– A –
Absolute Stability – The condition of air that has an environmental lapse rate that is less than the wet adiabatic rate
ACPULS – See AFNOR
Accelerator – See Speed Bar
Accordion Fold – A method of folding a paraglider with the intent of minimizing the amount of creasing on the mylars on the leading edge
Active Piloting – A method used by paragliders of maintaining wing loading, via brake pressure or weight shifting, to prevent collapses or folds
Advection – Horizontal convective motion, such as wind
Advection Fog – Fog formed when warm moist air is blown over a cool surface and chilled below the dewpoint
AFNOR – Association Française de Normalisation; French agency that has historically issued safety/performance ratings for paragliders
AGL (Above Ground Level) – A pilot’s altitude measured with respect to the underlying ground surface
Airfoil – The curved shape of a wing which is designed to create lift
Air Mass – A large body of air, usually 1,600 kilometers or more across, that is characterized by homogenous physical properties at any given altitude
Air Pressure – The force exerted by the weight of a column of air at a given point
Airspeed – The speed of an aircraft relative to its surrounding air mass. If a pilot is piloting a paraglider with a trim speed is 20 km/h, into a 20 km/h headwind, the pilot’s airspeed is still 20 km/h
Airspeed Indicator – An instrument often used by paraglider pilots to measure their airspeed. This can be important when flying a glider at an optimal glide ratio, or maximum speed
Albedo – The reflectivity of a substance, usually expressed as a percentage of the incident radiation reflected
Altimeter – An aneroid barometer calibrated to indicate altitude instead of pressure
Altitude – A paraglider’s height over sea level; Typically measured in feet, or meters
Anabatic Flow – Heated air that flows up a slope or mountainside. When at a mountain launch site, these flows may be referred to as “cycles” or “thermals
Anemometer – An instrument used to determine wind speed. Commonly known as a wind speed indicator
Angle of Attack – The angle between the chord line of an airfoil and the vector representing the relative motion between the airfoil and the air
A Risers – The risers on a paraglider that are attached to the “A Lines”, which are attached to the leading edge of the glider. The A risers are used when launching a paraglider
Aspect Ratio – The aspect ratio is equal to the wing span squared, divided by the wing area. Generally speaking, paragliders with low aspect ratios have low performance, and are more stable. Paragliders with a higher aspect ratio are higher performing and less stable
Asymmetric Fold (Asymmetric Collapse) – An event that occurs when one side of a paraglider’s wing loses its loading and is no longer a rigid airfoil. They are a result of turbulence in the air mass a paraglider is flying. the most common occurrence is when a pilot is flying in areas of thermal activity. see Active Piloting
Atmosphere – The gaseous portion of a planet, the planet’s envelope of air; one of the traditional subdivisions of Earth’s physical environment
Attitude – The angle of an airfoil’s chord relative to the horizon
Automated Surface Observing System – A widely used, standardized set of automated weather instruments that provide routine surface observations
– B –
Bank Angle – The angle between the aircraft’s normal axis and the Earth’s vertical plane containing the aircraft’s longitudinal axis
Base Leg – The crosswind leg of a pilot’s landing approach before the pilot enters the upwind final leg
Big Ears – A maneuver used by paraglider pilots to increase their rate of descent. The pilot pulls the “Outer A’s”, which lead to the leading edge of the wingtips. Once induced, the wingtips fold down, thereby reducing the area of the wing, and reducing the aerodynamic lift generated by the paraglider. The maneuver is often discouraged by paragliding instructors due to the fact that the pilot no longer feels brake pressure when the Big Ears are in action.
