How is a paraglider different from a parachute used for skydiving?
The biggest difference is that a paraglider is not constructed to handle the shock of multiple “terminal velocity deployments” like a skydiving parachute. Accordingly, parachutes are made of much heavier materials in order to survive the loads of opening. And while a paraglider has a descent rate of about 3 ft/sec, a parachute descends at 9-18 ft/sec. A paraglider also has a more elongated rectangular or elliptical shape than a parachute and, with more cells, has much better gliding performance. Paragliders fly more like a wing and parachutes are intended to fix a fall.
