Paragliding Experience Blog

When was the last time that you have done a firmware update for your SPOT 3? Log in to your SPOT account to check it out. If your there is a new firmware available for your spot you will see a small icon in the top left corner letting you know that the new firmware is available for your device.https://login.findmespot.com/spot-main-web/myaccount/devices/list.html

I’ve flown, tested and sold most mini wings in the search for the best, and once a new best is found, that’s all I fly until it’s superseded. Call me biased if you like, but please try it yourself – it will surprise you! I look forward to your feedback. Alan Hills (SkyWings Paragliding, NZ) 

This post was written by Jerry Furnell. Jerry has done 3,000 hours on the Hang Glider and 1000 flying hours on the paragliders... Spicy air. If you are going to fly XC, then expect it. All wings fly smooth and gentle at the coast, but inland flying is like eating a spicy Pad Thai. How do you like your wing to behave? Mild, hot, extra hot, extremely hot or OMG hot? An EN-A wing will dampen the rough patches and leave you relaxed. You’ll struggle with distance and soon be casting your eyes to the horizon where others are landing. An...

Have you noticed how sometimes streaks “hang” from under the clouds? This phenomenon is called virga, it can often appear under cumulonimbus clouds. It is the same rain, but it evaporates before reaching the surface of the earth. The reason for this is low ambient humidity. That is, dry air in the way of drops tends to saturate with moisture and "absorbs" them. So the rain simply evaporates on the way to the earth. Due to the evaporation, the surrounding air becomes colder - a cold air mass goes down and suppresses new air flows rising under the cloud. This...

The weight of air is affected by the amount of humidity in the air. It would seem that the water is heavier than the air and that water should make the air heavier, but it's not how it looks. Contrary to often a popular belief, humid air is lighter than the dry air providing that both have the same temperature and pressure. Let's have a look at why.The molecular mass of dry airN2 - molecular mass 28 - content in the air 78%O2 - molecular mass 32 - content in the air 21%Mass of the gas mixture (28x78/100) + (32x21/100)...