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Buying your own wing
While selecting a glider it is advisable to Judge one's own level of flying or simply follow the school's recommendations. In order to be in a position to do this, consider purchasing equipment after you are well established in the course.
To start with, a school glider is a Basic glider, very low on performance but with a high safety factor, which is very important at this point. Then you have a standard wing with a better performance that then school followed by Intermediate and Performance glider and finally we have the competition glider having highest performance level and lowest safety margin. Competition gliders are normally used by pilots who have 2-3 hours of daily flying, a good glider keeps a student going for a good 70 to 100 hours of flying a year or at least 4-5 years before he is ready to upgrade one. It is always advisable not to change glider very often as it increases the risk and slows down the progression. A standard glider is well tested in all weather conditions and is designed / certified to recover from most situations and fly on a normal flight path in a few seconds. But it is always advisable to fly in normal calm conditions.
The size of the canopy is an important point to consider as is aspect ratio. The size of the canopy is important because a canopy too big will fly too slowly and may not inflate properly and be susceptible to winds. This can be dangerous due to possibility of canopy collapse. A canopy too small will be more difficult to launch and will provide fast flights and hot landings. Wing loading is used to determine canopy size. Wing loading varies with design, so consult the manufacturer's recommendations.
Aspect ratio refers to the measurement of how long and narrow our wings are. Aspect ratio equals the span squared divided by the area. A low aspect ratio wing is more docile, but does not perform well as the higher aspect ratio wing, providing all factors remain the same. Essentially, the high aspect ratio wing will reach out further on a glide but then it is not as forgiving of pilot error.
Read the manufacturer's promotional material, check out its specification sheet and make sure it is certified to a standard to guarantee its airworthiness.
When selecting your new wings, remember that it must carry you aloft in all sorts of conditions within the limits of your experience. Don't be lured by glorious tales of performance and slick appearances. You want to form a love affair with your first glider, and to do that you need one you can trust and literally live with.
There are at least 25-30 companies manufacturing paragliders and allied products around the world. Always buy a certified wing, if you are buying a second hand glider, do so from someone you know and trust be it a friend, a reputed school or dealer. It may cost a bit more, but safety always comes first.
Certification of Equipment: DHV and AFNOR are two registered bodies that test the airworthiness of gliders and certify them according to their performance, reliability and pilot level.
Exercise special caution while buying used equipment in India as there are many outdated models that are not as safe or airworthy as the new generation wings. Check for the DHV or AFNOR sticker on the inner side of the wing.
Recap
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Judge your level or follow school recommendations
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Buy only DHV/AFNOR certified wings
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Stay in the middle to the top of your weight range
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Buy from a school or a reputed supplier
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