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gingernut · 7th Dec 2007, 13:53

I used to paraglide when I was fitter and slimmer, it was a great way to spend a weekend, camarade with the fellow pilots, being in the outdoors, climbing hills, sunshine-everything that was fun, but if the truth be known, I used to cr*p it each time I flew. A couple of our chaps were commercial pilots- reckoned paragliding was proper flying

I always had this feeling something would go wrong, canopy collapsing, rotor, the ground suddenly rushing up, all three- a dread I never felt in light aircraft. I think it was because I saw a few injuries, and in the end, I cracked a few bones myself, and so made the decision that the sport was best suited to thin, powerful, wiry types, not lardarsses like myself. Gotta say, at the time, the flights were magic- the buzz stays with you for days.

I've never had a go with hang gliders, they used to share our airspace, I think one of the advantages was they could go out in conditions were marginal or blown out for paragliders- (parapunter may correct me but I think we were generally limited to an windspeed at the top of the slope of about 12 knots).

At the time I flew the British Hangliding and Paragliding Associations merged, (? BHPA), they were a friendly lot, always willing to put up with the shortcomings of us learners.

Used to have a Harley but sold it when I realised I'd never climb into the harness again.

Paragliding, student nurses, ten quid rent, Johny, Joey, Dee Dee- good times

Just found the link http://www.bhpa.co.uk/ Latest News, Nicky Moss recreates the time she was attacked by eagles...... LOVELY

7th Dec 2007, 13:53	#5 (permalink)
gingernut Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: gone surfin' Age: 48 Posts: 2,039	I used to paraglide when I was fitter and slimmer, it was a great way to spend a weekend, camarade with the fellow pilots, being in the outdoors, climbing hills, sunshine-everything that was fun, but if the truth be known, I used to crp it each time I flew. A couple of our chaps were commercial pilots- reckoned paragliding was proper flying I always had this feeling something would go wrong, canopy collapsing, rotor, the ground suddenly rushing up, all three- a dread I never felt in light aircraft. I think it was because I saw a few injuries, and in the end, I cracked a few bones myself, and so made the decision that the sport was best suited to thin, powerful, wiry types, not lardarsses like myself. Gotta say, at the time, the flights were magic- the buzz stays with you for days. I've never had a go with hang gliders, they used to share our airspace, I think one of the advantages was they could go out in conditions were marginal or blown out for paragliders- (parapunter may correct me but I think we were generally limited to an windspeed at the top of the slope of about 12 knots). At the time I flew the British Hangliding and Paragliding Associations merged, (? BHPA), they were a friendly lot, always willing to put up with the shortcomings of us learners. Used to have a Harley but sold it when I realised I'd never climb into the harness again. Paragliding, student nurses, ten quid rent, Johny, Joey, Dee Dee- good times Just found the link http://www.bhpa.co.uk/ Latest News, Nicky Moss recreates the time she was attacked by eagles......* LOVELY Last edited by gingernut; 7th Dec 2007 at 14:54.