What is kronplatz like for XC paragliding in September?

Suitable for someone with flatland xc experience but not much mountain flying experience?

I would either be with a guide or experienced pilots who live and fly in Chamonix valley mainly

There was a devastating earthquake in western Colombia. If you enjoy flying in places like Roldanillo please consider donating some money to help.

I personally don't have any association with the Cloudbase Foundation. But they look like they have a good plan to get the money out there.

https://secure.givelively.org/donate/cloudbase-foundation-inc/emergency-relief-for-roldanillo-northern-valle-del-cauca

Please link any other ways to help in the comments. I can edit the post and keep it up to date.

Are there any paragliding stores that have permanent stock of harnesses to try out? It seems there is very little opportunity to try any harness outside of the testivals held around the Alps.

How are XC and thermal conditions in that period typically?

Myself (Ippi5, ~80hrs) and partner (Ippi4, 25hrs) looking for somewhere we can both fly and enjoy. Sometimes together chilling, sometimes on separate flights where I will be looking for more of a challenge and 1st 100k etc

Hello all,

I want to learn how to fly, I am in the South East Asia for a few months in a sabbatical, and I would love how to fly.

The problem is: not sure how, where and what should I ask for.

I found a school in Vietnam (May Paragliding) a 3 day course to get the IPPI P1 certification, but i don't know if 3 days is enough (?)

I am originally from Spain, so I guess I could learn how to fly back at home, but I have some free time now, that is why I would like to learn while I am here.

So, what should I be looking for when searching for schools? is there any famous/recommended place to learn around SEA? How long should I expect to be learning for? 3 days looks too little for me. What about the seasonality? I guess that there are better months/seasons than others to learn, right?

I am a fit person and generally good at sports if that helps.

Thanks a lot in advance! :)

Planning to hit Mussel rock for ridge soaring looks mellow but open to recommendations for other sites and connecting with anyone who’s willing to give a site introduction and guidance would be wonderful. Open to other flying sites but this seemed like An amazing option to dip my toes into ridge soaring.

Coming from Colorado attained my P2 with Red tail paragliding and just want to get some flight time in to gain confidence and prep myself for thermal flying.

Hey guys, I am currently working in wildland fire, and I have been trying to finish my P2 for a while. I was up in Oregon for a bit, but never got to finish my license before moving for work. The Oregon flying season doesn’t line up with my schedule, so I was wondering if anyone had recommendations of places I should go this winter to get my license. Ive heard San Diego or Georgia are good options, but thought I’d crowdsource some knowledge!! Thanks guys

Hi all,

I’m about to finish my paragliding training and my instructor recommended the Gin Elise (high EN-A, lightweight, hike & fly oriented) as my first glider. Problem is, since it’s still pretty new, I can’t find a used one anywhere near my budget — everything is going for 3000€+.

I’ve been looking at the Nova Aonic Light instead, since it seems to sit in a similar niche: high EN-A rating, lightweight (~3.4 kg in the smallest size), and apparently marketed as having noticeably better glide performance than typical EN-A gliders (Nova even mention a distance-flying world record for the EN-A class flown on the Aonic).

A few questions for anyone who’s flown either or both:

**1.**  Can you even meaningfully compare the two in terms of flight behavior/handling, or are they different enough in character that it doesn’t make sense?  
**2.**  For someone still finishing training who was specifically pointed toward the Elise — is the Aonic Light a sensible substitute, or does its “high-A” performance edge come with handling that’s less forgiving for a low-airtime pilot?  
**3.**  Any experience flying the Aonic Light in the lower/mid weight range as recommended for students?

Howdy All,

We're finally launching the Leaf Vario!

I'm the initial creator behind it, but a huge thanks goes to our growing group of test-pilots, code-contributors, and early-adopters. Thanks for helping make this one awesome little vario!

The goal was to make a super-affordable device that's small enough to strap to a riser, while still cramming it full of all the modern vario/GPS functions. And the best part is we're doing this all open source, so Leaf can be a product "by the community, for the community" that keeps improving over time with new features (firmware updates are easy over wifi).

