Firstly, a few words about this section. This is not intended as an alternative to proper instruction from a qualified instructor. The only way to learn to fly is to go to a reputable paragliding school and follow a proper course of instruction. Please read our disclaimer

One of the most fascinating aspects of flying is that the learning process never stops. In fact it doesn't even slow down: you will find that the more you learn, the more there is to learn. These notes are intended to get you thinking about what you're doing. While there's no substitute for getting out there and flying, thinking about what you're doing is essential to get the most out of it. So, lets start with the basics: Launching your glider.

1. Forward (alpine) launching. This is probably the first thing that we were shown how to do when we started to fly. Yet many (even highly experienced) pilots still have trouble - why? One of the reasons is that, in Britain, we nearly always launch using the reverse launch technique, because our sites are small and we often fly in relatively windy conditions. So we forget how to alpine launch.

However, the ability to alpine launch is an essential basic technique - even in this country we may have to launch in zero wind to connect with a thermal, and when we travel to the Alps and elsewhere it becomes the norm rather than the exception. There are also times when a forward launch is the correct way even with some wind on launch - more about this below.

Laying out the glider. This is a very important factor to a successful launch. The main thing is that the glider is facing into wind and down the slope. If these two directions don't coincide, maybe you are on the wrong site! However it does happen that the wind is slightly "off" the launch area and the site will still work well. In this case, lay the glider out so it faces in between the wind direction and the downslope direction. The importance of the wind compared to the slope varies - if the wind is strong and the slope is shallow, face more into wind. On a steeply sloping takeoff in a light wind, face more down the slope. (If the wind is too far off the slope it may be dangerous to launch - if in doubt ask, or go elsewhere.)

Another important thing to ensure when laying out the wing is that the centre of the wing will inflate first. If the tips inflate first, the glider will not come up straight. So lay out the glider in a "crescent" shape so the lines to the centre of the glider will come tight first when you start your launch. Another similar technique is to fold down the tips as if the glider was in "big-ears" - the tips will usually inflate as the glider comes overhead, but may need a pump to inflate them before launching.

Position of the body when launching. Hold the A risers just below the link attaching them to the lines. The arms should extend behind you so that there is no slack in the risers.

There are 3 phases to the launch. The first is to inflate the glider, the second is to bring the glider overhead, the final phase the actual takeoff. When reverse launching the 3 phases are naturally separate, first you "build the wall" then you pull up the glider, then you turn and run off the slope. It may be helpful to mentally separate the 3 phases when you alpine launch:

first, the inflation. If there is very little or no wind, you will have to provide the motion to fill the glider with air. Don't set off like Linford Christie! Take a couple of positive steps forward at walking speed. With most gliders this will be enough to inflate the wing. (If you "snatch" or set off too suddenly, you will usually close the cell openings of the glider and prevent it from inflating.)

Your "wall" is now built - if you stop at this point, it would be as if the wind stopped blowing suddenly during your reverse launch; the wall would collapse. So continue to move forwards, accelerating as you go. With practise, you will be able to feel if your wing is coming up straight. If it isn't, give a bit of opposite brake (not too much or the wing will drop back) and try to run under the glider. Remember your forward motion is what is keeping the wing above you, so keep running forward as well - i.e. run diagonally to the right or left, not straight under the glider. This second phase should result in the glider coming straight overhead, and it may be necessary to brake it slightly to prevent it from overtaking you.

With the glider straight above you, fully inflated and flying (look up to check it) you can now go to phase 3, the actual takeoff. Don't forget to check that you have space (i.e. no other gliders etc.) to take off into. Then, if you had to apply any brake to control the glider, let it off, and run smoothly until the glider starts to fly and takes you into the air. Don't jump off the hill! Training slopes everywhere echo to this command! Jumping into the air "unweights" the glider so it will stop flying. Usually it will remain inflated and start flying again when your weight comes back onto it, but it will lose height to regain airspeed, and this often means that you will hit an undulation in the slope a little lower down... if not a large rock!

Congratulations, you've just completed the perfect alpine launch. More soon...