Paragliding lexicon: Terms and definitions for pilots

This lexicon offers you a comprehensive collection of terms and definitions relating to paragliding. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced pilot - here you will find everything you need to know to be better prepared and expand your knowledge.

Take-off weight
The take-off weight is the total weight of the pilot including equipment and additional loads, including the glider, which must be taken into account during take-off.

Trailing edge
A point in the terrain where warm air rises from the ground and forms a thermal bubble or tube. Common examples are forest edges, lake shores or slope edges.

Descent aid

Descent aids allow pilots to reduce altitude in a controlled manner. This is particularly necessary when the thermals are very strong and certain altitudes must be maintained. Or when a descent no longer occurs due to strong thermals in normal flight and a steady, unintentional climb takes place. The most common methods include the B-stall, the ear stall (small ears / large ears), the rattling spiral and the spiral turn (steep spiral). These techniques reduce the sink rate by changing the aerodynamics of the glider and are also used specifically to avoid turbulence or unwanted updrafts. Descent techniques are important and necessary skills for pilots and should be practiced regularly.

Acro flying
A discipline of aerobatics that includes demanding maneuvers such as SAT, wingovers and helicopters. These maneuvers require a lot of practice and an excellent feel for the glider. 

AGL (Above Ground Level)
Height above the ground, measured from the current location.

Active flying
In active flying, the pilot compensates for movements of the glider caused by turbulence or thermals. This is done by using the control lines and shifting your weight.

Albedo
The ratio of reflected light to the amount of incident light on a surface. Surfaces with a high albedo (e.g. snow) reflect a lot of light, which can have an influence on thermal conditions.

AMSL (Above Mean Sea Level)
Height above mean sea level, a standard measure for flight altitudes.

Angle of attack
The angle between the chord of the wing profile and the incoming air. An angle that is too large leads to stalling, while an angle that is too small causes the wing to collapse.

Lift coefficient
A dimensionless value that describes the dynamic lift of a body around which air is flowing.

Buoyancy formula

The dynamic lift of a body can be calculated using four factors: FA = A (area of the body around which air flows) * cA (coefficient of lift) * ρ/2 (air density) * v2 (velocity).

Upwind band
An area in front of a slope or elevation where wind is deflected upwards. This upwind enables soaring, provided it is strong enough to compensate for the sinking of the glider.

Outer container
A container that houses the rescue system. This is either attached directly to the harness or as a front container.

Barometric altitude formula

The barometric altitude formula can be used to describe the dependence of air pressure on altitude, i.e. the vertical air distribution in the earth's atmosphere. In the standard atmosphere (according to ICAO) there is 1013.25 hPa at sea level. The air pressure is halved every 5,500 meters, i.e. it decreases exponentially with altitude. At sea level, it can also be said that the air pressure decreases by 1 hPa every 8 meters, at approx. 5,000 meters it decreases by 1 hPa every 16 meters and at approx. 10,000 meters it decreases by approx. 1 hPa every 32 meters.

B-stall
A descent aid in which the B-lines are pulled to deform the canopy. This drastically reduces the speed and ensures a controlled descent.

Speed system

The speed system consists of a pulley on the risers of the paraglider and a foot accelerator, which are connected to each other. When the pilot activates the system with his feet, the angle of attack of the paraglider is reduced, as the A and B lines in particular are pulled down. As a result, the paraglider flies faster (than at trim speed).

Bernoulli effect

According to Bernoulli, the air pressure decreases in areas of fast or faster airflow.

Best glide

In the best glide, a paraglider flies as far as possible in calm conditions. For most models, the best glide is in the trim speed range, i.e. the pilot releases the brakes up to the pulleys and does not apply the brakes to the canopy.

Bezometer
A device for measuring the tear strength of the canopy.

Blue thermal

Blue thermal describes thermal activity without cloud formation. The equalization of the temperatures of the rising air and the ambient air takes place before the condensation level is reached.

Gusty wind

Gusty wind is a wind with strongly changing wind speeds.

CTR (Control Zone)
Control zones around airports. They extend from the ground to a defined upper limit and are only accessible for VFR flights with ATC clearance.

Pressure point
The point on the canopy where all the forces of the airflow come together. In stationary straight flight, it is located in the front third in the center of the canopy.

FL

The flight level (FL) or flight level stands for an area of equal air pressure or for a certain height above the standard pressure.

Front container

The front container is an external container for the reserve parachute, which is attached separately between the two harness carabiners. It is mainly used with harnesses that do not have an integrated external container due to their design.

