Paragliding Definitions
When studying for HPAC exams or just starting on your flying lessons, you will come across a lot of new terminology. Here's a list of paragliding definitions:
Accelerator: another name for your speed bar.
Accordion Bag/Accordion Fold: a method of folding your wing by stacking the cells of your leading edge on top of each other so they lay flat, and folding in the rest of the wing so it resembles an accordion when finished. Using an accordion bag (or folding bag) makes the job easier as it has velcro & straps built in to help you pack up neatly.
Active Piloting: Continually making small adjustments in the air as your glider pitches, with the aim of keeping the wing smoothly overhead for more efficient flying. As conditions get stronger (more thermic) more control is needed to keep the tips from collapsing.
AGL (Above Ground Level): Height given in feet (ft) or meters (m) above a specific point on the ground. For example, if the landing zone is 100 meters above sea level and the height of the launch is 400 meters AGL, that means there is a 400 meter difference between launch and landing.
Air Foil: The shape of a wing which produces lift, usually shown side-on as below:
Accelerator: another name for your speed bar.
Accordion Bag/Accordion Fold: a method of folding your wing by stacking the cells of your leading edge on top of each other so they lay flat, and folding in the rest of the wing so it resembles an accordion when finished. Using an accordion bag (or folding bag) makes the job easier as it has velcro & straps built in to help you pack up neatly.
Active Piloting: Continually making small adjustments in the air as your glider pitches, with the aim of keeping the wing smoothly overhead for more efficient flying. As conditions get stronger (more thermic) more control is needed to keep the tips from collapsing.
AGL (Above Ground Level): Height given in feet (ft) or meters (m) above a specific point on the ground. For example, if the landing zone is 100 meters above sea level and the height of the launch is 400 meters AGL, that means there is a 400 meter difference between launch and landing.
Air Foil: The shape of a wing which produces lift, usually shown side-on as below:
Air Speed: The speed of the wing through the air…not to be confused with ground speed, the speed of your wing over the ground.
Albedo Value: The amount of energy a surface absorbs or reflects, thereby being a "good" or "bad" thermal generator. i.e. Rock faces have a low albedo value (absorbs/heats up) and a snowy field has a high albedo value (reflects sun's energy).
Anabatic: Air flowing upslope, usually during the day as the sun heats the valley and the hot air flows up the mountainside.
Albedo Value: The amount of energy a surface absorbs or reflects, thereby being a "good" or "bad" thermal generator. i.e. Rock faces have a low albedo value (absorbs/heats up) and a snowy field has a high albedo value (reflects sun's energy).
Anabatic: Air flowing upslope, usually during the day as the sun heats the valley and the hot air flows up the mountainside.