Paragliding tips and tricks #1

In a effort to pump up the hashtag #paragliding, and to give inspiration to new pilots, I will start posting little things that I am learning along the way.

I want to quote Dennis Pagen in the book "Understanding The Sky"

When the wind is crossing on the face of a mountain less lift is produced because it is partially deflected sideways as well as up. In fact, the steeper the slope the more the deflection. The lift on a vertical cliff face is more sensitive to direction of the wind than a more gentle slope. A vertical cliff (angle of slope =90 degrees) will lose half its lift if the angle of the wind changes 30 degrees off the perpendicular. On the other hand, a 15 Degree slope won't lose half its lift until the angle of the wind is 60 Degrees off. However, even at the half value, the lift over a cliff is still greater than that offer a 15 Degree slope at full value in the same wind.

You might need to read this about 5 times to get it. Never the less I like it.

• What did we learn here?

When you are trying to fly a site where the wind is "cross" the lift is almost non existent. It isn't until the wind is up the face of the hill that you are going to find enough lift when you don't have any thermal action. I have experience both now, and I will prefer the wind up face. Hope this helps you, or inspires to fly.

• Check out these post for more:

https://steemit.com/paragliding/@captainobviou3/paragliding-101
https://steemit.com/paragliding/@captainobviou3/paragliding-work-out-10-15-minute-hike-with-45lbs-on-your-back-3-times