Paragliding knowledge
Wing Loading Explained: How to Choose the Right Paraglider Size
August 1, 202616 viewsTwo pilots borrow the same glider. The 62 kg pilot launches and finds the wing feather-light — weak thermals are workable, but any headwind pushes her backwards. The 88 kg pilot fl…
The Second SIV Course at Núi Cốc Lake — Learning to Recover When the Wing Stops Cooperating
July 29, 202620 viewsSIV — Simulation d'Incident en Vol, the simulation of in-flight incidents — is the course where a pilot deliberately puts the wing into the very states they fear most, in order to…
Guide to Buying Second-Hand Paragliding Gear
July 27, 202632 viewsBuying second-hand paragliding gear saves money but carries risk. How to inspect the wing, lines, risers, harness and reserve before you pay.
Atmosphere and Thermals – Part 4: Lift Inside a Thermal
July 27, 202627 viewsHow dust devils form and whether to fly them, ideal thermal conditions, how lift is distributed inside the core, and the sink around it.
Choosing Your First Paragliding Gear
June 22, 202615 viewsPicking the right wing class, harness and reserve as a new pilot: certification level, flying style, reserve sizing, maintenance, new versus used.
The Polar Curve: Understanding Glider Performance
May 25, 202633 viewsThe polar curve shows the speed at which your wing glides furthest. Which flight mode to use into wind, downwind and when crossing sink.
Turbulence Part 3: Flying in Turbulence and the Lee Side
May 23, 202613 viewsWhether to fly the lee side, why stable days are more dangerous than unstable ones, and how wind strength changes the turbulence you meet.
Turbulence Part 2: How to Spot It in the Field
May 23, 202616 viewsSpotting turbulence from the weather cycle and the terrain: coastlines, cliffs, summits, gullies, trees and wind shadows.
🌪️ Turbulence - Part 1: Sources
May 23, 202621 viewsWhere does turbulence come from and why must a paraglider pilot understand it? Part 1 covers its nature and four sources: obstacles, thermals, shear and rotors.
Atmosphere and Thermals – Part 3: How Thermals Rise
May 22, 202616 viewsThe lapse rate decides how high a thermal climbs. Part 3 covers real lapse rates, how thermals form, and how they change with altitude.
Atmosphere and Thermals – Part 2: Thermal Sources
May 21, 202616 viewsWhich surfaces produce strong thermals, the daily thermal cycle, albedo, and how to spot trigger points in the field.
Atmosphere and Thermals – Part 1: How Thermals Form
May 20, 202611 viewsHow a thermal is born, what triggers it, where thermal sources sit, and why some spots produce reliable lift day after day.
The Reverse Launch: Three Common Brake-Handling Methods
May 16, 202611 viewsThe reverse launch and its three brake-handling methods: crossed brakes, Mistos and three-axis — what each is good for and the mistakes pilots make.
The Forward (Alpine) Launch Technique
May 16, 20269 viewsThe forward launch, used in light wind and for paramotors: how to run, the common errors that pull the wing off line, and tips for a clean launch.
🪂 Hold the Brakes: Connecting the Pilot to the Wing
May 16, 20266 viewsHow you hold the brakes decides whether you can feel the wing. A basic guide to brake handling technique for new paraglider pilots.
Cloud Types Every Paraglider Pilot Should Know
May 15, 202613 viewsRecognising cap, banner, rotor, lenticular and mammatus clouds — and what they tell you about wind, lift, turbulence and coming rain.
Avoiding Blow-Back Behind the Hill
May 12, 20266 viewsBeing blown back can mean power lines, severe rotor or a serious accident. How to spot rising wind and keep a safe margin from the face.
Paraglider Structure, Materials and Maintenance
May 12, 202611 viewsWhat wings, lines and harnesses are made of, how long they last, how to store them properly and when to send them for repair.
Pre-flight Checks and Paragliding Launch Technique
May 9, 202614 viewsThe pre-flight check routine, inflating the wing, the control and acceleration phases, and the launch mistakes pilots make most often.
