learning to paraglide

SCHOOL/INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
滑翔傘學校/教練

How to get started:

Paragliding is a sport and recreational activity.  As with other similar outdoor activities, paragliding has its inherent safety risks. Improper practices can put others and you at risk of serious injury or even death. It is therefore paramount that both beginners and experienced paraglider pilots recognize the risks and take appropriate safety measures to ensure that the paragliding activities are conducted in a safe manner.
滑翔傘是一項運動和消閒活動，但一如其他戶外活動，操作滑翔傘亦有一定安全風險。不適當操作滑翔傘可對自身和他人帶來嚴重傷亡的風險。因此，不論是初學者或具經驗的滑翔傘愛好者，均須充分了解風險和採取適當的安全措施，以確保滑翔傘飛行活動安全地進行。

What Is Paragliding? 滑翔傘是什麼?

Paragliding is a form of flying, but instead of a wing constructed from solid materials (such as metal, or wood) it uses nylon or polyester fabric -  similar to material used for windsurfing and kite surfing. Paragliders fly by using the same principles as any other non-powered aircraft. They are able to glide a long way by simply taking off from a hill, modern paragliders can have glide ratios of up to 9 or 10:1.

The wing is composed of two layers of fabric that form a wing-shaped bag with air inlets along the front. As the glider starts to move forward off a hill, the openings allow the wing to fill with air, pressurizing it to take the form of an aerofoil. Much like a parachute, the paragliding canopy is attached to a harness by a series of thin but very strong lines. The harness is where the pilot sits - and you'll be glad to hear it's much more comfortable than a parachute harness. Depending on the harness, there are pockets with enough room for food, radio, water ballast or even a camera.

Steering is the simplest thing possible. The pilot holds a special line (called a brake line) in each hand, and if he/she wants to go left, they pull down on the left one. To turn right - pull on the right brake line. Pulling both slows the canopy to land, and most paragliders have an extra, speed-up control worked by their feet. That's it. Very simple, very controllable and yet capable of flying over 300km on a good day. But still small and light enough to be packed up and fitted in under the back seat of the car after you have landed.

滑翔傘是飛行的一種,它的翼不是木造,也不是金屬、塑膠翼,而是用尼龍或滌綸(聚酯纖維)造的翼,與風帆所用的物料相同。滑翔傘飛行像其他不用動力飛行器那樣飛行,如在山上向下起飛;可以滑翔頗遠的距離 (在技術上;滑降比率甚至可超越9或10:1) 。滑翔傘翼是用雙層物料縫成翼狀,開口在前方,當開始滑翔飛行時;空氣穿過開口,滑翔傘翼即充滿空氣,形成一個標準機翼的形狀,滑翔傘翼是連在一組由多條幼細而極堅固的線所組成的繫帶,就像降落傘的繫帶,但較之舒適,飛行員就坐在座帶上,那裡還有一些口袋可以裝食物、水、對講機和攝影機。駕駛滑翔傘很簡單,飛行員每隻手拿一條特別的線 (又稱為煞制線),若向左飛;將左手的特別帶向下拉,若向右飛;便將右方的煞制帶向下拉,拉動左右兩條煞制帶;滑翔傘便慢慢下降着陸。許多飛行員亦利用雙腳作起跑來增加速度,所以說滑翔傘飛行是很簡單和舒適的飛行運動。若天氣良好;可以飛行300公里以上。

Is It Safe? 是否安全?

Similar to driving a car or deep sea diving, paragliding is as safe as the pilot in control makes it to be. Being the slowest form of aviation,  any crash will impact the ground more gently compared to any fixed-wing aircraft! As the pilot is hung underneath of the canopy, this creates an inherent stable pendulum tendency, which means in most cases a paraglider will return to normal flight, even if there is no input from the pilot.

In some circumstances the air can get squeezed out from between the two fabric layers, which stops it flying like a wing, but then it simply reverts to being a parachute until the pilot starts it flying again. High speed dives are virtually impossible in a paraglider. So unless the pilot does something to make it unsafe, a paraglider is safe.

滑翔傘飛行運動是有風險,就像駕駛汽車及深海潛水一樣。好處是它是飛行活動中速度最慢的一種,所以就算撞往地面也較定翼飛行器的撞擊力為輕。在學滑翔時,只需拉動2條煞制帶便可。因為滑翔傘可說是最穏定的開展飛行器,在某些情況下;當翼的雙層物料間的空氣被擠掉,它便變成降落傘,滑翔傘是難以作出高速俯衝,除非飛行員故意作出危險動作,否則滑翔傘飛行是安全的。

How Did It Start? 滑翔傘飛行的起源?