Fullstall

A full stall is a double-sided stall in which the air in the canopy escapes from the back to the front. The angle of attack is too large, so that the airflow can no longer be applied and the lift collapses. 

g-force (curve weight)

The g-force is the combination of weight force and centrifugal force that acts on the pilot during turns. It is perceived as additional "weight", depending on the bank angle and speed. In a 60° turn, for example, twice the normal body weight (2g) acts on the pilot.

Lowest sink rate

The minimum sink rate is the braking position at which the paraglider flies for the maximum amount of time in calm air. For most models, this means a brake line pull of around 15 % and a steering pressure of just under 2 kg.

Speed polar

A speed polar shows the sink rate of the paraglider (in m/s) in relation to the airspeed (in km/h) at different brake and accelerator positions. The pilot can read and determine the glide performance of the glider at different speeds and wind conditions.

Yaw

Yaw is the movement of the paraglider or glider around its vertical axis.

Glide path

The glide path describes the flight path of the paraglider through the airspace. In ideally calm air masses, the inclination of the glide path varies due to different brake and accelerator positions.

Paraglider

also: paraglider - glider consisting of a wing and lines. "Paraglider", also known as a paraglider or glider, is the German term for paraglider and refers to an aerial sports device consisting of a canopy, lines and risers.

Glide ratio

The ratio of distance traveled to altitude lost. It indicates how far a paraglider can glide in calm air.

Glide angle

The glide angle is the angle between the glide path of the glider and the horizon.

Glide ratio

The glide ratio is the ratio of the lift of the canopy to the total drag, the ratio of the distance traveled to the altitude used in a certain period of time and the ratio of the airspeed (in m/s) to the sink rate (in m/s).

Harness
The harness is the pilot's seat and connects him to the paraglider. It ensures comfort and safety and often contains a rescue system.

Hang glider

Hangglider refers to the flying kite. Unlike the paraglider, the hang glider consists of a rigid tubular construction with a sail covering. The pilot takes off and lands on foot and is in a lying position under the hang glider during the flight.

ICAO chart

ICAO charts are aeronautical charts showing the airspace structure according to the guidelines of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Induced resistance

In the paraglider, induced drag is a compensating flow of air in the stabilizer area from the lower to the upper sail. It therefore only takes effect as soon as a lift force is applied to the profile according to Bernoulli, resulting in pressure differences between the upper and lower sail (upper sail: negative pressure, lower sail: positive pressure). As the paraglider moves through the air mass, the resulting vortex detaches from the profile and continues as a wake vortex.

Inner container
A container that houses the rescue system. It is attached directly to the side (left or right) of the harness, usually on the right.

IPPI card

The IPPI card is an international flight certificate that can be issued by the respective association for a fee and is valid almost worldwide in conjunction with the national license. With the IPPI Card, flying ability is divided into five levels, the so-called ParaProcStages.

Flaps

In a collapse, part of the paraglider canopy collapses. The angle of attack is too small, so that the air does not hit the profile from the bottom front but from the top - this is also referred to as a negative airflow into the profile. In the affected area, the air in the canopy escapes completely or only partially and the flexible paraglider cloth undercuts the part of the paraglider that is still airworthy. With many paraglider models, a collapse usually opens automatically after a short time without any action on the part of the pilot.

Controlled airspace
Airspace in which flight movements are monitored by air traffic controllers.

Curve weight (g-force)
The combined effect of weight force and centrifugal force in a turn. The pilot perceives this additional load as g-force.

Laminar wind

Laminar wind is a wind with uniform wind speeds, i.e. a wind that is not interspersed with gusts.

Landing beer ;-)

Even if you are alone in the air as a paraglider pilot, paragliding is still a community sport. Paragliders are generally sociable people. For most of them, a joint landing beer at the end of a great day's flying is simply part of the experience!

Longitudinal axis

The longitudinal axis is a virtual line that runs lengthwise to the maximum extension of the canopy. In a paraglider, it also represents the mirror or symmetry axis. It runs at right angles to the transverse and vertical axis.

Leeward

The lee is the side of an object facing away from the wind. When flying, the lee is characterized by turbulent and sinking air masses.

Leeway

The empty travel is the first approx. 10 centimetres of the control travel (starting from the pulley) in which the pilot pulls the brakes down but the trailing edge of the canopy is not yet deformed. The pilot merely applies tension to the brake lines.

Upwind

The windward side of an object is the side facing the wind. It is characterized by calmer air masses.

MSL

The Mean Sea Level (MSL) refers to the mean sea level (NN).

Earthing

The ear attachment is a descent aid that the pilot can use to descend faster with the paraglider. To do this, the pilot pulls the outside of the canopy using the outer A-lines. Unlike other descent aids, the glider remains controllable by shifting weight and has a horizontal speed.

Bearing point

The bearing point is an imaginary or visible point on a landing field which the pilot uses as a guide to land close to the point.

