Is it useful to check an old paraglider?
Yes, of course if you want to fly with it.
Porosity: this is the first thing to check!
Recent or old, a porous paraglider is potentially dangerous.
A “pro trick”: if you manage to «breathe» through the fabric, discard it!
FREE security measure
We gladly perform one (only one!) porosity measurement extrados center on any paraglider.
For the safety of all!
Line resistance: your life depends only on fibers and sewing threads!
Resistance may have dropped below the limit in a few years…
Trimming: to maintain model characteristics.
It is advisable to check the trimming of a paraglider already during its first year, so it is even more necessary when the wing is 20 years old!
The approval of the model implies its maintenance.
Maintenance is one of the elements that validates the certification of the paraglider. A few years ago, the periodicity of checks was 1 or 2 years.
Now, manufacturers usually indicate 100 hours of flight or 1 year (the first deadline reached).
Certification flight tests have evolved!
Recent homologation standards are more demanding and more comprehensive than the old standards. Since the beginning of paragliding, for the safety of all, evolutionary tests have been set up to monitor the improvement of technology and practice.
It is thus possible that an old paraglider homologated at the time could not pass the homologation according to today’s standards !
Is it reasonable to pay the price of checking an old paraglider?
…or should it be scrapped?
Is it reasonable to fix an old car? An old computer?
It depends…
- of its emotional value
- its value in the second-hand market
- of its type: beginner, intermediate, competition or tandem
Old paragliders for school (EN-A or similar)
Paragliders for school have evolved less than those in other categories. So it is not unreasonable to use an old paraglider-school although the take-off is not as easy as with newer models.
Old intermediate paragliders (EN-B or similar)
There was a leap in performance, maneuverability, ease and safety that I situate in 2012. Paragliders of design prior to that year are no longer at all in the picture, but they can be used without problems once checked.
Old high performance paragliders (EN-C or higher)
It is in my opinion totally useless and dangerous to continue to fly with this type of paraglider.
With any recent paraglider, even a model for beginners, you will get better handling, more safety and also more performance! This is crazy!
Tandem paragliders old and certified
I will not entrust people I love to a tandem pilot who flies with an old design canopy even certified and checked !
The advancements in takeoff and so on have been enormous. It’s important for the fun and safety of tandem flying.
As much to make discover our activity to the passengers with fairly recent equipment (less than 10 years!).
Tandem paragliders old and not certified
I will not entrust people I love to a tandem pilot who flies with an old design canopy that has never passed certification, even if it has been checked !
Good flights and take good care of yourself and your equipment!
Eric Laforge
I have developed many paragliding models and participated in the development of certification standards…
Eric LAFORGE
My collaborators and I have been checking and repairing all paragliding equipment since 1988 with the same passion!
