SAFA Skysailor Magazine

28 SKY SAILOR January | February 2024 Imagine, if you will, that you are a regular or perhaps fairly new paraglider pilot. You’ve turned up at your local coastal site to find that it’s blowing too hard, up around the 15-20kt mark. It’s way too strong for your wing, and you’re a bit bummed. Then, up rock a bunch of pilots who set up their wings and take to the air, zipping around the area and having a great time. The wings appear to be a lot smaller than yours, and these folks are obviously having a ball while you’re stuck on the ground. What’s going on? These other pilots are flying mini-wings, speed wings or parakites . They are smaller in surface area and are designed to fly in higher wind strengths that are usually unsafe in which to operate a full-sized wing. To operate these ‘mini-wings’, you need to hold the Speed Wing Endorsement . ‘What’s that and why?’ I hear you ask (Refer to the Qualifications Manual , Section 3.14.2.4). I’m no expert on these wings, as I don’t fly them, so I’m relying on the feedback from pilots that do. I recognise my limits – I’m too old and slow to fly them – and I’m personally not interested in flying in the conditions that these craft allow. What I am interested in though, are the safety aspects of these wings. They allow flight in stronger conditions because of that lack of surface area: smaller sail, less drag. Because of the increased wind Mini/Speed/Para-kite wings – Safety & Compliance by Iain Clarke – SAFA Safety Management Officer Photo: Mike Long