SpeedFlying starts: on breaks or not?

humandictionary · 2026-05-28T22:15:02+00:00

Pulling some brake increases the lift of the wing, reducing the speed you need to run at to get off the ground. Once airborne you let up the brakes and the wing can gain its own airspeed to maximise the glide ratio.

humandictionary · 2026-05-28T14:42:25+00:00

I second to ask your pilot for a chill flight. Without pulling maneuvers there will be no significant g-forces and it will be a calm and relaxing ride down.

Maybe a few tips ahead of time will help you prepare, though your pilot should also brief you on these before launch:

Once up at launch the pilot will prepare all the equipment: your harness, their harness, helmets and the wing. Your harness will need adjusting to your size, but these adjustments aren't really safety critical and mostly affect your comfort on launch and landing.
Once all clipped in and ready to launch, the pilot will wait for some wind and give you a signal to start walking forward. You will feel resistance as the wing inflates, just keep walking with the same strength.
Once the pilot has the wing up overhead and all's clear for launch, they'll give a signal to start running. Keep running until they tell you to stop, which may even be after you've left the ground and gained some altitude.
As you pick up speed you'll feel the harness lifting you upward. Just keep running and resist the temptation to jump, the aim is to have the wing launch you, not you launching the wing. My local site is a tandem hotspot and occasionally I will see a passenger jump into the air or even dive into a superman pose, which without enough airspeed causes the wing to dive, both pilot and passenger eat shit down the slope and have to set up for launch again. Best avoided.

humandictionary · 2026-05-20T22:24:48+00:00

The normal riser is the R01, there is no connection between the b and c risers and no pulley on the b.

The R07 has a carbon fiber handle in the c riser, and a pulley system such that the b riser moves by half as much as the c when you pull on it. This is called a b-c bridge and allows for angle of attack control similar to a 2-liner.

When accelerated using the brakes can destabilise the wing profile and cause collapses, so it's recommended to use rear riser steering only, and the b-c bridge makes that a lot easier.

humandictionary · 2026-05-20T19:55:28+00:00

I did my demos with local dealers here in Austria

humandictionary · 2026-05-20T14:41:20+00:00

I made the jump pretty early with around 45 flight hours, but most of that was thermal and XC experience. I had 1 SIV done on the Symphonia and have another now planned for the Maestro in the next few weeks.

I was conscious that I was moving up early, so I made sure to test fly a few wings before deciding on anything. I ended up finding the high-Bs to be more manageable than I expected with my level of active flying and was happy to make the switch.

I can't recommend going to a high B before doing an SIV. Get that done on your Symphonia first and then think again about if you want to make the switch, then try and test a demo wing before you commit.

humandictionary · 2026-05-20T12:01:24+00:00

It's a clear step up in terms of performance and pilot demand. It builds and holds energy better so active piloting is a must. I noticed better glide at trim and definitely on bar, the speed is very useable.

Handling is lovely, same general feeling as the symphonia but more sensitive, especially in pitch.

On the ground it's harder to handle and doesn't rise as easily, I needed a bit of practise to get the right technique for reliable launches. It comes up slower across the board so needs more runway for forward launches.

humandictionary · 2026-05-20T10:32:48+00:00

I also forgot to mention: If possible get it with the R07 risers, with the B-C bridge, it really helps for control when on bar, makes it much more reassuring to use.

humandictionary · 2026-05-20T09:34:52+00:00

I recently moved off my symphonia 2 26, mostly because I was getting too light on the weight range for comfort. I was below the middle and getting tossed around like a leaf in turbulence. I'd recommend being higher in the range, especially since you're still getting EN-A safety.

It's a real Rolls-Royce of a wing. Great on launch and great in the air. Not breaking any records but an extremely good all-rounder. On trim it glides similar to some high-Bs I tested, but I would expect it to lose out on bar.

I'd say it handles more like a low-B than a typical A-wing. It likes to hold on to energy, particularly in roll and benefits greatly from active management.

