Encouraged by my young friends and a team of crack Army Paratroopers, I tried my hand at Paragliding for the first time. It was an exhilarating experience and I plan to take up this sport seriously. Here are some snaps and a small video showing my rather ungainly take off and bumpy landing!

What the hell, atleast I was airborne and I know what it means to have the ground disappear from under your feet! My instructor has promised me that I shall be jumping off a 500 foot cliff by the end of this month, at our next session.

Wish me luck!

Regards,

VC

Mr VC,

way to go wonderfull flight 

You should have been in the Army .

Sir, I've always been a Fauji at heart. Thanks!

Oh Man!!!!!

You are one lucky guy...i wish i could do that. Looks like you are having a great time with all the RC activity around you.


Enjoy VC

Regards

I wonder if you can fly an RC plane while you are up high in the middle of paragliding  

Quote from: anwar on March 07, 2010, 03:47:53 PM
I wonder if you can fly an RC plane while you are up high in the middle of paragliding  

i think its not possible

anyways gr8 flight...

cool 

VC sir, came across the post today, and I am surprised that the Fauji's did not insist that you wear a helmet??

I guess, the helmet would have been pretty useless if the canopy collapsed in mid flight!

Yes rightly said, but all flyers/anyone engaging in such aerial sports still wear one , and I guess it does not save them always.
Even during parasailing we always insisted on wearing one and atleast on one ocassion it saved my skull from cracking up, Escaped with bad bruises alone.
At start of the tow while picking up speed the line came off the vehicle hook and I took three four tumbles (head first) on the ground   

Wow looks exhilerating. Here at the maidan, in Kolkata, i have seen paragliding done by army officials few years back.

QuoteI guess, the helmet would have been pretty useless if the canopy collapsed in mid flight!

Hi VC,

You are completely wrong, even your instructor/trainer is wrong in allowing you to fly without a helmet. Infact even ground handling without a proper full face helmet is not suggested/permitted if you go to any reputed PG school.

I have been paragliding since last 3 years and have never ever flown without a helmet.

Most of the time beginers fly DHV 1/EN A gliders which are extremely forgiving and would open on its own without any input from pilot incase of any collapase. And as you progress you are suppose to carry a reserve chute which is meant for such incidence.

Thanks,

Hiren   

QuoteYes rightly said, but all flyers/anyone engaging in such aerial sports still wear one , and I guess it does not save them always.
Even during parasailing we always insisted on wearing one and atleast on one ocassion it saved my skull from cracking up, Escaped with bad bruises alone.
At start of the tow while picking up speed the line came off the vehicle hook and I took three four tumbles (head first) on the ground   

You are absolutely right man. There are case where people have had bad accidents while being on ground trying to handle the canopy

Thanks,

Hiren

Quote from: rohitgupta322 on September 16, 2010, 03:32:55 PM
Wow looks exhilerating. Here at the maidan, in Kolkata, i have seen paragliding done by army officials few years back.

Kudos VC Sir! Hope you had the thrill for Free!! We had to pay 1500 from our pocket for a 5 days solo training and flying.
@Rohit When you do these on a plain surface with a winch pulling you, that is Parasailing not Paraglider.

You are advised to wear to helmet and Elbow/Knee guard for other eventualities like wind baning you against rock, a terrible landing etc. canopy collapse is the last thing to expect, and usually rare. In the small group of 12 people from IITR I went with, 3 met with such accidents - one guy smashed his knees against a rock, other guy pulled the brake line too early - around 12 feet above and fell on this face.

That reminds me. Has any one on the forum planning to order the 2M HK Parafoil and make a Gondola/Trike to make a RC Paramotor ? it would be fun !!

You Guys are trying to scare me right?  You are succeeding! I think I will take all precautions in future.

It is really surprising that the Army allowed me to do this without the helmet. I atleast had an IAF flying suit and flying boots on. There was another youngster, who totally messed up the ground handling and just couldn't get airborne. He was dressed in a simple pair of jeans and sneakers. He was then allowed to jump off a 500 foot cliff. That was his first time ever and, by the grace of God, it was a fantastic flight!

Now, keeping all the above comments in mind, I wonder whether I am as lucky as I think I am or am I even luckier that I'm still in one piece? 

VC,

I saw this thread today & I must say you look quite young & fit. Let me share a incidence with you about helmet in aerosports.
I have never done paragliding but was heavily in hang gliding. In May 1996 I had a serious accident in which but for helment I was surely dead. My helmet took all the impact of my head & was split in two, though my left wrist was damaged but not a scar on my head. So when ever you go up next in air in such adventure sports pl use the helmet coz you never know.....

QuoteYou Guys are trying to scare me right?   You are succeeding! I think I will take all precautions in future.

Hi VC,

I am not trying to scare you my friend, idea behind my post was to just make you aware importance of helmet while flying/ground handling.

Infact insist on wearing helmet everytime you go for flying.

Is your trainer Vijay Singh part if National Adventure Cell headed by Col Balinder Talwar ?

Thanks,

Hiren


You can watch some of my vdos at http://www.youtube.com/user/hirenbshah?feature=mhsn

Wilco!

Yes he is Mr. Vijay Singh, who has amazing control over the canopy.