The Korean manufacturer introduced their hi-end XC harness, Genie Lite, similar to the Race version but weighing 4.6kg. The Gingo Airlite comes with pre-inflated airbag for a harness of 3.15 kg.
The Genie Lite replaces the Genie 4 offering “the comfort of the Genie Race” in a lighter yet durable package. It features detachable cocoon and flight deck that can carry up to 5L of ballast. Available in 3 sizes.
The Gingo Airlite is lighter than its predecessor and includes a foam pre-inflation system to ensure that the airbag is almost always fully inflated before take-off. It features a new, ”sleeker shape and upgraded materials” for improved durability and better visual appearance. Available in 4 sizes.
+Info: www.gingliders.com
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New paragliding harnesses: Gin Genie Lite & Gingo Airlite
The new EN C model of the German manufacturer is a worthy sample of the latest generation of this increasingly competitive category of gliders. Equipped with a remarkably short and precise control, it also offers a great glide ratio and sensations of high-performance wing without being difficult to fly.
The Astral 7 represents a good evolution compared to its predecessor, incorporating all the possible technological advances –like a significant line reduction, rods at the leading edge, 3 risers, etc.- in addition to a high quality of construction.
In our test flight we enjoyed its performance for cross-country flying, with a good speed / glide rate that transmits security at the same time.
It is an accessible and sportive intermediate-advanced wing.
The French pilot, Paragliding World Cup champion 2009 and 2011 FAI World Champion, has just joined the Sup'Air XC team and will fly with the new Skypper harness.
Charles said that it is "a new challenge" for him, with the dynamism of the team Sup'Air - integrated by other prominent international pilots-"and the emblematic image of Sup'Air with Pierre Bouilloux".
He will fly the new competition harness Skypper this season, a technical and lightweight model with speedbag and Bumpair back protection of 15 cm, which weighs a little more than 5 kg. The Skypper also comes with double stage speed-bar with adjustment system and Harken pulleys, inboard removable cockpit, and hydration system.
"It is a lightweight and ergonomic harness whose main characteristics are comfort, precision and efficiency", says the French champion.
On April 14th, Peggy McAlpine took to the skies on a tandem paraglider in Cyprus to claim back the Guinness world title as the oldest person to go paragliding, after her previous record set at the age of 100 was snatched away by a 101-year-old American last year.
McAlpine, a Scottish living in Cyprus, arrived at the takeoff on her wheelchair which was then replaced by the tandem harness for the record flight. Aided by two persons, she successfully launched from a 700m cliff with pilot Ozgur Gokasan, from the paragliding company Highline Air Tours, who was also her pilot 4 years ago.
Pilot and passenger glided above the clouds and were acclaimed on landing by Peggy’s family, friends, and the three witnesses required by the Guinness World Records to certify the feat.
"I enjoyed every minute of it," the Scottish centenarian told the UK’s Sunday Express. "It was better than the last time. I would certainly like to do it again — especially if anyone takes my record!"
Peggy originally entered the Guinness book of records in 2007 after flying at age 100, but she had lost the title to Utah resident Mary Allen Hardison (101) in September 2011.
Peggy's daughter Elizabeth Forsyth, 75, said that if “that American lady hadn't beaten her record maybe we could have kept her on the ground but that was not to be. She was delighted to claim the record back and said she might do it again in six months’ time – but I don't think we'll let her”.
February 2013 is the expected launch date of the “Wings of Kilimanjaro” expedition that will be formed by 200 paraglider pilots from different countries, who will fly down from the ‘roof of Africa’ together. The purpose of the record-breaking event is to raise funds for Tanzanian charities, with a million dollars as goal.
Both the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority and the Tanzanian Military have supported the expedition and, for the first time, approved a paragliding flight from the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro (5895m) –although the mountain has been ‘unofficially’ flown before.
The story of the fund raising event started in 2003, when Australian climber Adrian McRae summited Africa’s two highest peaks- Mt Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya. There, he was struck by the disparity “that he consciously experienced as a tourist looking upon the plight of the local Tanzanian poor” and the unique resilience and human spirit that belied their situation. This compelled Adrian to think of a way to help those less fortunate than him in an adventurous way. Adrian took up paragliding in 2008; in 2010 he posted the idea of a fund raising event on the Paragliding Forum, and in March 2011 registration for interested pilots opened, with more than 200 signing in before June.
