Chasing Horizons: Paragliding from Mt Ascutney to the Atlantic
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- čas přidán 23. 04. 2023
- A site distance record flight from Mt Ascutney in Vermont to the Atlantic Ocean.
It's the first time paragliders made it all the way to the Ocean from Vermont.
Glider Tuning and Repairs :
airquestparagliding.com/
#paragliding
#freeflight
#vermont - Sport
Thanks for bringing me along! Congratulations on the site record!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it
Congratulations! Awesome job! Ever since I found out about pilots flying from Ascutney to the Ocean that has been a goal of mine.
Thank you Jeff! I attempted a few times in a HG, so this one was definitely a sweet flight.
Wow! Congratulations Max!
Thank you Kevin!
Great feat! You guys ROCK!
Thank you!
That’s so cool!! Great video.
Thank you John!
Love it . Bravo
Thank you!
Holy crap! Excellent flight bro!!
Thank you Cory! I failed to make that flight a few times in a hang glider. Team flying certainty made it possible, and more fun that way too
Great job
Thanks!
Way to go!!!!!
Thank you!
Fantastic! Congrats! Looks like you flew right over our paramotor field just west of Biddeford.
Thank you! Here is the track www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/3207115
@@SkyMaxOne Ah, I see I was mistaken, you went south of us - I mistook Hampton Beach for Wells Beach
I'm thinking about joining the free flight community. However I find it hard to decide between PG and HG. I am mainly concerned about safety. Some people say HG is safer given the wing doesn't collapse but it seems there are some other areas where things can go wrong. Could you give me your perspective on it? Since your have experience with both.
Thank you and fly safe😊
I started with HG because my friend was flying one. I later admired how compact PGs were, but I was having too much fun in HG and had a good group of people to explore the sport. I am glad I started with HG, because I would have never tried it if I invested in PG.
As soon as I switched and developed skills to the level where I started trusting the wing - I went all in. PGs are just so geared for ultimate adventures, and community is much larger. But that's my journey ...
To answer your question, to me, both sports are equally dangerous. They both require ultimate respect and understanding of the aircraft limitations (and my own of course). Like in any action sports, and in general aviation, there are ways to mitigate the danger and make it safer. However, the unexpected dangerous element cannot be fully removed. Ok, that being said - here is my non-comprehensive list of differences
HGs:
cons?
- require more physical effort on the ground (heavier wing/gear)
- requires some kind of rack for your car. Can't hitch a ride easliy
- require more time to setup and breakdown
- flying position is not as comfortable. Flying prone and trying to get efficient - looking up is not easy and takes time to get used to.
- harder to fly in light lift, more effort for slow turn, awkward shoulder position, prone to repetitive stress injury.
- difficult to launch (have to commit and there is no abort), difficult to land (fast moving aircraft requires good timing to stop it). Mistakes on landings are often result in broken aluminum. Easy to replace though, but costly.
- falls on landing you might go in head first - potential neck/face injury
- if you go negative (tumble) there is no recovery. I never tumbled though.
pros?
- easier to fly (as in less workload) as they don't collapse and don't require constant adjustments
- flying faster, better speed control, much wide speed range from stall to dive.
- prone position - like a bird
- better connected to the aircraft, closer to the wing.
- can launch/fly in higher winds
PGs
cons?
- the wing is very high above the pilot and 2 connecting points to the harness jerking the pilot around, wing can be doing one thing, but pilot can be moving in another direction
- high workload in turbulent air. The wing can collapse and requires constant monitoring to compensate.
- collapses are exciting
- hard landings on your butt can cause spinal injuries
- slower than HGs, with very small speed range.
- flying in higher winds only possible on very advanced wings. Flying backwards happens when people don't pay attention to ever changing conditions.
pros?
- easier to launch. can abort launch at any moment.
- stupid easy to land. Even landing downwind is not usually a problem as long as you pick your LZ wisely.
- packs small, can carry it everywhere around the world. Can hike with it and explore launches that are not accessible to HGs
- fits to any car. Airplane checked in baggage. No special racks/mounts required.
- faster to setup and pack after the flight.
- a lot of wings to choose from depending on the skill level and preferences.
- flying seated is more comfortable
- can land in very tight spots without much drama (makes going on XC flights a bit easier). Can easily hike out with all your gear from wherever you land.
- easier to fly in very light lift. Turns tighter.
- collapses are exciting. Managing a soft wing becomes second nature.
- easier on the shoulders as arms are in more natural position.
- all collapses can be simulated in flight. Plenty of courses allow you to practice incidents in flight.
There is probably more, or it can be moved between pros and cons depending on personality. Anyway, both aircrafts are awesome to learn and fly, and free flight, and especially XC flying is the most exciting thing I've done in my life.
I hope you pick one and join the fun.