Paraglider

British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

Our Sport
Hang Gliding and Paragliding in the UK
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Flying Disciplines
Getting Started
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Schools
Learn to fly

BHPA Registered Schools are monitored for safety, the quality of the training they offer, and the equipment they use, and their instructors are licensed by the Association.
Hang Glide
Hang Gliding and Powered Hang Gliding

Hang gliders are unpowered wings that can be launched from hills or winches, or launched by being towed aloft behind a microlight aircraft.

A hang glider can be turned into a powered hang glider by using a specially designed hang glider harness fitted with lightweight 2-stroke engine.
Unpowered
Powered
Paraglide
Paragliding and Paramotoring

Paragliders are unpowered wings that can be launched from hills or winches.

A paramotor or powered paraglider (PPG) consists of a small motor driving a propeller, worn like a backpack under a paraglider wing.
Unpowered
Powered
Parascend
Parascending

Parascending pilots fly canopies that are towed into the air by a Land Rover or winch before gliding back down to land.
- Parascending
- Parascending Schools
Speed Fly
Speed Flying

Speed flying is a sport based on the principles of paragliding, but using a specially designed wing to fly fast hill descents.
- Speed Flying
Power
Powered Flight

A powered hang glider consists of a light weight motor driving a propeller that is fitted to a specially designed hang glider harness, in which the pilot is suspended under a hang gliding wing.

A paramotor or powered paraglider (PPG) consists of a small motor driving a propeller, worn like a backpack under a paraglider wing.

It is also possible to use human power to take off from level ground and fly specially constructed ultra light weight aircraft.
Powered Hang Glider
Paramotor
Human Powered Wings
- Human Powered Flight
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British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association

BHPA Website Credits

The current design of the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association website was created by Paul Dancey, with the kind collaboration of Colin Fargher and Joe Schofield.

Our special thanks to the following individuals who have kindly contributed photgraphs for use on this website:

Roger Bassil
John Bate
Gareth Bird
Pete Brunt
Alan Clarke
Ian Ferguson
Louise Grahame
Nicola Hawkins
Mark Leavesley
Richard Lovelace
Steve Millson
Gary Shaw
Franck Simonnet
Christopher Taylor
Ann Underwood
Carl Wallbank

If the owner of a photgraph is known, this information can be viewed by hovering over the photograph in question. Unfortunately in some cases we do not have a record of who originally supplied the photograph; these are therefore unattributed. If you see one of your photographs and would like it credited or removed, please contact us.

Last updated: 25 February 2021

Events & Competitions Calendar

Visiting Overseas Hang Gliding & Paragliding Pilots please read this...

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The BHPA is a member of the Royal Aero Club

The BHPA is a member of the European Hang Gliding & Paragliding Union

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