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You just landed. What do you do?

You bundle up the glider in a 'field pack' and take the shortest way to the designated packing area. You bundle up the glider in a 'field pack' and take the shortest way to the edge of the field and from there to the designated packing area. You report to the instructor. When he or she says it's ok, you bundle up the glider in a 'field pack' and walk to the designated packing area. You pack up your vulnarable glider on the spot and then you report to the instructor.

Directly after landing, look around for other gliders that are about to land and clear the landing area as quickly as possible, without disturbing others.

A pre-flight check should be executed...

...before take-off. ...after every flight. ...every six months or as often as the manufacturer recommends. ...only by your instructor.

Before you take off, you should check at least these things: pilot, lines, canopy, wind, airspace.

Why are the cell openings slightly pointed down?

To increase the aerodynamic properties of the paraglider. Because the airflow is coming from the front and below at an angle. To enable dirt or dust to fall out easily. To achieve a venturi effect.

The cell openings are positioned where the air flow hits the profile of the airfoil.

We lay out the canopy in a semi-circle before take-off. Why?

This reduces the tendency of the lines to tangle. This ensures that the canopy will fill from the middle cells towards the tips. This ensures that the outer cells will fill with air first. This is the only way you can separate the brake lines from the main lines properly.

When the center cells fill first, the canopy will rise steadily and straight.

Which data do you need to calculate the wing load?

The weight of the wing, the flat surface of the wing and the weight of the harness. The take-off weight and the flat surface of the wing. The span, the flat surface and the weight of the wing. The aspect ratio and the take-off weight.

The wing load is defined as the weight on the wing per square metre. Therefore you need the total take-off weight and the flat surface of the wing to calculate it. For example, a 25m² glider flown by a pilot with a TOW of 100kg has a wing load of 4kg/m².

How tight do you need to pull the leg straps of the harness?

As tight as possible so you won't fall out of the harness and you won't move from side to side in a turn. As loose as they will go so you can easily accelerate during take-off and the circulation in your legs is not hindered. That doesn't matter, as long as the buckles are secure. They need to be loose enough that your flat hand can just fit between the straps and your legs. That way your movements aren't hindered too much and you can still get into the harness easily after take-off.

The tightness of the leg straps does not influence the flying properties of the paraglider.

When the leg straps are too loose, after take-off you will find yourself hanging low under the seat and it's more difficult to get in the harness.

Too tight will hinder your movements during take-off, depending on the harness design. In some harnesses it will prevent you from getting into the seat fully.

Which lines carry the most weight?

The rear lines (C or D-lines) The middle lines (B or B and C-lines) The lines on the front (A-lines or A and B-lines) The brake lines.

Most of the weight is carried by the lines attached to the front of the canopy.

What happens when you fly too slowly?

The wing collapses. The glider will enter a deep stall. Nothing, you can fly as slow as you want.

Below the minimum speed or stall speed, the wing stops flying and will descend straight down like a parachute. This is a very unstable situation and often leads to a spin or stall.
See the chapters on Aerodynamics (stalls) and Advanced flying.

For a paraglider in the mountains, what wind speeds are considered safe to fly?

Only nil winds from 0 to 1 Bft. Only light winds from 2 to 3 Bft. Only with wind from 0 up to 3 Bft. Only with wind speeds over 3 Bft.

Wind results in turbulence in the mountains. While soaring on a ridge or at low dunes or flying in flatlands may be safe up to 4 Bft or a bit higher using a smaller mini-wing, in the mountains a wind speed up to 3 Bft (a maximum of 20 km/h) is the maximum for most pilots to fly safely. Strong winds are considered 25 km/h or over.

You are standing on take-off and you feel the wind coming a bit from the side. Is that a problem for a safe launch?

Yes that is a problem. We need the wind to be straight from the front to take off safely. Up to about 45 degrees is usually not a problem. You lay out the wing facing the wind and during the acceleration phase you correct your course to fly away straight from the take-off. Up to about 45 degrees is usually not a problem. You lay out the wing straight down the take-off and correct the wing during the inflation phase. Up to about 90 degrees is usually not a problem. You lay out the wing straight down the take-off and correct the wing during the inflation phase.

B is the only correct answer for an Alpine or forward launch in the mountains. When you choose to execute a reverse launch, C is a possibility as well. For a tow launch, sometimes a 90 degree crosswind can be safe to start for more experienced pilots.

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