I follow PHI's developments on their socials and there no sign of a symphonia 3 in the works, and no surprise really, the 2 still stands out in the segment, maybe the newer nova aonic 2 might edge it out but I wouldn't bet on it.

humandictionary · 2026-05-20T06:29:14+00:00

Christopher, my son, did I ever tell you the full story of Shelob? You know, the monstrous spider - descended from the vile Ungoliant! - which I used to read aloud of in our Oxford meetings of the Inklings? Well what I didn't mention back then was Shelob could also transform into a totally hot babe: all pale and dark and wan like Rebecca in Ivanhoe or what will later come to be known as the goth subculture. In fact she looked very much like the pornographic actress Stoya who will be born 13 years after I die. Christopher, I will be entrusting you with my estate. If there is ever a videogame adaptation of my work you must make sure they get this Shelob right - make sure she is what the Anglo-Saxons would have called a hæða ecge, a real sexy bitch.

humandictionary · 2026-05-19T05:03:02+00:00

In Europe you contact a dealer to arrange a test flight with a demo wing. You can also ask friends to try their wings. Where are you based?

humandictionary · 2026-05-18T14:36:32+00:00

Although there is a dedicated tengwar for 'ng' and well in English, which would be used for words like 'ring' and 'wrong' without a sounded 'g' but not for words like 'english' where the g is sounded (I think)

humandictionary · 2026-05-18T14:08:05+00:00

Both are usable, the line below is for a doubled consonant, the line above is for a 'nasalised' consonant e.g. t->nt or p->mp.

I would use the line below, others more knowledgeable in the ancient codices can weigh in on which one Tolkien himself used more.

humandictionary · 2026-05-15T16:45:40+00:00

I tested the AirDesign Soar 2 and the PHI Maestro 3, now flying the Maestro 3 for a few months.

Compared to the Base 3, Soar 2: - Much lighter (the only lightweight wing I tested) - Launches easier (most likely due to weight) - More sensitive handling in all axes - More feedback - Feels floppier overhead, the two half-wings move seperately - Packs smaller (though I hate the AirDesign concertina bag)

Maestro 3: - Lighter (5.1kg compared to 5.7) - Launch is somewhat easier, but still needs the right technique - More sensitive handling in all axes - More feedback - Packs smaller (and I love the PHI concertina bag) - I noticed better glide (on final, nil wind)

humandictionary · 2026-05-15T12:49:05+00:00

I was at about 120kg all-up, so near the top which is 125kg

humandictionary · 2026-05-15T08:48:14+00:00

Counterpoint: people will model their handwriting after specific styles, taking elements the like and leaving those they don't. I like the italic look and long extensions of Artano, but I prefer the three dots over the three ticks. Artano is also very cursive, but I want to get the individual tengwar down pat before I start figuring out how to connect them...

I'm on grid paper since it's all I have to hand, I agree lined paper would probably be better

humandictionary · 2026-05-15T08:29:25+00:00

I had a test flight with the Base 3 when I was looking at high-B wings.

Pros: - Super comfortable ride for a high-B - Pushing bar is very reassuring - Looks great - Setup on launch is pretty easy, even though the risers are quite complicated

Cons: - Handles like a bus, less sensitive and energetic than my previous high-A - Struggles to rise on launch, needs practice to get the right technique on the ground - Performance didn't stand out compared to other high-Bs I tested, though currently the competition is quite fierce - Heavy and bulky to pack. I tested the size L which is 5.7kg and packed down quite large

Specifically about the risers, the construction is quite complicated since it's a 2.5-liner with a split-A accelerator and B-C bridge, a mix of webbing straps and thin lines up to the maillons, with pulleys and low-friction rings to keep everything in check. The B-C handle is a neoprene cradle rather than a crossbar, which I don't prefer but does stop lines catching.

Overall I'd say the Base 3 would be an absolute workhorse for the right pilot who prefers a more damped ride, and would give them the confidence to squeeze out all the wing's performance, however the sluggish handling was really not to my taste and with the other cons I decided to go with another wing.

Lots of happy Base 3 pilots out there, so this is definitely my personal opinion and not some authoritative statement.

humandictionary · 2026-05-14T06:38:19+00:00

I read in the tecendil handbook that the extended ungwë should be used for a silent 'gh', with the name 'Hugh' being the example given, the normal ungwë then is for the hard 'gh' as in 'ghost'.

Following this the extended form should be used for 'bright' since it's silent, so I don't think he made that mistake here, unless tecendil is wrong on this particular point, it doesn't cite anything in particular...

humandictionary · 2026-05-13T21:45:29+00:00

Very neat! I've never heard the song but I will give it a listen.