Brake Lines – Lines on a paraglider that are attached to the trailing edge, which changes the airfoil to increase drag. The brake lines are controlled by brake toggles that are kept near the pilot’s hands via pulleys
Bridle – see “Tow Bridle” or “Y Bridle”
– C –
Camber – The curvature of an airfoil’s upper and lower surfaces
Canopy – The fabric, or cloth that forms the airfoil of the paraglider
Carabiner – A rectangular shaped ring that connects the harness to a paraglider’s risers. Paragliding carabiners typically have auto-locking gates
Cascade of Events – A term used to describe a series of maneuvers in which a pilot is attempting to regain control of a glider which has ceased its state of stable flight
Cascades (Lines) – The points of the lines on a paraglider leading from the riser, which split into multiple lines that eventually attach to the canopy
Catabatic Winds – Air that flows down the side of a mountain or hillside. Also called downslope winds
Cells – The cavity of the airfoil, surrounded by the ribs, and the upper and lower surfaces
CEN – The European Committee for Standardization; provides ratings for paragliders on safety and performance
Center of Gravity – The area on the chord of a wing where the pilot’s weight is centered
Center of Pressure – The point on an airfoil or wing where all the aerodynamic forces are centere
Certification – Given to paragliders, harnesses, and reserve parachutes to ensure safety and quality. In the paragliding industry, the certifications are given out by CEN, DHV, and other rating agencies
Chord – The distance between the leading edge and trailing edge of a wing, measured in the direction of the normal airflow
Cirrus Clouds – One of three basic cloud forms; also one of the three high cloud types. They are thin, delicate ice crystal clouds often appearing as veil-like patches or thin, wispy fibers
Cloud – A form of condensation best described as a dense concentration of suspended water droplets or tiny ice crystals
Cloud Base – The lowest altitude of the visible portion of a cloud
Cloud Street – A row of cumulus or cumulus-type clouds aligned parallel to the low-level wind. Paragliders enjoy cloud streets as they are often able to fly long distances with the help of cloud streets
Cloud Suck – A phenomenon commonly known by paragliders and hang gliders where pilots experience significant lift due to thermals under the base of cumulus clouds, especially towering cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds. In areas of strong lift, it is possible for a paraglider pilot to be sucked into a cloud, even after performing evasive maneuvers to increase one’s rate of descent
Cold Front – The discontinuity at the forward edge of an advancing cold air mass that is displacing warmer air in its path
Conditional Instability – The condition of moist air with an environmental lapse rate between the dry and wet adiabatic rates
Controlled Airspace – a term used in aviation in which traffic levels are such that is has been determined that Air Traffic Control must provide some form of separation between aircraft
Convection – The transfer of heat by the movement of a mass or substance
Convergence – The condition that exists when the wind distribution within a certain region results in a net horizontal wind flow of air into the area. Because convergence at lower levels is associated with an upward movement of air, areas of converging winds are regions favorable to cloud formation and precipitation
Coriolis Effect – The deflective effect of Earth’s rotation on all free-moving objects, including the atmosphere and oceans. Deflection is to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere
Crabbing – Flying in a wind that is cross to your ground path; When a paraglider pilot is trying to reach a waypoint, and a crosswind is blowing between the pilot and the waypoint, the pilot will need to point their paraglider slightly into the crosswind and fly somewhat sideways to reach the waypoint
Cravat – When one wingtip of a paraglider become stuck in the lines/cascades. This often happens after an asymmetric collapse
Crosswinds – Winds that blow perpendicular to a pilot’s desired flight path
Cumulus Cloud – One of three basic cloud forms; also the name given to one of the clouds of vertical development. Cumulus are billowy, individual cloud masses that often have flat basesi
Cumulonimbus Cloud – A type of cloud that is tall, dense, and involved in thunderstorms. The energy and lift generated by these clouds is too intense for flying paragliders
– D –
Deep Stall – when a paraglider ceases forward flight, and descends vertically in a stalled state. Also called parachutage or parachutal
Deflation – see Asymmetric Deflation
Dew Point – The temperature to which air has to be cooled in order to reach saturation
DHV – Deutscher Hangegleiterverband, which is the German Hang Gliding and Paragliding Federation. The DHV is well known for their performance and safety ratings issued to paragliders
Divergence – The condition that exists when the distribution of winds within a given area results in a net horizontal outflow of air from the region. In divergence at lower levels, the resulting deficit is compensated by a downward movement of air from aloft; hence, areas of divergence winds are unfavorable to cloud formation and precipitation
