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An aircraft in a backpack?In under five minutes you can lay out your lightweight canopy (15 lbs) on the ground, and step into a flight lasting as long as you want!!!Paragliding combines the portability and safety of a parachute with the low cost and soaring capability of hang gliding! Read what Richard Bach (Jonathan Livingston Seagull) has to say about Paragliding. 
Where you trainSanta Barbara is a paragliding paradise. Our training hill is recognized as one of the premier training hills in the US. Area weather permits a year-round flying opportunity available nowhere else. The 4000' Santa Ynez mountains overlooking the Pacific offer flying experiences that are yet to be appreciated.
How it worksParagliding has arrived in the US from Europe where over 100,000 people are already enjoying this incredibly simple and safe form of flying. Paragliders combine the light weight and safety of sport parachutes with the convenience, low cost, and soaring capability of hang gliders.Paragliders are similar to hang gliders in that they are foot-launched and foot-landed. The pilot lays the canopy out on the ground, puts on the harness, launches by running down a slope, and quietly glides down to the landing area below. With the right conditions and experience, it's also possible to make flights where one gains altitude and flies for many miles and many hours. Just about anyone can learn to paraglide. Training classes are not very strenuous, and it doesn't take any unusual strength or skill to learn to fly. Both women and men enjoy soaring together, as there is no advantage gained from being strong or forceful.
The EquipmentFly Above All will provide the paraglider, harness, helmet and radios during the lesson. No special clothing is required, although we do suggest that you wear long pants and comfortable running shoes that provide some ankle support. It's also a good idea to bring some drinking water with you, plus a camera (and photographer!) if you'd like pictures of your flights.
How you learn
Your lessons will include demonstrations by your instructor, observation of other students, hands-on experience and ground classes. Obviously the more lessons you take, the more skills you develop. Most students fly their first full training day, and will be ready to start practicing on their own without supervision after about 5-7 days instruction.
What is it like?Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties offer some of the best quality, year-round paragliding in the world. Paragliders are an advanced evolutionary aircraft that can go places and do things unlike any other vehicle. High-performance fabrics coupled with a growing comprehension of our micro-meteorology have permitted the development of our incredible sport.
Ojai is soarable almost everyday during the dry season. Santa Barbara
offers spectacular scenery and the convenience of a paved road during
the cooler months. The easy coastal ridge lift works on and off at several
local cliffs, and Pine Mountain has the big air and high altitude for
advanced pilots. Local flights along the coastal range from Santa Barbara to Ojai are common. When conditions are favorable, seasoned pilots are launching from Santa Barbara and extending past Interstate 5. Pilots fly from Ojai to Fillmore and beyond on a typical summer day and from Ojai to Santa Barbara when LA is raked by the Santa Anna Winds. Pine mountain is omni-directional and pilots typically reach altitudes of 9 to 15 thousand feet from the 7,000 foot South Side launch. It's not uncommon to climb above 17 thousand feet when cloudbase is up there, but beware, Pine can get too windy for paragliding. Paragliders operate in unprecedented harmony with the natural elements. Our slow flying speeds (about 15 to 25 mph) enables us to climb in small thermals and dual with the Red Tail Hawks. Red Tails are playful and its common to share the same thermal within a wingspan. We occasionally fly with the fledgling condors or an arrogant eagle. We use numerous "top landing" perches within reach of a re-launch and can put down in some pretty tight spots when necessary. The equipment is non rigid fabric construction. Some European alpine purist will strip down and keep their gear weight under 20 pounds. Most of our local pilots tend to ballast up with water, snacks, and a plush comfy harness resulting in total gear weights of 40 to 50 pounds including clothing, helmet, instruments, reserve parachute, radio & phone. It all stuffs into a back pack and is easily storable and transportable.
Do I have to be an athlete?General athletic ability seems to help. It is an outdoor activity and can require some hiking.
Once airborne the physical effort is minimal and women can compete equally
with the boys. Being overweight and out of shape will put you at a disadvantage
when hiking or executing a hard (crash) landing, but airborne there's
an efficiency of scale and it's good to be heavy. There is no age limit, but it's important to have the maturity to respect the hazards. Participant ages range from students in their early 20's to seasoned pilots in their 70's. The bulk of the active pilots seem to be a little under 30 through a bit over 50.
How much does it cost?Cost for used equipment can be as low as few hundred dollars for a worn & dated canopy. A good modern airworthy rig inspected by your local school will cost about $2000. A brand new state of the art entry level glider runs around $3500 and you will spend up to $5000 if you want a new harness, reserve, helmet, vario, radio and boots. Some students buy used equipment from us and trade up to a new higher performance canopy after a year or two in the sport.Fly Above All will supply all the equipment during the training program. Students are not recommended to purchase equipment until they are well established in the course. Fly Above All sells, supports, and services a full line of quality new and used equipment. Lessons in the art of Paragliding depend on how far you want to take it, but a one day introduction is the best way to start. You can experience the thrill of flying the very first day! The Novice Package takes you all the way to flying on your own without the direct supervision of the instructor. Our syllabus spans from 8 to 12 training days, with 8 hours of ground school and administration of the Beginner and Novice tests. Your first day fees will be credited towards the tuition if you decide within 30 days to go through the Novice program. You may take a tandem flight if you prefer, but the best way to experience this magical event is on your own - you WILL fly, by yourself (weather permitting) the height equivalent of a twenty story building on your first day!! You may also give someone the unforgettable gift of a single solo paragliding lesson. That way, they can "taste" the sport to see if they want to continue with instruction. You may order a Paragliding Day Lesson Gift Certificate HERE. Please let me know well in advance when your schedule permits, since I have limited times available. I look forward to flying with you when you're ready! -Chad Bastian USHGA Certified Instructor |
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Contact Us: (805) 965-3733 info@flyaboveall.com Fly Above All, Inc. Santa Barbara, CA |
