomad | Sky Nomad is a school and tandem operation in Bulgaria. They have a great list of articles on the linked page. | |
| Expanding Knowledge | Site by Jérôme Daoust Lots of Instructional and Technical Articles and more … | |
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