The official registration, however, has just opened and each pilot will have to commit to a serious task of raising a minimum base donation of 5,000 dollars before the end of this year -which covers the exclusive right for a paraglider to launch from Mt Kilimanjaro’s summit with the team in early 2013. All the money will be given to two local Tanzanian charities, “Plant With Purpose” and “ONE Difference”, to spend on three key areas of need: Health, Environment and Education.
On top of that, pilots will have to pay for the expenses of the expedition, including porters, permits, fees and guides, which add up to over 3,500 dollars.
You can sponsor and help anyone of the pilots by donating to his/her account on the official Wings of Kilimanjaro page. Every donation, albeit small is important to reach the goal.
On January 27, 2013, the participants will gather at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro for the first official briefing before starting the climb to the summit. Between the 5th and the 8th of February, depending on weather conditions, they are expected to takeoff from the top and bring some good to the people of the region in need.
The German manufacturer starts the season introducing their new hot ship for the EN C class, the Cayenne 4, and the lightweight EN B, Arriba 2, developed after the X-Alps 2011.
The Cayenne4 uses only 2 main lines per side and line level (3 risers) and has new suspension system with a 4-way bridge between the two main lines, reducing line drag by 20% compared to the previous Cayenne.
The glider has an aspect ratio of 6.13, with 59 cells, and offers great performance for XC flights but it is also “highly suited for playing and having fun in the air” according to the manufacturer.
It is available in 5 sizes.
The ARRIBA2 was developed by Paul Guschlbauer after the X-Alps 2011.
At Skywalk say it is a light and compact glider “still highly suitable for daily use” thanks to the use of the PU-coated aluminum material AEROFABRIX [AL]32 and a 3-line concept.
The Arriba also uses Rigid Foil technology in the leading edge.
With 44 cells and 5.3 aspect ratio, the M size weighs in at 4.9 kg for a total weight range of 90-110. Available in 5 sizes (XXS to L).
Inspired by "the mother" of paragliding-hiking races, the X-Alps, this challenge will launch on August 5th in Spain, where some 20 runners will try to cover 438 km between the Cantabrian coast and the Mediterranean using only their feet and their flying gear.
For the first edition of the X-Pyr, the teams –formed by pilot and supporter– will have 12 days to complete the course set by the Organization through valleys and mountains.
Once the first pilot reaches the goal the rest will have only 24 hours to complete the race, and if no one does before the 17th at 11:00, the results will be defined according to the positions of the moment.
The route of the X-Pyr will have seven turnpoints that must be completed following the start in Hondarribia (Basque country), with the goal line on the beach of Port de la Selva, at Cap de Creus (Catalonia).
Like in the X-Alps ("the hardest paragliding race in the world"), here the pilots must always carry the minimum equipment: Glider, harness, rescue parachute, helmet, mobile phone and satellite location device. And they can be on the move for 17 hours a day, with 7 hours of forced rest.
The adventure will have online coverage in real time on the official website, including the position of each pilot in 3D on a complete map, photographs, videos, interviews, and "everything necessary to make the followers feel inside this adventure", the organizers say.
The pre-registration is open until April 20; five days after scheduled "in deference to the many enquiries received", the organization informed..
After 3 years of development by Raul Rodriguez and the team at Sup’Air, the first steerable BASE rescue system for paragliders is in its final stage and will be released to the market very soon. Marcus King of Cross Country magazine tested it in flight, watch the video.
The Base System consists of a specially designed Sup’Air harness with an internal BASE container and parachute system, which also has a second normal reserve (round or rogallo) under the seat. In case of an emergency you pull the reserve handle with either hand and the system releases the main paraglider from the harness deploying a 24m2 BASE parachute at the same time, which will take you down to a safe landing.
Members of the Sup’Air team of pilots –like Horacio Llorens and Tomas de Dordolot (“Search Project”)- are already using the Base System, and some of them have successfully tried it over water.
