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 powered parachute, often abbreviated PPC, and also called a motorized parachute or paraplane, is a type of aircraft that consists of a parafoil with a motor and wheels.
Paramotor is the generic name for the harness and propulsive portion of a powered paraglider ("PPG"). There are two basic types of paramotors: foot launch and wheel launch.
A foot-launched powered hang glider (FLPHG), also called powered harness, nanolight, or hangmotor, is a powered hang glider harness with a motor and propeller often in pusher configuration, although some can be found in tractor configuration. An ordinary hang glider is used for its wing and control frame, and the pilot can foot-launch from a hill or from flat ground, needing a length of about a football field to get airborne, or much less if there is an oncoming breeze and no obstacles.
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.
Fly Castelluccio Paramotor Paragliding and Trike srl was an Italian aircraft manufacturer based in Ascoli Piceno. The company specialized in the design and manufacture of paragliders, paramotors, ultralight trikes and powered parachutes in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft for the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules, and the European Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category.
Paraavis Company is a Russian aircraft manufacturer based in Moscow and founded in 1992. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of paramotors, paragliders, parachutes, powered parachutes and parafoil kites for kitesurfing, in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft for the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules and the European Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category.
The Paramania Vortex is a French/British paramotor that was designed by Mike Campbell-Jones and produced by Paramania of Le Chillou, France and later of London, England for powered paragliding. Introduced about 2002 and now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied complete and ready-to-fly.
Paramotor Napedy Paralotniowe is a Polish aircraft manufacturer based in Warsaw. Founded by Polish champion pilot Ryszrd Zygadio, the company specializes in the design and manufacture of paramotors and powered parachutes in the form of kits for amateur construction and ready-to-fly aircraft for the US FAR 103 Ultralight Vehicles rules and the European Fédération Aéronautique Internationale microlight category.
Paratour is a Canadian/American aircraft manufacturer and flight training school based in Saint-Chrysostome, Quebec and founded by husband and wife team Eric Dufour and Elisabeth Guerin in 1992. The company operates in the winter in Grant-Valkaria, Florida.
The Reflex J 160 is a French paramotor that was designed by Dominique Cholou and produced by Reflex Paramoteur of Chatou for powered paragliding. Now out of production, when it was available the aircraft was supplied complete and ready-to-fly.
Dudek Paragliders is a Polish aircraft manufacturer based near Bydgoszcz and founded by Piotr Dudek, Wojtek Domanski, and Darek Filipowicz on August 22, 1995. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of paragliders, rescue parachutes and paragliding harnesses.
Jojo Wings is a Czech aircraft manufacturer based in Roudnice nad Labem. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of paragliders and parachutes in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft. The company also makes parafoil kites.
Mac Para Technology s.r.o. is a Czech aircraft manufacturer based in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm and founded by Peter Recek. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of paragliders and paramotor wings, in the form of ready-to-fly aircraft, as well as paragliding harnesses, rescue parachutes and glider bags.
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.
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.
Swing Flugsportgeräte GmbH is a German aircraft manufacturer based in Landsberied, 30 km (19 mi) west of Munich, near the Bavarian Alps.
Fly Air Limited is a Bulgarian aircraft manufacturer based in Trudovec, headed by Simeon Simeonov. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of ultralight aircraft, including ultralight trikes, powered parachutes and powered paragliders. The company was originally located in Pravets.
The Bailey V5 is a British paramotor, designed and produced by Bailey Aviation of Royston, Hertfordshire for powered paragliding. The aircraft is supplied complete and ready-to-fly.
