From the inner-workings of an extreme sport
to a series of accidents associated with it,
this is what happens when paragliding goes
wrong:
Paragliding is an adventure sport that involves
the use of a free-flying wing to which the
pilot is connected by a harness and a network
of suspension lines.
The fabric wing has vents at the front which
maintain its elliptical shape as air pressure
builds up.
The aerodynamic forces of the air flowing
outside the wing and the suspension lines
enable gliding while maintaining its shape.
The pilot can steer, adjust speed and flare,
through controls in each of their hands that
connect to the left and right sides of the
wing.
Launching and landing are done into an airstream,
either by running or being pulled.
The wing gets into a position that can carry
the pilot’s weight before lifting them off
the ground.
Even though the paraglider doesn’t use an
engine, flights can go across hundreds of
miles and thousands of feet up into the air.
As with many extreme sports, there are a number
of risks associated with paragliding, including
death.
Number 5 Matt O’Donnell
As he was preparing to take off of a cliff
in New South Wales, Australia, experienced
paraglider Matt was caught in a whirlwind,
commonly known as a dust devil.
This happened on January 2, 2019, and a video
of it went viral online.
O’Donnell’s wife was forced to watch helplessly
as he was swept away on a terrifying ride.
In the video she’s heard screaming in terror
and asking if he’s okay.
Fortunately, thanks to his experience, O’Donnell
kept his composure and maintained control
of the glider despite being suddenly and rapidly
spun around.
He got out of the dust devil and continued
his flight, unharmed.
It was a fortunate scenario but the video
serves as a stark reminder of the dangers
that paragliders face.
Before we move on, answer this question.
What’s the highest paragliding flight on
record?
a.
15,000 feet
b. 20,000 feet
c. 25,000 feet
d.
Over 25,000 feet
Let us know what you think in the comments
section below and stay tuned to find out the
right answer.
A paraglider is unique among human-carrying
aircraft since it’s so portable.
On average, wings have a surface of 220 to
380 square feet, a span 26 to 39 feet and
a weight of 7 to 16 pounds.
It may sound like a lot but the harness and
wing can typically be stored inside a single
backpack.
This means that transporting the equipment
is easy and that paragliding can be practiced
virtually anywhere, provided that the wind
is right.
The earliest patent of a gliding parachute
came in 1952, from Canadian pilot and inventor
Domina Jalbert.
The first official paragliding world championship
was held in Austria, in 1989.
Nowadays, popular paragliding destinations
include the mountainous regions of Germany,
Austria, Switzerland and France but also areas
in Brazil, Australia and Turkey.
Number 4 Peggy Williams
In May 2009, Peggy Williams was paragliding
in Andalusia, Spain, when a freak gust of
wind caught the wing of her glider.
The 47-year-old was catapulted through the
air and plummeted 20 feet onto a rocky outcrop
below.
Since her wing was still inflated, she was
dragged stomach-first over the jagged rocks
for what she said felt like “an eternity”.
Williams was airlifted to Malaga where she
received treatment, after suffering a torn
liver and a nearly severed pancreas.
The doctors would later explain to her that
it was her level of physical fitness that
ultimately saved her life.
Her strong abdominal muscles acted like a
“girdle” and protected her internal organs.
Williams credited her life-saving muscles
to a one-minute daily regime that involved
sit-ups, bicycle sit-ups and lateral crunches.
Paragliding takes pilots thousands of feet
into the air, at speeds of anywhere from 12
to 47 miles per hour.
The most obvious fear is harness failure and
a deadly drop.
However, equipment is rarely the cause of
accidents as most of them can be attributed
to pilot error.
The worst thing a pilot can do is misjudge
their abilities, fly when they’re tired
or in harsh weather conditions.
Dangers include crashing into mountain ridges,
getting caught in overwhelming winds or coming
in too hard on the landing.
These can all result in broken bones, internal
organ damage and even death.
There’s also a risk of paragliders crashing
into each other, which is usually more common
in a competition setting.
So, what’s the highest flight on record?
The right answer is d, over 25,000 feet.
In July 2016, Antoine Girard flew over Broad
Peak, in Pakistan, the 12th tallest mountain
on earth.
Over the course of the seven-hour flight he
reached a staggering altitude of 26,762 feet.
Number 3 Ronaldo Faoro
In March 2015, California man Ronaldo Faoro
and his daughter Sierra were on a tandem flight
near Santa Barbara.
Faoro was an experienced pilot who wanted
to show his daughter the beauty of paragliding.
Unfortunately, the flight ended in tragedy.
Faoro wasn’t properly clipped into his harness
and, as the wing caught air, he became detached
and fell to his death from over 1,000 feet.
Sierra remained strapped into the glider and
crashed into a mountain side.
She suffered only minor injuries and was flown
by helicopter to a nearby hospital.
Number 2 Incident in San Diego County
In March 2019, two paragliders crashed into
each other in San Diego and suffered a deadly
75-foot fall onto a steep cliff face.
One of the men was qualified to fly on his
own while the other was in the process of
getting his advanced qualification, according
to officials from the San Diego Fire-Rescue
services.
As the pilots crashed into each other, their
gliders became tangled.
According to one eyewitness, a crash was heard
and afterwards she saw two men falling from
the sky.
Their position on the cliff meant their bodies
could only be retrieved via helicopter.
Survival in paragliding is a combination of
proper gear, proper training and proper judgement.
To minimize risk, you should use a wing designed
for your proportions and skill level, a cushioned
harness, a helmet and a reserve parachute.
Other pieces of equipment include a variometer,
which helps the pilot determine sinking or
rising air, a radio and a GPS.
Always check the gear for any faults prior
to a flight.
You should be fully aware of the features
that come with the paragliding site, including
obstacles and wind conditions.
Training with competent instructors in wing
handling and emergency maneuvers is another
essential step in avoiding accidents.
Number 1 Grant Thompson
Grant Thompson had built a YouTube channel
entitled “The King of Random” with over
11 million subscribers and billions of views.
Thompson worked as an airline pilot for more
than a decade, then shortly in real estate
prior to becoming a successful YouTuber.
Thompson’s followers and many of his fellow
YouTubers were saddened when news emerged
that he’d died in a paragliding accident
in late July, 2019.
The 38-year-old had taken off in a paraglider
near Sand Hollow State Park, in Hurricane,
Utah.
When he didn’t check in, a missing person
report was filed.
Thompson’s body and crashed paraglider were
subsequently located by a medical helicopter
through the tracking of his GPS device.
The police recovered a recording which they
hope will shed some light on the accident
but foul play wasn’t suspected.
In an Instagram post, Thompson’s family
asked his followers to do a “random act
of love and kindness” to honor the passing
of The King of Random.
Thanks for watching!
Imagine you were paragliding and something
went wrong, would you rather make an emergency
landing in a forested area or in a large body
of water?
Let us know in the comments section below!