In this video it is Cross Country and Paramotor magazines’ editor Marcus King who takes the BASE System for a test flight over the Annecy Lake, after having Raul show us its features.
This new EN B wing is intended for pilots who enjoy cross country flight, whether they are just starting or going for serious long distance flights, according to the French manufacturer.
This young Brazilian company just released their first altivario instruments, the TAV series with a basic model for free flight and a more advanced one with features for competition pilots. They are also working on an acro version to be released soon.
Mary Allen Hardison from Ogden, Utah (USA) celebrated her 101 birthday with a tandem ride that got her into the Guinnes World Record book on Tuesday 20th. The great-great grandma even asked for some action turns during the flight!
The new emergency parachute from the Brazilian factory combines the advantages of the traditional PDA-type reserves in terms of stability and no need of pilot intervention, with the characteristics of Rogallo-type in glide and steering.
The Korean manufacturer introduced their hi-end XC harness, Genie Lite, similar to the Race version but weighing 4.6kg. The Gingo Airlite comes with pre-inflated airbag for a harness of 3.15 kg.
The Gingo Airlite is lighter than its predecessor and includes a foam pre-inflation system to ensure that the airbag is almost always fully inflated before take-off. It features a new, ”sleeker shape and upgraded materials” for improved durability and better visual appearance. Available in 4 sizes.
0 Comments to:
The new EN C model of the German manufacturer is a worthy sample of the latest generation of this increasingly competitive category of gliders. Equipped with a remarkably short and precise control, it also offers a great glide ratio and sensations of high-performance wing without being difficult to fly.
The Astral 7 represents a good evolution compared to its predecessor, incorporating all the possible technological advances –like a significant line reduction, rods at the leading edge, 3 risers, etc.- in addition to a high quality of construction.
The French pilot, Paragliding World Cup champion 2009 and 2011 FAI World Champion, has just joined the Sup'Air XC team and will fly with the new Skypper harness.
Charles said that it is "a new challenge" for him, with the dynamism of the team Sup'Air - integrated by other prominent international pilots-"and the emblematic image of Sup'Air with Pierre Bouilloux".
February 2013 is the expected launch date of the “Wings of Kilimanjaro” expedition that will be formed by 200 paraglider pilots from different countries, who will fly down from the ‘roof of Africa’ together. The purpose of the record-breaking event is to raise funds for Tanzanian charities, with a million dollars as goal.
Both the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority and the Tanzanian Military have supported the expedition and, for the first time, approved a paragliding flight from the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro (5895m) –although the mountain has been ‘unofficially’ flown before.
The German manufacturer starts the season introducing their new hot ship for the EN C class, the Cayenne 4, and the lightweight EN B, Arriba 2, developed after the X-Alps 2011.
Inspired by "the mother" of paragliding-hiking races, the X-Alps, this challenge will launch on August 5th in Spain, where some 20 runners will try to cover 438 km between the Cantabrian coast and the Mediterranean using only their feet and their flying gear.
For the first edition of the X-Pyr, the teams –formed by pilot and supporter– will have 12 days to complete the course set by the Organization through valleys and mountains. 
After 3 years of development by Raul Rodriguez and the team at Sup’Air, the first steerable BASE rescue system for paragliders is in its final stage and will be released to the market very soon. Marcus King of Cross Country magazine tested it in flight, watch the video.
This new EN B wing is intended for pilots who enjoy cross country flight, whether they are just starting or going for serious long distance flights, according to the French manufacturer.
This young Brazilian company just released their first altivario instruments, the TAV series with a basic model for free flight and a more advanced one with features for competition pilots. They are also working on an acro version to be released soon.
Mary Allen Hardison from Ogden, Utah (USA) celebrated her 101 birthday with a tandem ride that got her into the Guinnes World Record book on Tuesday 20th. The great-great grandma even asked for some action turns during the flight!
The new emergency parachute from the Brazilian factory combines the advantages of the traditional PDA-type reserves in terms of stability and no need of pilot intervention, with the characteristics of Rogallo-type in glide and steering.
