How to choose a reliable paraglider model and not overpay

The sky has always attracted a person - but only a few become professional pilots. Someone lives on earth all their lives, and some have enough air travel as civil aviation passengers.


But nowadays, almost everyone can become a pilot and feel like the master of the sky. To do this, it is not necessary to be a millionaire and buy a personal plane - a paraglider is enough.

An ordinary wing with a suspension system can be purchased from 100 rubles. Agree - not so much for the opportunity to experience the joy of free flight! Of course, paragliders with engines are much more expensive, but the engines and the features of their use must be considered separately.



The first thing a beginner should remember is that you should not master the wing on your own - it is not safe. It is recommended to take training in a specialized section, or find at least an experienced friend who will tell, show and help you learn the basics.

What are the systems and categories

It only at first glance seems that all paragliders are the same and they differ in cost, shape and degree of coolness. Everything has long been divided into certification systems, of which there are two, but they do not differ much from each other, at least for beginners.

These are DHV (LTF) and EN. Their categories are similar, so you should immediately talk about them with designations for two certification systems.
DHV1 or ENA is the first step that all beginners must go through. Paragliders belonging to this category are usually used in specialized schools and sections. Accordingly, they are recommended to be purchased by beginners - after all, they forgive many mistakes and even when folding the wing in flight on their own, they get out of this situation without the participation of the pilot.



Another advantage of this class of paragliders is that they are all suitable for installing engines, which means they can be considered universal. Maybe someone will want to fly with a motor, but there is no desire to study for a long time.

DHV1-2 or ENB is the second student stage for the continuing group of beginners.

Paragliders belonging to this category are superior to the basic ones in a number of ways:

• ? Speeds
  
• ? maneuverability
  
• ? flight qualities
  

Naturally, such wings are more expensive. In terms of safety, they are approximately on the same level, but direct holding in the wrong position is not forgiven - therefore, for the very beginners, they are still not recommended.

DHV2 or ENC is the last student grade. Many are in a hurry to move from it to the category for experienced paragliders or even bypassing it. But in fact, if the pilot is not going to practice on a regular basis, which includes at least 75 hours of flying per year and the impeccable performance of all necessary elements, it is better to stay in this class.



The main advantage of the DHV2/ENC category is the possibility of maximizing speed and maneuverability with a high level of safety. If difficult flights are planned, then this class is ideal for amateurs.

DHV2-3 or END is already a professional level. If the paraglider is not confident in his skills and cannot calmly perform a series of actions after folding the wing, then it is simply not safe to buy them. Of course, in terms of speed and other characteristics, they surpass all amateur-class models.

DHV3 or ENE is the category for the most experienced athletes. To start with the fact that these paragliders are not certified - you can immediately end it. With all the outstanding characteristics, suitable for international competitions, they are highly dependent on the actions of the pilot. Do not tolerate mistakes, punishing for it.



Before moving from one class of paragliders to another, it is desirable to hear the opinion of independent professional experts.

Size and weight

No matter how much you would like to purchase the largest, or vice versa, small paraglider, you need to understand that there are certain selection criteria that affect safety. The dimensions of the wing depend primarily on the physical parameters of the owner. For large pilots, a large paraglider is recommended, for light pilots, a small one. If you look into the details, then you need to calculate the ratio of the total flight weight to the value of the wing load, which depends on the size of the canopy.

Most models of paragliders are offered in several weight classes, meaning they can lift a certain load. It is advisable to select an aircraft in order to get into the average value of the scale fork. In case of shortage, ballast can be used, but it should not be heavier than 10 kg.

What is flying qualities and how to control a wing?

Each paraglider has its own parameters that affect speed and aerodynamics.

Useful specifications:

• ? soaring
  
• ? Flying in turbulence
  
• ? Using the accelerator
  

When buying a wing, you should not rely on the parameters declared by the manufacturer if the dealer operates them. Often all these measurements are made in still air, especially in the budget price category.



For a novice paraglider, useful flying qualities are not so much important as ease of control. This professional quickly adapts to any model and squeezes the maximum out of it. It is much more important for a beginner to learn to enjoy free flight, and not to fight with a recalcitrant wing.

The weight

This question is complex and cannot be answered unambiguously. On the one hand, it is easier for a light paraglider to launch, but a heavy one, as a rule, is structurally stronger. Much depends on the price category. Modern components and fabrics are durable combined with lightness, however, such a wing costs several times more. Budget paragliders are made of short-lived materials, so it is not recommended to take them - they can only last a couple of years and fail at the most inopportune moment.

As a rule, wings for cross-country flights are heavier than mountain ones. The former have a weight of 4 to 5 kg, the latter are lighter than 4 kg.

Other characteristics affecting control

Before buying a paraglider, it is advisable to fly in a specialized school or section in order to understand a number of nuances. For example, the effort on the toggle and its course.



The stability of the wing, at first glance, should be maximum. This is how beginners think and this is an erroneous judgment. If the pitch stability is high, it is difficult to enter turns. This is irrelevant for a beginner - at least to fly in a straight line, but this will soon get boring. But if the wing is unstable, it not only turns quickly, but also does not hold well in the air.

It would be ideal to try out several models before buying, but the sellers will not allow you to do this. Therefore, it is important to communicate with like-minded people, at least on the forums, and ideally, try the models in flight.

Should I buy used

The average paraglider has a service life of 5 years. After that, it is recommended to change it to a new one. But it all depends on the frequency and operating conditions. Some extreme people manage to wear out even high-quality models in six months.



Therefore, when buying a used wing, it is better to take an experienced friend with you - he knows what nuances you can pay close attention to.
By the way, if you buy a paraglider of domestic production, you can save 30-50% of the budget without losing quality. So, if instead of a used wing you pick up a new Russian one, it will definitely last longer.

When choosing a paraglider, you must first focus on the level of skill. The main thing is not to flatter yourself at the same time - the air does not forgive mistakes.