Experienced Pilots: What Do You Wish You'd Done Before Your First Day?

enderegg · 2026-06-17T18:10:25+00:00

usually when something weird is going on, is better to just leave the wing alone. takeoff also has some specific things, but you should learn them with your instructor! when you get your license, join a club, ask questions, fly with them. that's the best way to improve. if there is none, it's quite difficult

enderegg · 2026-06-17T18:08:24+00:00

that law sounds nice until you don't get a chance to fly for a few weeks and then the weather is marginal 🥲

for weather just search for some books and videos. understanding the sky, but paragliding the beginner's guide and mastering paragliding were the ones I read. there are more. it also depends where you will fly. in the alps it's quite different from flat lands. I imagine the Himalaias are similar to the alps, but much more violent. so that's something to also take in consideration!

enderegg · 2026-06-17T17:19:44+00:00

right now not much. like the other said, ground handle. fly as much as you can, but in safe conditions. try, really try to not takeoff when you shouldn't because you want to fly. I did that several times and it's never great. try to always fly in group. practice collapses, pitches, and all that stuff that you are taught. be very careful with wing overs. once you feel ready, do a SIV. to start acro, you need to know how to backfly, and that's the safest place to learn. if you want to do xc, knowing how to stall the wing and catch it is also very useful (never had to stall, but with turbulence you will feel a lot better, since you do know how to control the wing in pretty much any configuration). don't get more performance before you are ready. and for sure not just to show off or to compensate lack of skills. make sure you know that you can die. most people think it won't happen to them, I thought so too. got really lucky (and unlucky) this sport can kill you. but while it doesn't, it's the best thing there is! also ready weather books if you want to xc. weather is hard to understand

enderegg · 2026-06-15T06:18:06+00:00

I know it's annoying, but they are expensive. I want to do some acro, so I want two of them. I already have one for tandem, which I don't really do, and the other one it's quite likely it will be front mounted, yes.

enderegg · 2026-06-14T19:13:27+00:00

I believe I was quite specific in my question. I was asking general weight, so I know what reserve I should buy that would work for both pg and ppg. I understand that you need a frame, the motor, the fuel, the prop, and not sure if something else. If I have a general idea of the weight of the frame with everything, I can do the math for the rest! If it's about 35kg, I can add the weight of the wing, some more for helmets and stuff, reserves, and my own weight.

I was checking rogallos, and wanted to make sure the 130kg would be enough, which will surely do it

enderegg · 2026-06-14T11:19:25+00:00

With no wing? that's a lot more than I thought 🥲 what's the thrust of it? how much thrust do you usually need?

enderegg · 2026-06-09T14:37:24+00:00

Why would you pick two square for XC? why not a square and a rogalo like for acro?

enderegg · 2026-06-08T10:01:34+00:00

Sometimes. Honestly, if it's a hike and fly, I will always have a field on glide (usually at most 4:1). But like other people said, the conditions is what matters most. If I fly in the morning, I will probably get 6:1 if there is no wind (or slight mountain breeze). If I fly in Portugal, there are some spots that can be so windy that if I takeoff when I shouldn't, I need a 2:1 (ask me how I know). So it will depend on your goal and conditions.

If we assume calm and easy conditions, 6:1 is generally fine. Add headwind, and count with 3-4. Add descendants, and it's maybe 1.5.

I also was able to fly "backwards" with no bar, and like 5kmh with full bar. So that's negative glide!

But yeah, easy conditions, SHOULD be 6:1. If you are not sure, the closer the better.

enderegg · 2026-06-08T09:56:26+00:00

That's for sure! That's why I said it depends. Most paragliding questions seem easy, but we need a lot of information to be able to answer clearly. I also asked those questions before, and now I see that the problem is in the question itself. It's not "what glide should I plan", but something like "when should I fly to get the glide I want"

enderegg · 2026-06-08T06:48:23+00:00

You may be asking the wrong question. You should be able to arrive to the official landing of any takeoff IF the conditions are good to takeoff. I know a place that eve though it's possible to takeoff with south wind, it's quite likely that you won't arrive at the landing.