Downslope Winds – see catabatic winds
Downwind – When a paraglider is landing or flying in the same direction the wind is traveling
Downwind Leg – The direction when ridge soaring, a paraglider flies when traveling downwind. The opposite direction would be the upwind leg
Drag – Resistance, or loss of energy, created by paraglider lines, the pilot, or deflection on the glider. Drag reduces glider and speed performance
Dry Adiabatic Rate – The rate of adiabatic cooling or warming in unsaturated air. The rate of temperature change is 1 degree Celsius per 100 meters
Dynamic Pressure – The pressure variations felt in a paraglider due to the fluid movement of the air mass in which the paraglider is in flight
– E –
Environmental Lapse Rate – The rate of temperature decrease with height in the troposphere
– F –
Ft./Min – Feet Per Minute; A measurement used to determine rate of ascent or descent
FAA – Federal Aviation Administration; The federal agency of the US Government which has been designated to oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S
FAI – Fédération Aéronautique Internationale; The international agency that sets standards and maintain records for aeronautics and astronautics. Often, paragliding Competitions will be sanctioned by the FAI, adhering to the FAI’s standards, so that the results can be applied to national and international rankings
Figure 8 Turn – Often used when close to terrain, a pilot will make figure 8 turns, instead of 360 degree turns, to stay pointed away from the terrain. These are also often used as part of a landing approach, giving the pilot the ability to burn altitude before making a final approach to an LZ
Final Leg – The final straight flight path a pilot will take to land their aircraft
Flare – A method of increasing brake pressure, just before landing a paraglider, to decrease the rate of descent, and ground speed of the glider
Flat Area – The planform of a paraglider as it is lied out flat on the ground. Measured in square meters m2
Flight Plan – A predetermined set of procedures and/or flight paths planned before an actual flight
Form Drag – Drag caused by a moving object through a fluid. In paragliding, the most notable causes of form drag include lines, the harness, and the pilot
Forward Launch – A launching technique used for low wind conditions. The pilot begins the launch facing into the wind, and away from the glider
Frontal (Frontal Collapse) – An event in which the leading edge of the paraglider loses its loading and collapses in a downward motion towards the pilot. Commonly caused by pilots reaching the edge of a thermal
– G –
G Forces (or G-Load) – A unit of force equal to the force exerted by gravity; used to indicate the force to which a body is subjected when it is accelerate. In paragliding, g forces are often experienced during spiral dives, steep banked turns, or large wingovers
Glass Off – An event that occurs in the late afternoon when the surface of the earth releases heating that has been accumulating all day, creating lifting air, and typically smooth flying conditions
Glide Angle – The angle between the horizontal and the glide path of an aircraft
Glide Path – The path of descent of an aircraft
Glider – An englineless aircraft that is able to maintain its glide through the energy of gravit
Glide Ratio – Also known as Lift to Drag Ratio, refers to the distance an aircraft will move forward for any given amount of altitude lost
Ground Handling – The practice of controlling the paraglider while the pilot remains grounded. It includes lifting the glider off the ground, and keeping it overhead. Also see kiting
Ground Speed – The speed of an aircraft relative to the ground
– H –
Handling – A gliders responsiveness to pilot inpu
Harness – A piece of equipment, which attaches to the risers of the paraglider, used to secure the pilo
Heading – The direction the paraglider is pointing, which can differ from the flight path, depending on the direction of the win
Head Wind – Wind that travels in the direction opposite to the paraglider’s heading. A head wind will reduce ground speed. It is preferable to launch and land a paraglider into a headwin
Hook Knife – A tool consisting of a razor blade embedded in a plastic or metal casing, that would be used to cut lines if they were ever to pose a threat to the pilot. This situation would typically arise following a water landing, or tree landing
Horseshoe – A glider configuration in which the center of the leading edge collapses, while the outer leading edge, or wingtips, continue flight, travel toward each other, and form a horseshoe shape
House Thermal – The area at a specific flying site where it is most common to find the first thermal after launching
Hypoxia – A shortage of oxygen in the bloodstream, causing light headedness. In paragliding, it can be occur when flying at high altitudes
– I –
Induced Drag – A drag force which occurs whenever a lifting body or a wing of finite span generates lift
Isobars – Lines of equal atmospheric pressure drawn on a meteorological map
Intermediate Syndrome – A tendency for pilots to become overconfident with their skills and abilities once they reach an intermediate skill leve
Inversion – A atmospheric scenario when a cooler mass of air lies beneath a warmer mass of air, disabling thermal activity beyond the height of the cooler air mass
