A-Line
The frontmost set of suspension lines on a paraglider, crucial for controlling pitch and initiating a collapse.
Angle of Attack
The angle between the wing’s chord line and the relative airflow; affects lift and stall behavior.
Acro
Short for acrobatic flying involving dynamic maneuvers and tricks.
Acrobatic
Flying that includes complex maneuvers such as flips and rolls.
Active Flying
Constant pilot input to maintain wing stability and control.
Air Speed
The speed of the glider relative to the surrounding air.
Airfoil
The cross-sectional shape of the wing that generates lift.
All up weight
The total weight of pilot, equipment, and wing combined during flight.
Angle of Attack
The angle between the wing’s chord line and the relative wind.
Angle of Descent
The angle at which the glider descends relative to the horizontal.
APPI
Association of Paragliding Pilots and Instructors, a training organization.
Atmospheric Pressure
The pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere.
Attitude
The orientation of the glider relative to the horizon.
Big Ears
A descent technique where the outer wing tips are folded in to reduce lift and increase descent rate.
Brakes
Lines controlled by the pilot that change the trailing edge of the wing to steer or reduce speed.
Bank Angle
The angle at which the glider tilts during a turn.
Bernoulli’s principle
The physics principle explaining lift generated by pressure differences.
Best Glide
The speed that results in the maximum distance flown per altitude lost.
Brake Toggles
Handles used by the pilot to control the trailing edge of the wing.
Brake
Control lines used to change wing shape and control speed.
Big Ear
A descent technique folding in wing tips to increase sink rate.
Braking
Applying brake toggles to reduce speed or prepare for landing.
Collapse
A partial or full folding of the paraglider wing caused by turbulence or pilot input.
Cross-Country (XC)
Flying long distances from one point to another using thermals, ridge lift, or convergence.
Center of Gravity
The point where the glider’s weight is balanced.
Checklist
A pre-flight procedure list to ensure safety and readiness.
Chord
The straight line from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the wing.
Chord Line
Line representing the wing’s main axis between front and back edges.
Classic
A traditional or older style of paraglider design.
Cloud Street
Rows of cumulus clouds formed by converging thermals and wind.
Convergence
When two air masses meet causing lift and thermal formation.
Crabbing
Flying with the glider angled sideways to counter crosswind drift.
Core
The strongest rising air in a thermal.
Cross Country
Flying long distances, often between multiple thermals or landing zones.
Cycle
A complete sequence of maneuvers or thermal turns.
Descent Techniques
Methods such as Big Ears, spirals, and B-line stalls used to reduce altitude safely.
Death Spiral
A dangerous, high-speed spiral descent.
Deep Spiral
A tight, fast spiral maneuver often used to lose altitude quickly.
Deep Stall
A dangerous stall where the wing collapses and loses lift.
Deflate
To release air from the wing, often at landing or during collapse.
Deflation
The process of losing internal wing pressure, causing collapse.
DHV
German certification body for paragliders and equipment.
Drag
Air resistance opposing the forward movement of the glider.
Dew Point
The temperature at which air becomes saturated and dew forms.
Downwind
Flying or moving in the direction the wind is blowing.
Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate
The rate at which unsaturated air cools as it rises.
Dust Devil
A small, rotating column of dust caused by rising hot air.
Dynamic Stall
A stall caused by sudden changes in angle of attack or speed.
Dive
A rapid descent by pitching the glider nose down.
EN Rating
European standard for classifying paraglider safety and performance from A (beginner) to D (expert).
Elevator Effect
Sudden upward or downward movement experienced in strong thermals or turbulence.
Equipment Room
A place for storing paragliding gear safely.
Explore
To fly new routes or areas, often for adventure or discovery.
Front Tuck
A sudden collapse of the front part of the wing, often caused by turbulence or improper input.
Fabric
The material used to make the paraglider wing.
First Aid
Basic emergency medical care applied on site.
Flight Angle
The angle between the flight path and the horizontal plane.
Flight Check
A pre-flight inspection of equipment and conditions.
Flare
Pulling the brakes fully before landing to reduce speed and descent rate.
Glide Ratio
The distance a paraglider can travel forward for every meter of altitude lost.
Ground Handling
Practice of controlling the wing on the ground; crucial for mastering launches and landings.
Gaggle
A group of pilots flying close together.
Glide
The horizontal distance covered while descending.
Glide Angle
The angle of descent during a glide.
Glider Ratio
Ratio of forward distance to altitude lost.
GPS
Global Positioning System used for navigation and tracking flights.
Grab
To hold a part of the wing or equipment quickly.
Grabbing
The act of holding onto wing parts or controls.
Ground Handling
Practicing wing control on the ground before flying.
Harness
The seat system in which a pilot sits, providing support, comfort, and sometimes back protection.
Hands Up
Raising hands to help inflate the wing during launch.
Headwind
Wind blowing directly against the direction of flight.
Harness
The seat system supporting the pilot during flight.
Heading
The direction in which the glider is pointed.
Horseshoe Shape
The wing shape during certain collapses or turns.
Inversion
A meteorological condition where a layer of warmer air traps cooler air below, often suppressing thermal formation.
Inflate
To fill the wing with air to achieve lift.
Inflation
The process of air filling the wing cells.
Instructional
Related to training or teaching flying skills.
Instability
A state where the glider is prone to unwanted movements or collapses.
Inventory
A list of a pilot’s gear and equipment.
