The importance of the right paraglider class
When paragliding, choosing the right wing is crucial for Safety, performance and flying fun. But which paraglider class suits your skills and goals? Whether you beginner, pleasure flyer or XC pilot each class offers different characteristics. In this guide you will learn everything about A-, B-, C- and D-class paragliders and which is the best choice for you.
Paragliders are classified according to EN standards (European Norm) into different classes, which are distinguished by their level of safetytheir performance, their stability and their flight behavior differentiate.
The paraglider classes in detail
1. EN-A paragliders - the best choice for beginners
EN-A wings are specially designed forstudent pilots and occasional pilots designed. They are characterized bymaximum passive safety, high stability and easy handling handling. These wings forgive steering errors and remain largely stable even in turbulent air.
Suitable for aspiring pilots and pilots with 10-20 hours of flying time per year!
Advantages:
✔ Very stable and forgiving
✔ Perfect for student pilots and recreational pilots
✔ Easy take-off and landing
✔ High passive safety
Ideal for:
- Student pilots in training
- Pilots who only fly occasionally
-
Safety-conscious recreational pilots
2. EN-B paragliders - the choice for ambitious pilots
EN-B gliders are versatile and range from safe low-B gliders up tohigh-performance high-B screens. They offer more glide performance and dynamicsbut require an active flying technique.
The differences in the EN-B class are very large and the choice is correspondingly difficult.
As a rough guideline this will help you Airtime classification for your assessment.
- Low EN-B approx. 20-30 hours flying time per year
- Mid EN-B approx. 30-50h flying hours per year
- High EN-B approx. >50h flying hours per year
Advantages:
✔ More performance than EN-A
✔ Thermal and first cross-country flights possible
✔ Low-B: Comfortable, high safety
✔ High-B: Sportier, for ambitious pilots
Ideal for:
- Pilots with some flying experience
- Thermal and cross-country pilots
-
Pilots switching from EN-A to more power
3. EN-C paragliders - for experienced XC pilots
EN-C gliders offer high glide performance, dynamic handlingand require an active flying technique. These wings are less forgiving and require experience in active flying.
Suitable for pilots with more than >80h flying hours per year!
Advantages:
✔ High glide performance
✔ Dynamic and efficient flight behavior
✔ Ideal for long cross-country flights
✔ For ambitious XC pilots
Ideal for:
- Pilots with a lot of flying experience
- XC pilots who fly long distances
-
Sporty, ambitious pilots
4. EN-D & CCC paragliders - for professionals & competition pilots
EN-D and CCC wings are the highest performance paragliders and are designed exclusively forvery experienced pilots suitable. They offer maximum gliding performance, but are demanding to fly and require excellent control.
Advantages:
✔ Extremely high performance
✔ Maximum efficiency for cross-country flights and competitions
✔ High speed and best aerodynamics
Ideal for:
- Very experienced pilots
- Cross-country and competition pilots
-
Pilots with excellent active flying technique
Which paraglider class is right for you?
Choosing the right paraglider class depends on several factors:
| Question | Recommended class |
|---|---|
| Are you a beginner or a student pilot? | EN-A |
| Do you already fly thermals and first routes? | EN-B |
| Are you looking for more performance for XC flights? | EN-C |
| Do you have years of experience and want to fly competitions? | EN-D / CCC |
If you are unsure, it is advisable to take atest flight with different gliders to find the right model.
Conclusion: making the right decision
Choosing the right paraglider is crucial for yoursafety, your flying fun and your development as a pilot. Beginners should start with aEN-A glider while experienced pilots should start with anEN-B or EN-C glider will benefit. Professionals and competition pilots often choose EN-D or CCC wings.
Tips for making the right choice:
✅ Get advice from aspecialist dealer or flight instructor
✅ Test different models and classes
✅ Pay attention toSafety & comfort instead of just performance
✅ Choose a glider that suits your current skill level
Now in theonline store find the perfect paragliding equipment and take off with the right glider! 🪂✨