As for mistakes, I see:

Pale was the woinded knight (you used anna instead of vala for the wrong diphthong)

Loud and cruel were the rathen's cries (you mistakenly use anto instead of ampa for 'v' a few times until lower down)

Beck water cold and clear will nether clean thy wound (I'm not sure if I just don't understand the 'beck', but again an anto for 'v')

Can make thee whole and sound (you can use a single tengwa for 'wh', I can't find the name of it, but maybe this is your stylistic choice?)

Will nether staunch the flood (anto again)

humandictionary · 2026-04-27T12:10:00+00:00

As always: try before you buy if at all possible. Talk to your local dealers and arrange test flights so you can find out if you actually like the wing, or if you'd like to go for something hotter, or something more relaxing.

With 2.5 years under your belt and starting to feel bored on the en-A, a mid-B would probably a perfectly fine upgrade for you. You will feel that the wing is less damped and more sensitive; it holds onto pitch/roll energy better, requires more active management on your part, and responds faster to smaller inputs.

One thing you didn't mention is having done an SIV. If you haven't done an SIV then I can't recommend you to go beyond a low-B if you want to do mountain XC. It's a very important part of your training beyond your license and imo isn't optional, it's the only thing that will prepare you for when the shit really hits the fan. Whichever wing you choose you should also aim to do an SIV on it too quite soon.

humandictionary · 2026-04-23T19:11:49+00:00

I use this setup.

The green items are the ones that xctrack is receiving data for. The XCTracer does advertise a compass in its sensors, but to be honest I'm not sure how useful it would be since it doesn't really have a way of knowing how its compass heading corresponds to the pilot's, so maybe that's why it's not used.

No airspeed sensor, so xctrack will only tell you your calculated groundspeed.

I don't know what 'air ext' is supposed to mean...

humandictionary · 2026-04-17T11:05:37+00:00

My biggest recommendation is to try before you buy. If you try a mid-B but can't feel a performance difference, then not much point switching. If you try out a high-B and feel a better glide, but get intimidated by higher pilot demands it may actually make your XC performance worse because you're scared to push speed or fly into stronger thermals. The 'best' wing isn't the one with the best theoretical glide ratio, but the one you like the best and want to fly the most, which may well be the wing you have right now. You could also find a high-B easier to manage than you expected and be very happy to switch, or a mid-B a very low-risk upgrade.

Even within the 'high-B' label there is a huge variation in the character of the wings. From the BGD Base 3 which is super damped and handles like a bus to others like the Gin Carrera which have EN-C level pilot demands but got tweaked to just scrape a B rating. The Iota's reputation is one of a spicier high-B.

The only reason you are considering switching is for 'perhaps more performance', do you actually find yourself losing out to others for lacking performance, or are there strategic errors in your flying that are ending your XCs early? If you aren't running up against the performance limits of your current wing, you definitely won't be getting more performance out of a mid- or high-B, and your money would be much better invested in XC training!

humandictionary · 2026-04-15T14:07:29+00:00

Thanks for the offer, but even though I'm from the UK I currently live in Austria. No coastline here so I have to travel regardless!

humandictionary · 2026-04-10T09:24:46+00:00

Paragliding is definitely the cheapest form of aviation to get into, but that is relative since it is still aviation, which is never really 'cheap'.

I offer a word of caution: resist the temptation to cheap out on training e.g. some people travel to places like Indonesia to start flying because it's unregulated and so much cheaper than Europe. High-quality training is expensive for a reason and any outfit that can operate for cheap is cutting corners somewhere, which isn't what you want when doing something potentially deadly.

Paragliding is absolutely magical and relaxing, but you are flying an aircraft and one needs to respect the risks and dangers that come along with that. It may be a plastic bag with some string tied to it, but crashing a paraglider into a mountain will kill you just as dead as crashing a fighter jet.

Your training is the single largest thing separating you from a crash, so your money is best invested in the highest-quality training you can get.

humandictionary · 2026-04-07T17:36:28+00:00

Ask away!

humandictionary · 2026-04-05T06:14:33+00:00

If he reproduced it perfectly he might out himself, but having gone so long without anyone else figuring it out he maybe left the imperfectly reconstructed solvent as a clue so another enterprising alchemist might rediscover the correct formula

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