What is the difference between a Hang glider and a Paraglider and between hang gliding and paragliding?
top Paragliding is more similar to hang gliding than to parachuting. A hang glider has a rigid frame maintaining the shape of the wing. A paraglider’s canopy shape is maintained only by air pressure. A hang glider is capable of flying at much higher speeds than a paraglider. Paragliding is therefore somewhat easier to learn. Your launches are not as “committed”, you normally have time to abort your take-off. A paraglider folds up in minutes into a backpack and can be easily transported – people commonly carry their paragliders to the top of peaks. The hang glider, due to its weight and rigid frame, must be transported on a vehicle with a roof rack. Because hang gliders fly faster and glide better, they can cover greater distances more easily. But paragliders can now cover distances almost as great and, because of their slower and tighter turning radius, can often stay aloft in lighter lift. Modern hang gliders weigh around 100 pounds and can take over one hour to assemble. Paragliders
