Torpedo Launches for Paragliding (Preview)

torpedo1

Goals of the torpedo style launch:

  • To get the upper torso in front of your legs so that they can better power and accelerate the body during the running portion of a launch.
  • To have the brakes in a position that will allow no pull during the launch run. With the upper body leaning radically forward, it becomes extremely difficult to keep the brakes near the pulleys with the standard (arms up and above/near the head) position. In the torpedo, the arm position is much better.
  • To keep the body as close to the ground to allow running as long as possible during the launch acceleration.

Back in the early days of paragliding (late 80s to early/mid 90s) there was no such thing as a torpedo launch. For forward launches most pilots launched with their A risers in front of the shoulders and just leaned into them as the wing ascended. Following this, the pilots would run down the hill with a slight forward lean to the body, keeping the brakes as high as possible. Following a reverse inflation and turn transition (the turn ……

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