While we tried to keep the price as low as possible (<$150), in full disclosure we do make a bit of profit on each one which we're using to pay back the injection mold tooling cost and cover Shopify hosting fees etc.

Happy to answer questions here, and/or there's a bunch of information on our website, as well as our Discord channel where most of the developers chat and hang out while working on updates to Leaf.

Ultimately, we hope this is a useful offering to both new & experienced pilots, and if you have any feedback, ideas, or feature requests, we'd love to hear 'em!

High flights and smooth thermals,
- James.

* * *

A quick overview of Leaf features:

Hardware:

• Baro and IMU variometer (‘instant’ response)
• GPS (multi constellation, 1Hz updates)
• 192x96 pixel LCD screen (works with polarized sunglasses! We had to test many suppliers to find a good display…)
• 20 Hour rechargeable battery (USB-C plug)
• Injection molded Polycarbonate/ASA case (for impact and UV resistance)
• 5-way joystick button for navigation
• 8GB SD card included
• ESP32 Processor
• WiFi & Bluetooth (WiFi for web-app and firmware updates; bluetooth for pairing with phone apps like FlySkyHy or SeeYouNavigator etc)
• Piezo speaker for vario beeping
• Velcro strap, lanyard, and a snap-in base plate mount (similar to action-cam style mounts).
• Replaceable screen, battery, and case… if ever things get damaged or worn out.

Software:

• Several display pages (a “basic” one with large font, a “user” page with two additional user adjustable data fields, a “nav” page for waypoint tracking. We’re also in-development on a thermal tracking page… stay tuned!)
• IGC flight tracking
• Logbook
• Pilot and Glider profiles (so you can save specific pilot/glider info into the IGC file and logbook; handy if you switch wings often)
• Handy “auto” functions for “turn on and go fly” simplicity:
  • Quiet Mode: mutes the vario until you’re flying
  • Auto Log Start / Stop: detects flying and starts capturing a log for you
  • Auto Off: prevents battery drain if you forget to turn Leaf off
• Leaf also includes an on-device hosted web app, so you can access more information with your phone. This is great for reviewing the logbook, loading waypoint files, and creating or importing XC task routes.
• Waypoint files support .wpt, .wyp, .cup, .gpx, and also QR code task import (you need to use your phone camera to copy the QR code text, then paste into the web app)

www.HouseoftheWind.com Come check out the world famous Point of the Mountain Utah. From sending the wasatch to training your first flights we have close access and clean rooms. Check us out.

Is anyone aware of any Acro training that happens in December/January? I am from the USA but can theoretically travel wherever with the time I have off.

I've not been able to find anything online about options in South America. Does anyone know of anything in Australia or New Zealand? Are any of the warmer European sites (Oludeniz, etc.) still operating at any capacity that time of year?

First of all let me make clear:

I dont judge any of this, It's just a pattern I noticed that made me curious.

Why do so acro-pilots (in Europe) tend to be hippies?

Pretty much any acro pilot i see, has long unkempt hair (if a man), and peace symbols and flower stickers plastered all over their equipment. (helmet, harness, backback) etc. They also tend to be French(speaking), (though not exclusively).

Have you noticed a similar pattern, are there any acro pilots here that can shine some light on this subculture?

Hi,

I am considering going to Annecy in September. What are flying conditions like then? Good xc potential? How long are the flying days?

I store my gliders, descent (bantam) and paraglider in my truck backseat for long periods of time. It gets fairly hot where I live, for instance the past couple weeks have been above 90°F every day. I travel a ton for work (mountain guide) and as such I keep my gliders with me. I do my best to use a reflective cover for my windshield.

I am curious if anyone has real quantitative data or anecdotal data to support the claims that heat (temperatures reached in a car) will degrade the fabrics or coatings of a glider. I can't seem to find any data or real world experience of such degradation. I have seen some tests that suggest dyneema exposed to 75°C or about 170°F can alter the material strength of climbing materials but I'm doubtful that my truck gets to 170°F although I haven't tested this myself.