– J –
Jet Stream – Fast flowing, narrow air currents found in the troposphere about 10-15 km above the earth’s surface
– K –
Kiting – See Ground Handling
Kook – Originated in the surf scene, a kook is a pilot who is not appreciated by his peers. This can be caused by cutting people off, constantly making bad decisions that jeopardize the safety of any pilot or the sport in general, or anything that makes fellow pilots shake their hea
– L –
Laminar Flow
Landing Approach – A series of maneuvers, or pattern, used to set up for landing an aircraft
Landing Zone (LZ) – An area used for landing a paraglider
Lapse Rate – The rate of decrease in temperature as altitude increases
Leeward – The direction downwind from a point of reference
Lee side – The side of an object that is located downwind. Rotor can be experienced on the lee side of mountains, trees, buildings, and other objects, and it is advised that flying in the lee can be hazardous
Leg Straps – The parts on a harness which secure the legs of the pilot
Lift Band – Usually at a ridge soaring site, a 3 dimensional area of lift where a pilot is able to maintain altitude. The size of the lift band depends on the speed of the wind, the angle of the slope, and the height of the slope
Lift to Drag Ratio – The amount of lift generated by a wing, compared to the amount of drag it creates by moving through the air
Leading Edge – The front edge of a wing
Lenticular Cloud – Lens shaped clouds that form at higher altitudes that are normally aligned at right angles to the wind direction. In paragliding, these clouds often indicate poor flying conditions
at higher altitudes due to high wind speeds. However, sailplanes often do fly them
Lift – Paraglider pilots refer to lift as rising air that will cause a glider to increase in altitude. Lift can refer to thermals, converging air, anabatic flow, or any other type of air that aids altitude gain
Light and Variable – A weather term used to describe light winds and variable wind direction
Log Book – A booklet used to maintain records of a pilot’s flying history
LTF – The standardized rating given to a paragliders by rating agencies, such as DHV, AFNOR, and others. The “LTF” term took replaced the term “DHV” in 2008 based on an agreement at the
– M –
M/S – Meters Per Second; A measurement used to determine rate of ascent or descent
Maximum Glide Ratio – The glide ratio reached at the airspeed that an aircraft will fly its furthest distance. The speed at which maximum glide is achieved is slightly higher than minimum sink
Mean Camber – A line on a cross section of a wing of an aircraft which is equidistant from the upper and lower surfaces of the wing
Mean Sea Level (MSL) – The average sea level, used as a reference in aviation to gauge altitude
Minimum Sink – The airspeed of a glider at which the glider reaches its lowest rate of descent, and will therefore stay in the air for a longer period of time
Mylars – A polyester material used to give rigidity to the leading edge of a paraglider, where the cells are open
– N –
– O –
Orographic Lift – When an air mass is forced to increase altitude due to rising terrain
Over Development – A weather event when cumulus clouds build and spread, leading to less heating of the ground, and possibly rain or thunderstorms
– P –
Parachutal (or Parachutage) – see Deep Stall
Parachute Bridle – Also called Y Bridle; The webbing that connects the reserve parachute to the pilot’s harnessParasitic Drag – Drag caused by movement of a solid object (pilot, lines & harness) through a fluid (air
Pitch – The tilt of a wing’s chord in relation to the horizon. Also see Angle of Attack
Planform – The shape and layout of a paraglider, as viewed from above
PLF (Parachute Landing Fall) – A technique used in landings to reduce the force of the impact
Porosity – The measurement of how fast air can travel through the fabric of a paraglider. As paragliders age, they become more porous, and performance decreases
Porpoising – Up and down oscillations of a paraglider due to excessive application of brakes as the glider slows down, and letting up on the brakes as the glider surges forward
Preflight Check – A procedure performed prior to launching a paraglider to ensure the safety of the pilot and glider
Profile – The form or shape that make up the airfoil
Profile Drag – Drag created by the form of the airfoil
Projected Area – The are of the planform of a paraglider as the paraglider is in flight, or inflated, measured in square meters m2
– Q –
Quick link – Metal rings of various shapes that are used to connect the lines to the risers, or the reserve parachute to the Y-bridle
– R –
Radio Handle – A pilot’s nickname when communicating on a 2-way radio
Rear Risers – The risers that connect to the D lines, which are the last set of lines before reaching the trailing edge of the glider. Also called the D Risers
Relative Wind – The direction of airflow over an airfoil
Reserve Parachute – A parachute kept in the pilot’s harness, or in a front mount container, to be deployed by the pilot if the paraglider reaches a state in which it cannot recover to normal flight
Ribs – Material that extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and from upper surface to the bottom surface of the canopy. The ribs create the profile of the canopy and provide structure