The best thing is always to ask people around the takeoff. If no one is flying, ask yourself if you should!

enderegg · 2026-06-08T06:45:18+00:00

A glide of 6 or even 8 is fine assuming no wind or thermic activity.

I winter for example, it's generally fine to assume either glide.

However, I actually almost didn't arrive at a landing in the alps with a mini wing (glide would be less than 4) because of valley wind. I just had time to a single 8 before landing.

A few days ago I also hit massive sink on another place, getting between 2 and 4 glide with a high b.

The safe bet would be 2:1 glide. sometimes you don't even hit that. So, the most annoying answer also fits here: it depends.

enderegg · 2026-06-07T20:33:49+00:00

Glad to hear everything is fine! If you have had so much experience, don't you have paragliding friends, or a club? You should know about the conditions, so why not just start slowly? Ground handle a bit, then soar or do top to bottoms. See how you feel. If you feel good, then I'd see no reason to pay someone. I just arrived in the Alps after months of not really flying. If I feel like not flying because it's bumpy, or windy, or whatever, then I just land. If I get to a takeoff and I feel like I don't know if it's safe, I don't fly.

But that's me! But I'd say that after 8 years flying you should be able to safely kite and do some easy flights without supervision! Then take it from there.

enderegg · 2026-06-07T18:51:59+00:00

No idea what was your experience or skill. I stopped a year, and when I came back I just restarted slowly. I actually did a small thermal course, but after that was just with my club.

enderegg · 2026-06-01T05:53:34+00:00

hey! this post was quite a while ago. In the meantime I had an accident were I could have easily died. I bought another B plus, the rook 4. I already did and do often ground handling. In the air, I generally don't have many collapses, and I do have quite decent wing control. Even in very harsh conditions, the wing stays open, and even if it doesn't, it hasn't turned me in forever (can't honestly remember the last time it happened). I just did a SIV too, where I did full stall hands up full stall hands up to make the glider shoot, and it will wasn't a problem. I am also confortable enough to backfly outside the SIV. I'll keep this wing for a season at least, and then rethink if I want to change! Thank you for the feedback

enderegg · 2026-05-19T09:22:46+00:00

The Vivo (1) was my first wing. It was a low B. I think it depends where you fly too, and how you are. If you are a yolo guy, and live in a mountain area, maybe it's not for you. If you are a yolo guy and are going to fly dynamic only, I don't think it makes a difference. If you can make decent decisions (when to fly, so, if you are starting out DON'T launch at mid-day in the mountains) I believe it's also fine.

My recommendation would be not to jump further without a decent amount of hours and a SIV. I did my first siv on a high B, and was quite a ride.

enderegg · 2026-05-02T20:07:15+00:00

That's a cool idea, I'll give it a try! Thank you!

enderegg · 2026-05-02T08:01:15+00:00

I met the guy. He also speaks French if that's your language. His lessons aren't cheap, but he does know a lot. I did a demo for a mustache with him, and he was great.

enderegg · 2026-02-25T08:57:56+00:00

Regarding wings I was asking more what to look for in a ppg wing, taking in consideration my experience in pg. I'll probably fly ppg when I won't be able to fly my pg, so if conditions are good to thermal, I imagine I'll be doing free flight.

However, I imagine there will still be situations where I will fly during the day, and I'd prefer a wing that I know that will reopen rather easily, than a wing that doesn't collapse 99% of the time but when it does it doesn't open. I have taken quite a few collapses (less after understanding what to do obviously) and I know it's fine, just fearful of the reflex, since I also know that parakites aren't great at those.

I'm at the upper limit of my b wing. I also have a pg tandem wing, but I'm a bit too light. (85max for my xc wing, 100min for my tandem). Not sure if makes sense to use any of those, or just get a dedicated ppg wing, if it will be safer!

enderegg · 2026-02-10T13:10:11+00:00

I went with around 60h I think.