🪂 Paragliding landing techniques
May 7, 20268 viewsHow to pick and commit to a landing field, the approach box, the S-approach, the final glide and the flare that puts you down safely.
Active Flying Part 4: The Spiral Dive and How to Exit
May 6, 202613 viewsThe three phases of a spiral dive, its physical effects, the danger of a locked spiral, and how to exit safely in SIV training or an emergency.
Active Flying Part 3: Handling Asymmetric and Frontal Collapses
May 5, 202611 viewsWhat causes a collapse, how to recognise and handle asymmetric and frontal collapses and their complications, and why SIV training matters.
Active Flying Part 2: Controlling and Damping Roll
April 29, 202617 viewsWhat causes the wing to roll, how to control it with weight shift and brakes, damping technique, and safe conditions to practise in.
Active Flying Part 1: Pitch Control and Pendulum Stability
April 28, 202615 viewsWhat active flying means, the wing's frame of reference and movement, pendulum stability, pitch control and how to prevent a collapse.
Understanding Wind: How It Acts on a Paraglider Wing
April 26, 20265 viewsWind is what keeps a wing in the air, and the thing most likely to hurt you if you misread it. How wind acts on different types of glider.
Paraglider Aerodynamics Part 3: Steering and Turning
April 24, 20268 viewsHow a paraglider turns, how the brakes work, the risks of flying slow, the main turning techniques and the safety warnings that go with them.
Paraglider Aerodynamics Part 2: Flight Modes and Gliding
April 24, 202611 viewsWhy the wing always moves forward, how gliding works, and why pilots need different flight modes.
Paraglider Aerodynamics Part 1: Lift and Angle of Attack
April 24, 20267 viewsHow airflow around the wing creates lift, what angle of attack means, the role of the aerofoil, and why a stall is dangerous.
Paraglider Porosity: How It's Measured and How to Preserve It
April 23, 20267 viewsPorosity decides how long a wing lasts. How it is measured properly, what the coating does, the signs of a tired wing, and how to look after yours.
Meteorology for Pilots – Part 3: Turbulence
April 23, 20262 viewsMechanical turbulence, terrain effects and traps, wind shear and thermal turbulence — plus safety tips for newly qualified pilots.
Meteorology for Pilots – Part 2: Wind and Wind Gradient
April 23, 20269 viewsWhere wind comes from, launch tactics and wing control in wind, and the wind gradient — the effect that catches many pilots out on landing.
Meteorology for Pilots – Part 1: Energy and Air Circulation
April 22, 20265 viewsWhat meteorology is, why paraglider pilots need it, and how solar energy drives the movement of the air around us.
How to Deal With a Paraglider Collapse
April 22, 20265 viewsA collapse happens without warning. The right sequence: hold your heading, damp the roll, reinflate the wing — and the mistakes that make it worse.
One-to-One Paragliding Course With an Instructor
April 11, 20269 viewsHave you ever dreamed of controlling your own wing, gliding through the clouds and feeling absolute freedom instead of just being a passenger? At Mebayluon Paragliding, we do more…
P1 – P2 Paragliding Course for Complete Beginners
April 8, 202659 viewsI'll get straight to the questions almost every beginner has when first getting into this sport. ✦ 1. Beginners often don't know where to start This is a very common situation. A s…
Thermal Flying Technique Part 3: Reversing the Turn
April 8, 20264 viewsWhy you shouldn't reverse your turn casually in a thermal, how the slight side slip works, and what to do when the core drifts off to one side.
Thermal Flying Technique Part 1: Hitting the Thermal
April 8, 20267 viewsWhat to do when the wing surges forward or falls back as you hit a thermal, and how to control the 90-degree point to gain height.
Thermal Flying Technique Part 2: The First 360 Turn
April 8, 20265 viewsThe 4-second rule for telling real lift from false, how to start a smooth 360, the 4/90 rhythm for keeping energy, and what each brake hand does.