Paragliding: When Humans Soar like Eagles (42 PICS)

August 26th, 2011 Permalink

Paragliding is a simple form of human flight and also an adventure sport that people all over the world compete or participate in for high-flying fun. Much like an eagle, paragliders can soar in flights which last several hours and cover many hundreds of miles. The longest paragliding duration is 11 hours and covered more than 310 miles! Since paragliders are light, some adventurers choose to hike way up in the mountains; meaning paragliders have flown off of nearly every major peak in the United States and Europe, including Mt. Everest. By taking advantage of thermal lifts, paraglider pilots can stay aloft for 3 or more hours, climb to elevations of 15,000 feet, and go cross-country. Woot! As Leonardo da Vinci said, “For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.” [42 Photos]

Paragliding at Muriwai Beach, New Zealand

Paragliders are easy to transport, easy to launch, and easy to land. And it offers humans a dream come true, the ability to fly and soar like an eagle. The glider is made of rip-stop nylon wing. The pilot sits in a harness which can be a comfortable as a lounge chair and actually uses the glider to fly like a bird like this photo of paragliding at Muriwai Beach, New Zealand. Photo #1 by Travis Wiens

Paragliding near Castle Heinfels Holzbruecke in Austria

Paragliding near Castle Heinfels Holzbruecke in Austria. Photo #2 by Giorgio___



63 Paragliders near the village of Fiesch, Switzerland

63 Paragliders near the village of Fiesch, Switzerland. As Bill Bradley said, “Imagination allows us to escape the predictable. It enables us to reply to the common wisdom that we cannot soar by saying, ‘Just watch!'” Photo #3 by Henri Saarikoski

Paragliding, Dog Tod watching on Pule hill England

The dog named Tod watches on Pule hill England like he too wants to be paragliding. Photo #4 by Matthew

Reunion Island - Paragliding

Reunion Island. The actual numbers of actively flying pilots is more like a rough estimate, but France is believed to have the largest number, at around 25,000. Next most active flying countries are Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, and Korea, at around 10,000 – 20,000, followed by Italy, the UK, and Spain with around 5,000 – 10,000. The USA has around 4,500. Photo #5 by manufrakass

Paragliding with Italian Autumn backdrop

Paragliding with Italian Autumn backdrop. Photo #6 by efilpera

paragliding land on rio beach

On Rio beach. Photo #7 by feodormak

Red Bull X-Alps-athlete Andy Frötscher while flying in front of the 'Peitlerkofel'

Red Bull X-Alps-athlete Andy Frötscher while flying in front of the ‘Peitlerkofel.’ Photo #8 by Tobias

The photographer called this Kiting War, Paratoys

Paratoys: The photographer called this a “Kiting War.” Land-based practice for paragliding is called kiting Photo #9 by Brian Thivierge

Paragliding the Beach Cliff - Makauu Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii

Beach Cliff – Makauu Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii. Wilbur Wright stated, “More than anything else the sensation is one of perfect peace mingled with an excitement that strains every nerve to the utmost, if you can conceive of such a combination.” Photo #10 by Stuart Seeger

Future paragliders in Africa near Amizmiz, High Atlas mountains

Future paragliders in Africa near Amizmiz, High Atlas mountains. Photo #11 by Alexandre Baron

Nepal Paragliding over Phewa Tal in Pokhara

Nepal Paragliding over Phewa Tal in Pokhara. Photo #12 by jeeheon

Paragliding over Bourg d'Oisans, France

Bourg d’Oisans, France. Igor Sikorsky said, “Aeronautics was neither an industry nor a science. It was a miracle.” Photo #13 by Shardalow

Brrr powered paragliders in flight

Brrr! Powered paragliders in flight. Photo #14 by Jukka

Paragliding in Solang Valley, Manali, India

Solang Valley, Manali, India. Photo #15 by Raman Virdi

Monte Grappa Italy Sunset Paragliders

Monte Grappa Italy Sunset Paragliders. Photo #16 by efilpera

shadow flyer, paragliding in Italy

Shadow Flyer in Italy. Paraglider JR said, “The paraglider is just a bunch of fabric, lines, and other stuff, a tool for learning about the sky and about what kind of person I am, when I fly. A paraglider stands for freedom, for joy, for the power to understand, and to demonstrate that understanding. Those things aren’t destructible.” Photo #17 by Tobias

Windy day at the beach - paragliders

Windy day at the beach. Photo #18 by Alon

Dual Tandem Paragliding over Fethiye, Muğla, Turkey

Dual Tandem Paragliding over Fethiye, Muğla, Turkey. Photo #19 by Chris Frewin

Trio of paragliders

Trio of paragliders. “It’s the most exciting thing you have ever done with your pants on!” quote by Stephen Coonts, ‘Flight of the Intruder.’ Photo #20 by Dom Crossley

Phuket Paragliding Festival Thailand

Taken at the Phuket Paragliding Festival in Thailand. Photo #21 by Alex Polezhaev

Pulk Trattberg European Championship

Pulk Trattberg European Championship. Photo #22 by Stefan Brandlehner

Paraglide over Cantal, France

Over Cantal, France. According to paragliders’ quotes, Badmoon said, “To fly a paraglider is to hold God’s hand.” Photo #23 by Eliza Mougel

Paragliding Lima Peru

Paragliding Lima Peru. Photo #24 by Miguel Vera

thermal up wind flock of paragliders, Luson, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy

Thermal up-wind paragliding flock at Luson, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy. Photo #25 by Tobias

Love is . . . A  typical sunset at Costa Verde, Miradlores, Lima, Peru

Love is . . . A typical sunset at Costa Verde, Miradlores, Lima, Peru. Photo #26 by Martin Garcia

Paragliders launching off Mam Tor in the UK Peak District

Paragliders launching off Mam Tor in the UK Peak District. Photo #27 by Rick Harrison

Paragliding in Europe over Lake Ohrid, Macedonia

Paragliding in Europe over Lake Ohrid, Macedonia. Photo #28 by Manny Moss

Crimea, Paragliding

Crimea. More words of wisdom from BadMoon, “The man who flies a paraglider … must believe in the unseen.” Photo #29 By Lexis_2k

Paragliders at Olu Deniz, Turkey

Paragliding paradise at Olu Deniz, Turkey. Photo #30 by lutmans

Takeoff Sequence

Takeoff Sequence. Photo #31 by Mikel Ortega

iPhone capture - Paragliding on the beach

iPhone capture – Paragliding on the beach. Photo #32 by Maurice

Paragliding Takeoff Peak District National Park

Takeoff Peak District National Park. Photo #33 by Dom Crossley

paragliding at torrey pines, san diego

At Torrey Pines, San Diego. Photo #35 by Akshay

Paraglider, Tegelberg (1720 m), Schwangau, Germany

Paraglider jumping off a ramp at Tegelberg (1720 m), Schwangau, Germany. Photo #36 by Greg O’Beirne

Indonesian world record paragliding attempt at Timbis in Bali

Indonesian world record paragliding attempt at Timbis in Bali. Photo #37 by Mj 1903

Paragliders in the air at Torrey Pines Gliderport

Paragliders in the air at Torrey Pines Gliderport. Photo #38 by The Phoenix Enforcer

Paraglider on air, above Neustift, Stubai Tal, Tirol, Austria

Paraglider on air, above Neustift, Stubai Tal, Tirol, Austria. Photo #40 by Glg

Don Cesar, St Pete Beach sunset paraglider

Don Cesar, St Pete Beach sunset. Photo #41 by Andre Bulber

Paragliding - Fly To Moon

Fly To Moon. Photo #42 by jeici1



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