Hang Gliding

What is Parascending?
Parascending pilots fly canopies based on parachutes - either 'Rounds' or 'Squares' - that are towed into the air by a Land Rover or winch before gliding back down to land. This is a great team activity that is non-competitive and gets you outdoors - and high above the earth to enjoy some marvellous views.

Parascending offers scope for Air Experience flights. The Scout 'teams' attend annual International and County Camps where they provide taster flights for Scouts, giving these young people their first taste of the air.

How much do they cost?
Most parascending clubs have club gliders for members to use. Some keen pilots go on to buy their own canopies - a secondhand canopy can be obtained for around £500.

Learning to fly a parascender
Many students start by flying on 'Round' canopies. The day begins with landing roll training (PLFs - Parachute Landing Falls - to ensure safe injury-free landings), introduction to equipment and the flight brief. First flights are carried out towed on 100 or so metres of rope behind a Land Rover. These flights are controlled entirely by the vehicle driver. After being towed across the field the canopy and pilot are brought gently back to the ground where the student performs a 'Parachute Landing Fall'. Flights are generally only a few minutes long.

Once the landing roll technique is mastered then the student may be taught to release from a longer rope and to land on their own. Eventually there will be turns and the possibility of trying to land on a target.

Some students start their training on 'Square' canopies, whilst others progress on to them from flying 'Rounds'. With 'Square' canopies students progress to flying full circuits. After studying basic flight theory, meteorology and air law, and passing a simple exam, they are ready for their BHPA Club Pilot rating.

Most parascending clubs tend to only operate on weekends - and training will take a few weekends to complete, giving you plenty of time to get to know the other members of the team and to make new friends.

Some parascending pilots progress on to fly paragliders, others concentrate on landing target accuracy competitions. (The canopies have low gliding performance, but are ideal for these 'accuracy' style competitions where pilots are judged on skill in landing within centimetres of their target.) And others are more than happy being a team member and enjoying the sociable flying weekends, helping with the launching and perhaps progressing on to be a tow 'operator' or even an Instructor.

For more information on learning to fly, finding a training school, BHPA membership & insurance etc. see the Learn to Fly section.