The world’s most complete guide to Powered Paragliding just got much better.

Content

This is our most important update so far, with large parts re-written, improved, and with better illustrations added. New or revised content reflects current technology and training methods. It is the first time that page counts have been redistributed, putting content where it’s needed more. Clarity and focus were a major goal so, by using easy-to-understand 3D illustrations we were able to clarify airspace while reducing its page count by four.

Those additional four pages were put to good use in Chapter 3: Handling the Wing and Chapter 26: Choosing a Wing. Repetitive information, still present for convenience, has been reduced to make room for more, better and bigger illustrations along with relevant text.

There are six sections that, before, started with a grayscale stylized image. Each one now starts with a full color, high res photo — it’s just more fun this way.

Chapter 1: Now includes better information about towing, its risks, its benefits, and what to look for if offered. It also adds more about the throttle simulator. It has been made more concise which allowed adding an “Instructor Scoresheet” to help when looking for an instructor or school.

Chapter 2: Gearing up was heavily revised to reflect some of the new innovations. Standard risers are retained and marked for easier reading while the more complex reflex risers were moved back to the expanded Chapter 26 where they really belong. Phone apps are included. A kiting harness guide was added in one convenient place. Instruments were updated to reflect what’s more commonly seen.

Chapter 3 and 5 are the most important chapters in the book for new pilots and have been dramatically improved, including entirely new sequences of photos to clarify the processes. Photos are bigger, too, with graphics right on them so readers don’t have to go back and forth to text as much.

The top three inflation methods are shown instead of only 1. These are most commonly being taught for forward launching in light winds. It illustrates and describes the how and why. The section on reverse inflations has been redone, too. Again, much larger images make it easier to see what’s going on.

Information has been added or made more relevant regarding the differences in handling and launching smaller wings.

Chapter 4 has been made a bit more concise and had some image labeling improved.

Chapter 6 shows more wheeled options that are now commonly available including the 4-stroke options. Better illustrations have been used to show balancing. An illustrated crosswind launch makes the technique obvious. Readers will at least understand how it’s done.

An improved illustration has been used to show how the two different types of A-Assists work.

Chapter 7 added what to look for in a phone application.

Chapter 8 has very minor changes to improve ease of reading.

Chapter 9 has been completely revamped into a shorter but more concise read with better illustrations. Way better. It also references phone apps for being able to get free charts, at least in the U.S.

That somewhat confusing chart with Chicago’s B & C airspace has been replaced with one showing a cut-way. We used the 3D software and photoshop to make it obvious how the charted airspace translates to reality. Arrows from the text help find what’s being referenced.

Transition areas, Surface Area of E Airspace and G airspace up to 14,500′ are now as clearly illustrated here as they were in the Airspace Video. In spite of this Chapter having 4 fewer pages (it’s still got 10), it’s more informative than before.

Chapter 10 needed only minor updates. It was made more concise which allowed for larger images.

Chapter 11 got several improved illustrations and text that should help clarify what’s expected of pilots flying into controlled airports.

Chapter 12 was a big revision starting with images that were made appropriately bigger for clarity. Anti-torque vanes were added as one advancement that could be used against torque effects. A picture and basic description of how flash starters work is included.

Cover photo by Wesley Woo.

Considerations for installing a steerable reserve were added.

The troubleshooting guide of Chapter 12 has been updated and improved. You’ll get a kick out of the final solution to one particularly thorny problem. It’s in line with a slight increase in levity elsewhere — just couldn’t resist.

Chapter 16 includes a new illustration and description for “Finessing the Climb.”

Chapter 18 has new pictures and more concise text on Advanced Maneuvers. There is a great illustration that shows surge and retreats (porpoises) along with where and what the risks are. Text is right on the illustration so you don’t need to go back and forth.

Chapter 19 has, among other things, a new illustration on the “Downwind Demon” that is based on the animations done for Master Powered Paragliding 3. It clarifies visually the difference between flight path and ground track.

Chapter 20 has been revised with new photos and the demonstration competitions like Parabatix.

Chapter 21 now includes illustrations of the primary differences between motor and free flight reverse launch techniques and how to brake both sides of the wing using these techniques.

Chapter 23 has a cool new engine cutaway illustration, with pointers to its parts. Room was made by eliminating the duplicate description of “Suck, Squeeze, Bang & Blow” in the illustration since that text is already in the main body.

A picture and explanation has been added on flash starters.

The torque section has been completely redone with a chart that shows and describes each of the main twisting forces and its relative effect. This chart was built for the book and featured in an issue of Cross Country Magazine.

An illustration of the irrelevant “P Factor” has been added, mostly to show why it’s irrelevant on paramotors and actually is trying to oppose the other forces.

Chapter 26 received a major revision, especially since we added 2 more pages. The loading chart now reflects the new reality of smaller wings. An entire sequence is shown on how advanced risers work, with arrows showing how their pulleys work when various controls are used. We clarify how these modern marvels provide so many control options and how manufacturers use different techniques to reach a design goal.

Speed wings get a half-page including some graphics. One graphic wonderfully illustrates how even a “beginner” speed wing, when heavily loaded, has dynamic handling fit only for experts.

A super simple and clear illustration shows the two primary ways that wing makers let pilots speed up their wares.

A fairly typical reflex riser illustration has been improved showing where the various controls go on a wing. It’s bigger and color coded for easier following.

Chapter 27 also got a lot of new pictures and text starting with a motor, hanging magically in mid-air, that shows torque-opposing cage vanes. Hang points and the effect of pivot point is better shown. The section on “A Better Paramotor” is updated to include the availability of SafeStart.

Chapter 28 has been updated to reflect the role of smart phones as an accessory, how they can be used cheaply, and suggesting app types that are most helpful.

Chapter 32 now includes camera drones as tools to consider for aerial photography.

Overall

There are MANY other revisions and quite a few corrections. The entire book was gone through this time thanks to the enormous help of Tim Kaiser who has made it much better. He not only helped improve the content but prevented many errors. There will still be some, there always are, but there should be fewer of them.

Million Dollar Press

Every edition, including this one, is printed on a million dollar 6-color press and laminated so we decided to make the six Section covers full color pictures. They’re beautiful. They were previously done with grey scales. It makes it that much more enjoyable to look through.

Physically

The cover is very slightly thinner and glossier with a better laminate. Although the page count is identical it is slightly thinner for easier shipping. Coated paper, as with previous editions, was used for a nice look. It is still a “perfect bound” build.

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