Climbers in the Alps started jumping off mountains in order to get down quicker. At first they used simple parachutes, but they soon refined the designs, made more aerofoil cells, improved the wing sections, used sitting harnesses and thinner lines. All these things produced better handling, more maneuverable and safer paragliders until we arrived where we are today. Beginner level canopies are certified to recover from any mistake or problem within four seconds, with no pilot input at all. Advanced canopies can loop, spiral, wing over, stall and do some very impressive aerobatics in the right hands. And in Europe, there are hundreds of thousands of paraglider pilots flying regularly - mainly because the setup is so easy to carry up a mountain either on your back or on a chair-lift.

阿尔卑斯山的攀山客為了迅速下山緣故,他們最初用簡單的降落傘,很快便改良了設計;增加充氣空間,又採用幼線及製作可以作坐位的繫帶等等...,令人手控制更容易和安全。初階的滑翔傘翼當出現狀況時已可以於4秒內復原,進階形的滑翔傘翼更可以將傘翼形成為環狀、螺旋狀等形狀,像雜技一樣。在歐洲;有數以十萬計的滑傘飛行員作定期活動―這由於滑翔傘的裝備輕巧;可以很容易背上山之緣故。

What Do I Need? 需要什麼?

Pilots normally wear tough warm clothes, in case they get very high in a thermal (up to 10,000ft is legal), and a helmet is required in case they stumble on landing or takeoff. Most also wear gloves and sun glasses. Standard outdoor boots, think trousers and a shirt will get you started. In terms of equipment, most instructors will supply suitable training canopies, harnesses, radios and helmets. Once you have your licence, you will probably want to buy your own gear, which you will be able to choose much better once you have finished your course. After you start flying regularly, you will also need a radio and a willing and helpful driver to fetch you after you have broken that long distance flying record.

飛行員通常需穿著保暖衣服(因可以飛翔至一萬呎高空),及戴頭盔以防着陸時絆跌,一些還帶太陽眼鏡和手套,野外活動的靴;及穿厚褲。大多數訓練導師會提供訓練用的滑翔傘、頭盔和對講機,一旦你已擁有滑翔傘執照;你或許會自行購買所需裝備。當你經常作滑翔傘運動時;你需要一名隊員隨行互相照應

Where Do I Learn? 如何學習?

There is a list of instructors on this website. Your instruction generally will take place off a hill or near the coast on a hillside. The instructor will take you through the first steps of learning to inflate the canopy, launching and landing, as well as basic flying controls within a couple of days. Generally you will be taught by use of ground to air radio instruction, and theory sessions to make sure you get the most from your new sport. Learning to fly a paraglider is not hard, mainly because they are light. So you don't need to be a muscle man to lift one. There are many sites in Hong Kong, and once you are qualified you are able to fly at these on your own, or with one of your new HKPA friends.

本網站有訓練導師名單,導師會花數天時間從初階開始教導如何將傘翼充氣、起飛及降落,以及如何使用一般當滑翔傘在空工進行活動時與地面對話的指令,以及理論課程。滑翔傘很輕巧,容易學習,香港有許多地點適合滑翔飛行,一旦你成為滑翔傘飛行員,便可翱翔天際。

Who can do it? 誰可滑翔傘飛行?

Anybody with good eyesight, good balance, and a healthy outlook is a potential paraglider pilot. If you are short, tall, heavy, light, male, female, strong, weak or even slightly disabled, you can still fly a paraglider. It is probably the most relaxed way to get an adrenaline buzz there is, as you are sitting down all the time. Good hand/eye co-ordination is helpful, but most pilots find it takes some practice to become smooth at everything. In many ways it is much like learning to ride a bicycle. You will probably discover some muscles you didn't know you had whilst learning, but many of those will be thanks to the walk back up the training hill to launch. People like diabetics and epileptics may need to check with the doctor before they fly, but if you can swim, drive or ride a bike the chances are you will turn out to be a competent paraglider pilot.

Flying a paraglider is pleasurable thanks to its simplicity. So if you have a harness, a canopy and a helmet (plus a licence of course) you can fly with the best of them. With any luck, we may see you in the air some time.

只要有良好視力和平衡,體格健康便行,不論高矮肥瘦,男女皆可,甚至輕度殘障者。由於滑翔飛行需長時間坐着,所以手眼協調是很重要的,多練習有助順利進行,這就像踏單車的原理一樣。由於學習滑翔傘時需要步行至山上起飛,故對鍛練肌肉非常有幫助,但糖尿病患者及癲癎病患者在進行此項活動時;宜先徵詢專業醫生意見。若你已懂游泳或駕駛,你可成為卓越的滑翔傘飛行員。滑翔飛行是一種樂趣,拿起你的滑翔傘頭盔(當然還要有執照啊!),儘情在天空飛翔吧!