Paragliding flight

12.06.2024 Ostrów Wlkp. (Poland)

What is a paraglider?

A paraglider is a type of aircraft consisting of a flexible wing (canopy) and a harness in which the pilot sits. The wing, made of durable fabric, is divided into chambers that fill with air during flight, giving it an aerodynamic shape. A paraglider, also known as a glider, does not have a rigid structure like a glider or an airplane. Takeoff usually occurs from a hill or with the help of a winch. The paraglider uses air currents and thermals (rising currents of warmer air) to stay aloft and cover significant distances.

Can disabled people fly a paraglider independently or in tandem?

For a long time, I thought that disabled people could not fly a paraglider because takeoff is dynamic and involves the pilot running until the canopy fills with air. I didn't see a way to strap a person with lower limb paralysis to the pilot while the pilot could run several meters with them. Fortunately, this problem has been addressed by creating a special wheelchair in which a person with various disabilities can be safely placed. Disabled people can fly paragliders both independently and in tandem.

Where can disabled people fly a paraglider?

While searching for information among the paragliding community about the possibilities of safely flying a paraglider for a person in a wheelchair, I was directed to the Pat.Paragliding Paragliding School operating at the Michałkowo Airport near Ostrów Wielkopolski. When I visited their website, I quickly concluded that this was the right place to try a safe paraglider flight under the supervision of experienced instructors. There, even disabled people can obtain a pilot's license that allows them to fly paragliders independently.
Contact with the organization is easy, although waiting for a flight may be prolonged due to the frequent travels of the head instructor for international competitions.

Course of the paraglider flight

When the long-awaited day finally arrived, the weather turned out to be a bit capricious. The wind was not blowing from the right direction, and there was a serious risk of rain. Fortunately, after a tense wait, we got the green light to take off. At first, my adrenaline shot up, even though the pilot perfectly began my adventure with paragliding. As soon as we lifted off the ground, I immediately fell into a state of euphoria. I had already flown on various machines and devices, but flying is always an amazing experience for me.
After releasing the winch line, we majestically glided through the skies. The flight was calm, and together with the pilot, I enjoyed the beautiful views. I shared my joy that I was in the air again. After about 10 minutes of soaring, we safely landed near the takeoff point.

Is paragliding safe?

Placing a disabled person in the special wheelchair used during the flight is very easy. I felt secure and safe in it. Additionally, my feet were strapped to the wheelchair's structure to eliminate the possibility of them slipping out during takeoff and landing.
Throughout every stage of preparation and the flight itself, one can notice a full professionalism and care for safety rules. Their experience in organizing flights for disabled individuals is evident. My slight concerns about being tossed aside or overturned during takeoff were minimized by choosing the ideal weather conditions.

Summary

Paragliding is a unique experience among extreme sports. The absence of engine noise and the surrounding silence are huge advantages. A downside, at least when I flew, is the short flight time. It was a bit too short for me to fully satisfy my desire to fly.
When preparing for the paraglider flight, I seriously considered that after so many flights I had previously experienced, a flight on a glider wouldn't impress me too much. I was very wrong, and right after takeoff, I felt like a child, as if I was flying for the first time in my life! The saying that flying a paraglider makes you better understand why birds sing is not an exaggeration.