Just to clarify a few definitions folks. I'm a hang glider
pilot and Dealer since 1998.
Parasail - basically a round or
conical shaped uncontrolled parachute that is pulled through the air by a
vehicle, most commonly seen being towed by a boat. The parachute has slots or
holes cut into one side of the sail to keep it moving in one direction. It IS
NOT a foot launchable aircraft.
Paraglider - This is a true
crescent shaped "wing", that is controllable both in pitch and roll or turning
and climbing or descending. It can be towed but usually only to altitude where
the pilot releases and fly's away using thermals and air currents to navigate.
A paraglider needs to launch from an elevated area, such as a mountain or hill
in order to catch thermals or rising air to fly any reasonable distance. It is
a foot launchable aircraft and has no "landing gear" other then the pilots
legs.
Powered Paraglider - This is also a true crescent shaped
"wing" that is controllable both in pitch and roll or turning and climbing or
descending, however it is attached to a "backpack motor". It is a foot
launchable aircraft and can be launched from flat ground as opposed to a
paraglider that needs to launch from an elevated area, such as a mountain or
hill in order to catch thermals or rising air to fly any reasonable distance.
One can also attach light weight "tricycle" landing gear to this aircraft if
the pilot chooses, but this is not typically done.
Powered
Parachute - This ia a flying parachute of slightly different design in
that the "wing" has more of a rectangular shape, as opposed to a paraglider or
powered paraglider wing which is crescent shaped. It has landing gear
permanently attached and a motor. It can have two seats as
well.
Hang glider - This is a true, structured wing aircraft
that is often referred to as an ultralight. It has tubes, cables and a basic A
frame from which the pilot hangs or sits within to control the the wing in
pitch and roll, via weight shift around the center of gravity of the pilot. It
is foot launchable and can also be towed by ground or water based vehicles as
well as aerotowed in the same manner as a sailplane. Hang gliders can also
utilize motors.
Powered Parachutes are the only one of the above
mentioned "aircraft" that the FAA require, at the very least, a SPORT PILOT
license to fly.
All the other aircraft are self-regulated and are
only required to fly under the rules defined by the FAA within: FAR 103,
however there is a national organization called the USHPA (United States Hang
Gliding and Paragliding Association) that provides training and certification
as well as insurance and other vital needs to this particular
community.
I would be happy to clarify any of this
information.
James "Wingman" Gaar USHPA #73864 Kansas City Hang
Glider Supplies Torrey Hawk #212
> A high profile mission
tends to attract media and private aircraft, so even > with air control
in place it may become too dangerous to operate a parasail > or
ultralight.
The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with
Hotmail. Get busy.
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Re: [MSAR] search strategies for mounted SAR
, (continued)