Ridge Soaring – Also called slope soaring; A type of paraglider flight when a pilot utilizes lift created by wind flowing up a slope or cliff
Right of Way – The concept of one pilot having the right to a certain area over another pilot. In general, when ridge soaring, the pilot with the ridge to their right has the right of way. In that case, the pilot with the ridge on their left would need to yield and give way to the oncoming pilot
Riser Twist – A configuration which is typically reached by the wing spinning in one direction while the pilot remains facing the same direction. The result is a twist in the risers that attach the pilot to the glider
Risers – The webbing that connects the paraglider lines to the harness
Roll – The rotating of a wing on its longitudinal axis. If a glider rolls to the right, the left wingtip will be higher than the right wingtip
Root – On a paraglider, the center of the glider; On a fixed wing aircraft, the part of the wing that is closest to the fuselage
Rotor – Displacement of airflow, creating variations in the speed, direction, or pressure, created downwind of a large object, such as a mountain, or tree
– S –
S-turn – Turns that are made in the pattern of the letter “S”, usually done at the perimeter of a landing zone to allow the pilot to set up for their landing approach. Also used by pilots to stay in lift when 360 degree turns are not possible, due to lack of terrain clearance
SAT – An acrobatic maneuver in paragliding in which the pilot enters a spiral and changes the axis of the turn by braking one side of the wing. The maneuver was named by its creator, Raul Rodriguez, after the name of his acrobatic team, SAT
Scratching – A term used by paraglider pilots to describe a scenario in which a pilot is low and searching for lift, or is becoming less certain of clearing an area in which there is no designated landing zone
Sea Breeze – Wind that develops near land or coasts formed by a pressure difference that develops between the land and ocean, creating an onshore flow
Sectional – A type of aeronautical chart designed for navigation under Visual Flight Rules
Sheath – A thin layer of polyester material that surrounding paraglider lines to protect from UV rays and abrasion
Shear – A difference in wind speed and/or direction over a relatively short distance between two air masses. Typically experienced at the edges of thermals, or at higher altitiudes between two air masses
Simulator – A device that is typically hung from a ceiling that includes a harness and risers, where a pilot is able to simulate the controls of a paraglider
Sink – Air that is moving downward. Oftentimes, sink can cause a paraglider to dive or surge. The severity of the dive depends on the rate that the air is sinking. The management of these surges/dives is known as pitch control
Soaring – In paragliding, used to describe any type of flight where a pilot is able to maintain or increase altitude by using lifting air
Span – The distance measured from the left wingtip to the right wingtip
Speed Bar – Part of the Speed system that the pilot pushes down on to decrease the angle of attack of the glider
Speed System – A series of devices on a paraglider that are used to decrease the angle of attack of the wing, and therefore increase the speed at which the glider is traveling. The system start at the A risers, move through the harness, and end at a pilot’s feet. When the pilot presses down on their speed bar, it pulls on the A Risers, which pulls down on the leading edge to decrease the angle of attack
Spin – In a paraglider, a spin occurs when one side of the wing is stalled, and the wing rotates on an axis that spans between the pilot and the glider
Spiral, or Spiral Dive – A configuration in which the glider becomes in a steep banked turn. The glider’s path in a spiral dive can be described as a corkscrew. Pilots can experience g’s in spiral dives and can often feel “locked out” due to the fact that the glider will continue its spiral dive even after the pilot releases controls and no longer employs weight shift
Spreader Bar – A device used in a tandem paraglider setup which separates the harnesses of the pilot and passenger
Stall – A configuration in which the glider ceases forward flight. In a deep stall, the glider will begin to slowly descend in a vertical manner, similar to a parachute (see parachutal). In a full stall, the brakes are applied past the stall point of the glider, and the canopy will collapse entirely. Methods to recover from stalls can be learned at SIV clinics
Stratus Clouds – Flat sheets or layers of cloud that cover much or all of the sky. There are no distinct individual cloud units
Streamer – A thin plastic ribbon used as an indicator of approximate wind direction and speed
Surge – An energetic reaction by a paraglider in which the glider flies out in front of the pilot. Surges often occur when exiting a thermal, entering a sinking air mass, or after quickly releasing brake pressure after the glider pitched behind the pilot. Ability to control the amount and ferocity of the surge is known as pitch control, or surge control
Suspension Lines – The lines that connect the risers to the canopy
– T –
Tail Wind – A wind that is traveling the same direction as an aircraft’s heading. Flying with a tailwind will increase groundspeed