Pilot's license
The pilot's license allows you to fly freely in accordance with FOCA regulations and Swiss flight rules. In combination with the international IPPI card, it is recognized almost worldwide and is valid indefinitely. In Germany, this is referred to as an "A license", in Austria as a "paragliding license". It is the goal of the mandatory basic training for paraglider pilots.

Porosimeter
A porosimeter is a measuring device that tests the air permeability of the paraglider cloth. This is important for assessing the quality of the wing and the lift.

Profile resistance

The profile drag is created directly on the paraglider canopy, which generates lift.

QFE

The QFE can be used to determine the altitude above an airfield. It indicates the current air pressure at airfield altitude. As a mnemonic you can remember: Question Field Elevation.

QNH

The QNH can be used to determine the altitude above mean sea level. It indicates the current air pressure at sea level. As a mnemonic, you can remember: Question Normal Hight.

Rescue system
An additional parachute - also known as rescue parachute or emergency parachute, which can be deployed by the pilot in an emergency to enable a safe landing.

Rescue cord

With the lifeline is a 30 m long nylon braided line with a 30 g lead weight attached to the end. It is used after a tree landing to pull up auxiliary materials to rescue the pilot.

Stall flight

In a stall, the paraglider canopy, which is still filled with air, moves vertically downwards. The dynamic lift collapses. There is only resistance, so that the paraglider sinks at approx. 4 m/s.

SAT

In a SAT turn, the center of rotation shifts between the paraglider canopy and the pilot, so that the pilot flies backwards.

Take-off weight

The take-off weight is also the take-off weight, which is made up of the pilot's weight, the weight of all the equipment, including the glider, and everything else that the pilot takes into the air. 

Dynamic pressure

Dynamic pressure is the dynamic pressure and corresponds to the increase in pressure at the stagnation point of a flowing body compared to the static pressure of the air. The dynamic pressure can be used to determine the speed relative to the air.

Stagnation point

The stagnation point is the point on the surface of a flowing body (profile) at which the air theoretically hits vertically. The velocity of the flowing medium is zero.

Control pressure

The control pressure is the pressure or force that the pilot feels when pulling the control lines. It increases the greater the angle of attack of the canopy.

Stall

During a stall, the airflow can no longer contact the paraglider profile as the angle of attack is too large. The dynamic lift collapses and consequently the internal canopy pressure collapses - the air escapes from the front to the rear. The pilot perceives a high control pressure in the area of high angles of attack. At the moment of the stall, this pressure drops abruptly.

SHV (Swiss Hang Gliding Association)

The SHV is the central organization for paraglider and hang glider pilots in Switzerland. It represents the interests of pilots at national and international level and ensures that safety and training standards are maintained and developed.

TMA (Terminal Control Area)
Controlled area around large airports (e.g. Zurich, Geneva). Paraglider pilots should avoid these areas or obtain prior permission.

Thermals
Rising air masses created by solar radiation and warming of the air. These enable long flights and the gaining of height.

Trim speed
The speed at which a paraglider flies in the neutral control position. It is generally optimal for long ranges.

Uncontrolled airspace
Areas in which there is no monitoring by air traffic controllers and the visual flight rules apply.

VFR (Visual Flight Rules)
Visual flight rules under which paraglider pilots fly.

Variometer (Vario)
A variometer is a device for measuring climb or descent. Modern variometers often have GPS functions, thermal assistants, altimeters, live wind values, navigation, airspace maps, flight data memory and much more.

VMC

The VMC (Visual Meteorological Conditions) define the visual or meteorological conditions that must be present in order to fly under VFR.

Lead angle

The lead angle is the angle between the heading and the course actually flown over ground. 

Drag formula

The drag of a body can be calculated using four factors: FW = A (surface area of the body in flow) * cW (drag coefficient) * ρ/2 (air density) * v2 (speed).

Winch, winch wake

One way of getting into the air with a paraglider on flat land is the winch launch. This involves the pilot being towed into the air by a special winch, where he releases himself at an altitude of a few hundred meters and can then go in search of thermals.

Wingover

Wingovers are rolling movements with an angle of more than 90°. Seen from the ground, the pilot is above the paraglider canopy.

XC

The abbreviation stands for "Cross Country", meaning cross-country flying.

Centrifugal force

Centrifugal force, or centrifugal force, is a force that occurs during rotary and circular motion and is directed radially outwards from the axis of rotation.

The fascination of paragliding

Paragliding combines the joy of flying with a unique closeness to nature. From choosing the right equipment and analyzing weather conditions to the technical intricacies of the flight - this sport requires dedication and continuous training. With thorough preparation and sound knowledge, you can take off safely and enjoy the freedom of the sky to the full.

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Your Paragliding24.ch Team

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