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How tight does the chest strap of the harness need to be?

As tight as possible, so you can't fall out of the harness and you will be stable in your harness in a turn. There needs to be 42-46 cm between the karabiners, about the length of your arm from elbow to fist. Most paragliders are designed and tested with the chest strap of the harness at that width. It doesn't matter, as long as the buckles are secure. It doesn't matter. The chest strap is only needed during take-off, but you may as well leave it open as you are secured in the harness by your leg straps.

A short distance beween the karabiners results in a stable flight but enhances the risk of twisting, for example after a collapse.

A large distance between the karabiners results in a higher sensitivity to weight shift but also to more dynamic reactions of the paraglider.

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.

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.

A paraglider glides down through the air. But at what speed?

The forward speed is over 50 km/h and the sink rate around 10 km/h. The forward speed is over 50 km/h and the sink rate around 1 m/s. The forward speed is around 35-40 km/h and the sink rate around 1 m/s. The forward speed is around 35-40 km/h and the sink rate around 0,1 m/s.

These are all speeds relative to the air!

What are the minimum requirements for a safe take-off?

The possibility to safely abort the launch. A light wind from the front. Clear of cables in a 500m radius. A, B en C are correct.

A straight headwind is not necessary, you can take off in a slight crosswind. The runway should be clear of cables and other obstacles, but a 500m radius is not necessary. It is however essential to be able to abort your launch, for example when you notice a knot in the lines.

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.

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.

What is the weight of the fabric used to make paraglider canopies? (g/m²)?

500g/m² 350g/m² 35g/m² 10g/m²

Very light fabric strong enough for paragliders can be as light as 25g/m². Very strong and heavy fabric weighs 40g/m² or more.
At around 35g/m², you can calculate that the weight of the fabric of just the top and bottom sail of a 25m² canopy is a bit less than two kilos.

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.

You're on a straight course and you don't need to change direction any time soon. What do you do with the brake handles?

Let go, because holding them all the time is unnecessary and tiring. Hold them at all times, because the wing will shoot in all directions if you let go. Hold the handles lightly and relax your arms. This ensures a bit of pressure on the brake lines. Hold the handles and pull them down quite a bit. The wing will fly slower and more stable that way.

Modern paragliders fly best without any brake applied - at the so-called trim speed.

But by applying a little bit of pressure, you take out the slack in the brake lines. You feel better what the wing is doing and you can react quickly and subtly to keep the wing straight overhead. This is called active flying.

If you have some more experience it doesn't hurt to let go of the brake handles and relax, but only if it's safe to do so.

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