Takeoff Weight – The weight of the pilot and all of their gear, including the glider. A pilot’s takeoff weight will determine what size glider they will fly on
Tandem – A glider that is designed for two people; A flight in a paraglider with two people
Thermal – A column of rising air used by paraglider pilots to maintain or increase altitude
Thunderstorm – A storm produced by a cumulonimbus cloud and always accompanied by lightning and thunder. It is of relatively short duration and usually accompanied by strong wind gusts, heavy rain, and sometimes hail
Tiger Country – A slang term used by paragliders to describe an area that might be difficult to get out of if one were to land there
Toggles – Handles attached to the brake lines that enable a pilot to pull on the brakes
Tow Bridle – A device used to attach a tow line from a truck or boat, to a pilot’s harness, allowing them to be towed to higher altitudes
Towing – Pulling a paraglider to higher altitudes through the use of a boat, truck, or winch
Trailing Edge – The rear edge of a wing
Trim Speed – The speed of a paraglider with no glider input
Trimmers – Adjustable webbing on a paraglider’s risers that allow the pilot to adjust the profile of the wing to increase or decrease trim speed
Turbulence – Variations in wind direction, wind speed, and/or air pressure that can effect the behavior of a glider during flight
– U –
Upper Surface – The top surface of a paraglider, spanning from one wingtip to another
Upwind – The location of an object that is in the direction the wind is coming from the observer’s perspective. A glider’s flight path that is opposite the direction the wind is blowing. Flying upwind decreases ground speed
Upwind Leg – The direction of flight, when two opposite directions are available, that is into the wind
USHPA – The United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association; A Non-Profit organization that governs paragliding in the United States
– V –
Variometer – An instrument used to measure the rate of ascent or descent of a paraglider
Velocity – The measurement of the speed of an object
Venturi – An area of accelerated wind speed due to the reduction in area available for the wind to travel through
Vertigo – A physical condition in which someone is unable to recognize the directions of up from down. It is often reached from excessive turns in a paraglider, or loss of visual reference, which could occur while flying in a cloud
Visual Flight Rules (VFR) – A set of aviation regulations under which a pilot may operate an aircraft in weather conditions sufficient to allow the pilot, by visual reference to the environment outside the cockpit, to control the aircraft’s attitude, navigate, and maintain safe separation from obstacles such as terrain, buildings, and other aircraft
Vortex – see wingtip vortices
– W –
Wake Turbulence – Turbulence that forms behind or downwind of an aircraft. Wake is often experienced by pilots that fly behind or downwind of other gliders. The effect is more drastic with Tandem gliders, because of their size
Warm Front – The discontinuity at the forward edge of an advancing warm air mass that is displacing cooler air in its path
Wet Adiabatic Lapse Rate – The rate of adiabatic temperature change in saturated air. The rate of temperature change is variable, but it is always less than the dry adiabatic rate
Wind Dummy – In paragliding, the term used for someone who is the first to launch to test the flying conditions
Wind Gradient – The difference in wind speed at different altitudes
Wind Indicator – A device used to measure approximate wind direction and wind speed, such as a wind sock, or a streamer
Wind Shadow – An area that is protected from the wind by an obstruction, such as a building, or trees
Wind Sock – A conical tube made of polyester or nylon used to measure wind speed and direction
Winds Aloft – A measurement of wind speed and wind direction at different altitudes
Windward – The side of an object, such as a mountain, upon which the wind is blowing
Wing Loading – The loaded weight of an aircraft divided by the area of the wing. The higher the loading on a paraglider, the less risk there is that a glider will experience a deflation. However, the heavier the wing loading, the more dynamic the wing will react to changes in the air
Wingover – A maneuver in which the pilot utilizes the energy from turning the glider in one direction, to make a larger banked turn in the opposite direction. It is recommended that wingers be practiced under the guidance of an experienced acro pilot, as wingovers can be a dangerous maneuver
Wingtip Vortices – Swirling of air at a glider’s wingtips
Wraps – A procedure in which a pilot wraps the brake line around their hand, while still holding on to the brake handle, to increase the amount of brake pressure they fly with, and increase the amount of feel in the lines. Often referred to as “taking a wrap”
– X –
X-C – Also cross country; Referred to a flight that covers a large distance
– Y –
Yaw – The rotating of a wing from side to side on a vertical axis. In the case of a yaw to the right, the left wingtip will move forward, and the right wingtip will move backward
Y Bridle – The webbing that attaches the harness to the reserve parachute
– Z –