Conditions

Paragliders (or "Parapentes" in French) have a low top speed, hence are suited to light winds of under 25 km/h and smooth air conditions. The non-rigid structure of paragliders relies on a constant angle of attack to maintain the shape and profile of the wing section. Turbulent air changes the angle of attack and can deflate part or all of a wing while in flight. "Collapses" are typically easy to deal with but require some training to manage correctly.

Paragliders are suitable for mountain flying in low-wind conditions, and are best suited to thermally active areas or coastal locations where a sea-breeze is prevalent.