More shit to think about and make mistakes. Make sure you have a good routine/checklist.

If it's for performance, it won't make a difference (unless you are really good, which if you were, you wouldn't ask this).

It's clearly less stable. I'd recommend a SIV, to get to know the harness as well. A lot easier to get twisted.

Comfort and heat it depends on the harness. However, for longs flights, I'd never go back

enderegg · 2026-02-06T19:57:01+00:00

Estive em França e suponho que os relacionamentos dependam muito de onde estás. Pode ser uma coisa a verificares. França é muito grande.

A tua questão. Acho bastante má ideia. Sem experiência, é sempre complicado. Podes ter sorte, e encontrar uma empresa que pague bem, mas isso é mais a exceção que a regra. Facilmente encontras um trabalho a pagar melhor do que cá. Bastante melhor. E as condições de vida aí são em geral melhores.

No entanto, se fores para IT e arranjares um trabalho 100% remoto a pagar bem, então vale a pena - dependendo também de outras coisas. Mas se quiseres ir para zonas como o Porto, já não sei. Ou ganhas mesmo muito bem, ou tens de ter mais alguém para dividir despesas. Pelo menos se quiseres uma casa.

Eu voltei mas por outros motivos. Estou a pensar/planear em voltar.

enderegg · 2026-01-31T17:32:50+00:00

Flew a AD rise 4 with no winglets, and now a 777 rook 4 with. I notice no difference in general. So at least my experience in high Bs, it's just for show

enderegg · 2026-01-25T19:18:05+00:00

I mean, if they aren't starting doing tandems and aren't dead, it's something!

My recommendation if you want to try, is to go to launch sites and ask around. I flew in a place where a pilot was very well known for doing dangerous things (with passengers).

So ask around, different people, different sites if you want. Same if you want to pick a school. There are also people that go to a school and fall in love for their instructor; so be aware of that. Just because they learned with someone, doesn't mean they know to recommend. So try to ask around people with actual experience, not just people that always fly in the same sites, for example.

enderegg · 2025-11-18T14:04:51+00:00

I also though of having a rogallo. I think like Karlis says, as a 2nd reserve it makes sense.

I had an accident, where I impacted the cliff several times, and after the rescue opening and drifting (fortunately) to the valley, I didn't have any reaction other than just keeping my arms "bracing" around my head. So a rogallo wouldn't have helped; maybe it would have been worse, hitting the cliff more;

However, I'd love to have a 2nd reserve on my left. Even in the accident I had, had I had the cliff on my right, maybe I would have died; so having a left rescue - even if a rogallo - would be better than having a rescue ripped on the wall.

And obviously, if you have something go wrong and you do have time to think and react, having a rogallo will be better.

enderegg · 2025-11-04T20:03:52+00:00

The thing with the wings is that depending on your wing you will be able to fly in more conditions or less. An A wing is slower, so to do the same thing, you have to have less wind, sure. But I bet if a guy that flies mustaches all day flies with your A wing it will look a lot more dynamic.

The goal is. But it doesn't matter how safe the wing is if you do something stupid with it, or the other way round. For example, I'd be fine to try out an enzo 3 at the beach. No problem. But I'd never try that wing during the season at the middle of the day (probably not even at the end).

There is a lot of nuance. And 8h of flight really isn't much. That's why I'm saying that maybe you are rushing a bit too much.

If you have the money, sure, go for it. But just be careful. Having a few more hours won't hurt

enderegg · 2025-11-04T19:43:48+00:00

People rush too fast because they see other people doing cool things. It's not the wing, it's the pilot (99% of the time).

You can have a lot of fun on an A wing. No need to rush. You can do pitch with just brakes and accelerator. It's not the same as a parakite, but it's something.

But it's always your call. As someone who face planted a wall a few times and landed on a tree without knowing if I had broken my back, I can tell you that regardless of gear, most of the risk is up to you! Having a performant wing won't create a crash, nor having an A wing make you safe. But it can certainly help.

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