Hang gliding is an air sport or recreational activity in which a pilot flies a light, non-motorised, heavier-than-air aircraft called a hang glider. Most modern hang gliders are made of an aluminium alloy or composite frame covered with synthetic sailcloth to form a wing. Typically the pilot is in a harness suspended from the airframe, and controls the aircraft by shifting body weight in opposition to a control frame.
Paragliding is the recreational and competitive adventure sport of flying paragliders: lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure. The pilot sits in a harness or in a cocoon-like 'pod' suspended below a fabric wing. Wing shape is maintained by the suspension lines, the pressure of air entering vents in the front of the wing, and the aerodynamic forces of the air flowing over the outside.
Powered paragliding, also known as paramotoring or PPG, is a form of ultralight aviation where the pilot wears a back-pack motor which provides enough thrust to take off using a paraglider. It can be launched in still air, and on level ground, by the pilot alone—no assistance is required.
A glider is a fixed-wing aircraft that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Most gliders do not have an engine, although motor-gliders have small engines for extending their flight when necessary by sustaining the altitude with some being powerful enough to take off by self-launch.
Bruce Goldsmith is a British paraglider pilot, paraglider designer, and the 2007 Paragliding World Champion. He won the title at Manilla in Australia, flying an Airwave Magic FR3.
Speed-flying and speed-riding are advanced disciplines close to paragliding that use a small, high-performance non-rigid wing to quickly descend heights such as mountains. Speed flying and speed riding are very similar sports; speed flying is when the speed wing is foot-launched, while speed riding is a winter sport done on skis.
Paramania LLC is a British aircraft manufacturer based in London. The company was founded by powered paraglider competition pilot Mike Campbell-Jones in Le Chillou, France in about 2002 and later relocated to the UK. It specializes in the design and manufacture of wings for powered paragliding and at one time produced paramotors for the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules and the European microlight category.
The Advance Bi Beta is a tandem two-place paraglider, designed and produced by Advance Thun of Thun, Switzerland.
The Advance Omega is a series of Swiss single-place, paragliders, designed and produced by Advance Thun of Thun.
The Aerodyne Jumbe is a series of French single-place and two-place, paragliders that was designed by Michel Le Blanc and produced by Aerodyne Technologies of Talloires.
Aerodyne Technologies was a French aircraft manufacturer based in Étrembières and previously based in Talloires. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of paragliders and reserve parachutes.
Airwave Gliders was an Austrian aircraft manufacturer based on the Isle of Wight and later in Fulpmes. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of hang gliders and paragliders.
Independence Paragliding is a German aircraft manufacturer based in Eisenberg, Bavaria and founded by designer Michaël Nesler and test pilot Christian Amon. The company is a division of Fly-Market Flugsport-Zubehör GmbH & Co. KG and specializes in the design and manufacture of paragliders in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft as well as reserve parachutes, harnesses and paragliding accessories.
MCC Aviation SA is a Swiss aircraft manufacturer based in Grandvaux. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of paragliders in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft, as well as paragliding harnesses, rescue parachutes and paragliding accessories.
Nova Performance Paragliders is an Austrian aircraft manufacturer based in Terfens. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of paragliders in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft.
Ozone Gliders Limited is an aircraft manufacturer based in Le Bar-sur-Loup, France, although it is registered in Edinburgh, Scotland. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of paragliders in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft.
Pegas 2000 SRO is a Czech aircraft manufacturer based in Prague. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of paragliders in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft. The company also builds powered paragliding wings and parafoil kites.
Sol Paragliders is a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer based in Jaraguá do Sul and founded by Ary Carlos Pradi. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of paragliders and paramotor wings in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft. The company also produces paragliding harnesses, rescue parachutes and accessories.
UP International GmbH is a German aircraft manufacturer based in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of paragliders in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft. The company started business as a hang glider manufacturer based in the United States.
The Ozone Enzo is a French single-place two-line competition paraglider that was designed by Luc Armant and produced by Ozone Gliders. Two-line gliders have only A and B lines and lack the C or D lines traditionally used on paragliders, in an attempt to reduce aerodynamic drag. In 2020 the Enzo remained in production as the Enzo 3 variant.
