What is paragliding? How is it different from hang gliding or parasailing?
The sport of paragliding started in France in the late 1970´s. The flying apparatus is a soft material, normally reinforced nylon. The “wing” is made up of cells, which are open at the front, and sewn together at the back, enabling it to “inflate” as it is launched. It is very different from parasailing in that parasailers are “towed” above water from behind a boat. Paragliding is similar to hang gliding since it is the closest man can come to having wings. Tandem flights are when a “passenger” is connected with a harness to the glider and pilot. The pilot maneuvers the glider while the passenger sits back and enjoys the ride.