IPPI
International Pilot Proficiency Information, a pilot certification system.
Inversion
A weather phenomenon where warm air overlays cooler air, inhibiting thermals.
Jokers
Colloquial term for unexpected or tricky conditions or pilots who act unpredictably.
Karabiner
A metal loop with a spring-loaded gate used to connect lines, harnesses, or risers securely.
Kitting
Preparing and packing all paragliding gear before flight.
Lift
The upward force that allows a paraglider to gain or maintain altitude.
Laminar Air
Smooth airflow over the wing’s surface.
Leading Edge
The front edge of the wing that first contacts the air.
Lock Out
Fully extending the speedbar or controls to increase speed.
LZ (Landing Zone)
The designated area for safe landing.
Lift
Upward force generated by the wing allowing flight.
Line
The suspension cords connecting the wing to the harness.
Loop
A complete circular maneuver or turn.
Launch
The process of taking off by inflating the wing and running.
Landing
The final phase of flight where the pilot touches down safely.
Leading Edge
The front edge of the paraglider wing.
MacTwist
An advanced aerobatic maneuver involving a spiral followed by a dynamic full stall and rotation.
Magic Lift
A feeling of effortless soaring in rising air.
Meeting
A gathering of pilots or paragliding enthusiasts.
Mini Flights
Short duration flights, often for practice or fun.
Minimum Sink
Speed at which the glider loses the least altitude.
Neutral Stability
The condition where a glider neither returns to nor diverges from its original position after a disturbance.
NOTAM
Notice to Airmen; an advisory about flight conditions or restrictions.
Outlanding
Landing somewhere other than the intended landing zone, often due to changing conditions or emergencies.
Observe
To watch conditions or other pilots carefully.
Observation
The act of monitoring weather or flight behavior.
Out Landing
Landing outside the planned landing zone.
Parawaiting
Spending time waiting on launch due to unsuitable weather or conditions.
Parachute
A device that slows descent by creating drag.
Parachutal Stall
A stall that occurs when the wing collapses and behaves like a parachute.
Pitch
Tilting the glider nose up or down.
Pilot
The person controlling the paraglider.
Porosity
The permeability of the wing fabric to air.
PPG
Powered Paragliding, using a motor for thrust.
Pre flight Check
A checklist ensuring the equipment and conditions are safe before flight.
Pressure
The force exerted by air on the wing surfaces.
Quick Link
A metal connector used to attach lines or equipment securely.
Rapid Link
A quick-release connector in paragliding gear.
Quiver
The collection of wings a pilot owns for different flying styles or conditions.
Reserve Parachute
An emergency parachute carried by pilots in case of glider malfunction or collapse.
Reserve Parachute
Backup parachute used in emergencies.
Reverse Launch
A takeoff method with the wing facing the pilot.
Relative Humidity
The amount of moisture in the air compared to the maximum it can hold.
Relative Wind
Wind direction and speed relative to the moving glider.
Rib
Internal fabric structure giving the wing its shape.
Roll
Rotation of the glider around its longitudinal axis.
Rotors
Turbulent airflow caused by wind passing over obstacles.
Risers
Straps connecting the wing lines to the harness.
Soaring
Flying by using lift from ridge or dynamic winds without thermals.
SAT
Static Air Temperature, the temperature of the surrounding air.
Scratching
Flying around thermals in tight circles to gain altitude.
Slopes
Inclined landforms used for slope soaring.
SIV
Simulation d’Incidents en Vol, a training course for handling flight incidents.
Sink
Descending air causing loss of altitude.
Sink Rate
The speed at which a glider descends.
Slack
Loose lines or controls, not under tension.
Spin
A rapid rotation of the glider caused by uneven lift.
Stabilise
To steady the glider’s flight after a maneuver or collapse.
Stabiliser
A device or technique to improve wing stability.
Steer
To control the direction of the glider using brakes or weight shift.
Steering
The act of controlling the glider’s path.
Surface
The outer fabric of the wing.
Slope
Uphill terrain used to generate lift from wind.
Speedbar
A foot control to increase glider speed by changing wing angle.
Steep Turn
A sharp banked turn with high bank angle.
Surface
The fabric skin of the wing.
Tailwind
Wind blowing in the same direction as flight.
Tandem
A flight with two people sharing the wing.
Team
A group of pilots flying or training together.
Thermal
Rising column of warm air used by pilots to gain altitude.
Thermic
Related to or caused by thermals.
Thunderstorm
A violent storm with thunder, lightning, and strong winds.
Thermal
A column of rising warm air used by gliders to gain altitude.
Toggle
Another term for brake toggles, used to steer the wing.
Top Bottom
Describing the upper and lower surfaces of the wing.
Training
The process of learning to paraglide.
Trajectory
The path followed by the glider through the air.
Trim Speed
The normal flying speed without acceleration inputs.
Unstable Air
Atmospheric conditions prone to turbulence and thermal activity.
Upwind
Flying or moving against the wind direction.
Variometer
A flight instrument used to measure the rate of climb or sink.
Vehicle
Means of transport used to reach flying sites.
Wingloading
The total weight supported by the wing divided by its area; affects performance and handling.
XContest
An international online cross-country flight contest for paraglider pilots.
Yaw
The rotation of the wing around the vertical axis, affecting directional movement.
Zero Wind Launch
A launch technique used when there’s no headwind, requiring extra running effort.