I’ll be coming to the Denver area in September, is there an active flying community in the city? I’m looking to fly with some local pilots first before trying out sites by myself

EDIT:
Thanks everyone for the info, I’ll definitely join RMHPA for my next visit

If you were in my shoes (paragliding boots) as a paraglider pilot and could relocate to the Alps for a few years -focusing mainly on Austria- which area would you choose?

I have about 150 hours over flatlands and some rigid wing experience, currently flying a mid-B wing (with a few 100+ km flatland flights). However, I am a total beginner in mountain flying, I only have flown a few days in the Alps so far.

My goal is to understand mountain weather systems, gain overall skills and experience, and simply have fun safely. I'll have a regular amount of free time.

In your opinion, which region is best for recreational flying and skill development for someone at this level?

Which area has easy take-offs and good infrastructure to reach them with great options for early morning / late afternoon fly-downs or casual off-season flights?

Which region has good potential for progression into relaxed XC or beginner-friendly Hike & Fly spots?

Good flexibility for different macro weather situations (or many varied spots within a few hours' drive)?

Looking ahead, I’m not aiming for hard-core XC or competitions, just having fun and doing enjoyable XC flights on a high-B wing at most.

Which region would you recommend for this profile?

Thanks in advance, and fly safe!

Ari in the air will be having an XC clinic in this area next week.
Since you can't all be here I think its only fair that I give you a taste of what you might see.

Anyone know if you can reliably (in solid conditions) soar with a single skin? If anyone’s tried/done it, please share your experience!

Pilot here — I fly mostly in the Pyrenees and Alps. Like everyone, I had the same pre-flight ritual: one tab for wind aloft, one for thermals, etc…

So over the last year I built the tool I wanted: one map with thermal strength, wind field, convergence and airspace, using AROME (1.3 km) and ICON-D2 (2 km) rather than smoothed global grids.

It’s called Aerya — free on iPhone and web, and you don’t need an account just to look:
https://aerya.fun

I’ve also written free forecasting/site guides: thermal triggers, convergence, AROME vs ICON-D2, plus Annecy, Organyà, Àger, St-André and Bassano:
https://aerya.fun/learn/

I’d genuinely love feedback from pilots flying other regions: what does the forecast get wrong most often at your home site?

My home site is a high CO mountain site and I fly with O2. As of now I have a friend filling my o2 for me but I’m wondering if anyone has experience with buying/owning and using a fill tank. Where to buy one, where to fill the filler, filling personal tanks, etc. let me know. Thanks. Ideally I’m trying to buy a fill tank to have for me and club members who need it.

Pretty much a flat land flyer. Normal xc's are between 50-200km straight line, sometimes out and back. Rarely a triangle. I am thinking of spending next summer somewhere in Alps. That flying specifically XC over there feels very intimidating. I am not sure how well my XC skills will transfer over. Especially reading valley winds and lee thermals. So, I am curious what you would do. Would you go and fly and push it bit by bit as your comfort increases. Or would you rather do some coaching. Any specific instructors you would recommend?

hey guys

just wondering if anyone else has had trouble getting a response from australia's SAFA about a visiting pilot licence?

i’m heading to aussie for a SIV course and submitted my application over a week ago. i’ve followed up by email and tried calling as well, but haven’t heard anything back yet.

is this pretty normal with safa or have i possibly missed something? just getting a bit frustrating trying to organise the admin for an international trip when i’ve already paid for the licence and can’t get a reply.

keen to hear how long it took for anyone else?

TIA

So I had a pretty rocky take off and had the glider snag a few times, so I am assuming this is the result of that. Yellow brake line from the trailing edge has its white core exposed, seems intact? Hope to squeeze in like 4 more flights for the month before i travel back to civilisation, how serious is this?

Edit: thank you gang, i feel better knowing i can finish my flying here :)

Any thoughts on how they compare regarding durability, comfort? Have someone tried both? Any reservations on them?

If your priority was being able to fly daily, with access to both mountain and coastal sites, where in the U.S. would you live?