Due to poor and unsuitable weather
this year there will be NO BOOKINGS FOR TANDEM FLIGHTS
unless this notice is removed,
People already booked will get
their flights as soon as it is safe weather wise. Thanks
Prepare for a new adventure
Directions for next Tandem day will be posted here after you have been notified
Fly like a bird
in the Irish countryside and experience the thrills of free flight in the
company of a very experienced pilot who will guide you through all the steps
necessary for a very enjoyable and memorable experience.
We can only give overnight notice of suitable
weather as weather can change with longer notice and we don't want you to be
disappointed after your long drive !
We will contact you by text message on your mobile phone. Please pay fee's
before your flight. It's very important to wear boots with good ankle
support and warm clothing. It is most important that you do exactly as instructed
by the pilot in charge. Hill tandem may last for about 10 minutes it depends on
the conditions on the day and could well be of longer duration. Cost €105.
Getting ready
Lift Off
In Flight
Touch Down
(Broadband users please)
Tandem flying
may not be suitable for everyone for different reasons. Pilot in charge has final
say and may cancel the flight for safety reasons, if so there is a fee
applicable as running expenses must be covered.
This sport is VERY WEATHER DEPENDENT!
in other words to be safe we only operate these gliders in suitable weather
conditions ie. steady light winds (15/20kmph) and dry weather. We try to operate all year round, but the
weather over the winter months is not very kind most of the time, therefore we operate usually
from March to
October when conditions may be suitable and then on flyable days and
weekends outside of these months.
If
you want to book you Tandem flight please click on this link
Booking,
fill in
booking form for Tandem and return it to us with your payment made payable to Jerry Parles.
Vouchers are issued on receipt of
payment. We will forward on the form to the Falcon Club secretary
Important Items to
include for tandem flying.
Boots or shoes with ankle
support and traction are required.
Wear layered clothing and wear
full pants (no shorts).
Fluids to drink and a
lunch are a good idea .
Cameras can be brought for in
flight pictures.
General Instructions
for a Tandem Passenger
You will need to
follow the instructions of the Tandem Pilot. Do not grab any of the lines or
webbing above your head unless the Pilot is instructing you to. Make sure you
are clear on the instructions for how to transition from the launch position to
the flying position and visa versa for landing.
How
a Paraglider Launches and Lands: A Paraglider is a parafoil
wing. It launches similar to how a kite is launched. In light winds, Pilots
normally do a "Forward Launch", and in strong winds, pilots do a
"Reverse Launch". In either launch technique, the pilot and passenger
accelerate together to reach a good flying speed for take off.
Forward
Launch: The Pilot and Passenger are lined up under the
wing both facing forward. The Paraglider wing is laid out behind in a horseshoe
shape. When the conditions are good and the Pilot in charge decides to take off,
both the Pilot and Passenger must run forward together. At the start , as the
wing rises overhead, both pilot and passenger will feel resistance from the
glider and it may be difficult to move forward, but, as the wing gets fully
overhead, the Pilot and Passenger will be able to accelerate together down the
slope.
They must run efficiently together until the glider is well clear of the
ground. Sometimes the wind can gust a little during the launch run and then die
slightly, so you create your own wind by running with the glider through the air
until it starts to create lift. That is why it is so important to keep running until well clear of the ground.
Once in the air the passenger will need to slide their
arms under the tandem spreader bars and get well back into the harness for comfort, this
is done by holding on to the base of your harness with both hands
and pushing yourself back gently.
Reverse Launch
takeoff : When there is wind above about 12 or 15 KPH, reverse launches
are generally preferred. This is always the case for Ridge Soaring flights. In
a reverse launch, the pilot will turn to face the wing, but the passenger will
be facing straight out in direction of the flight path. The reason the pilot faces
the wing is to have more control for pulling the wing overhead. When the
pull-up begins, the passenger will try to aid the pilot in pulling the wing
up, by leaning forward and using their legs to push forward. If the wind is
stronger, as the wing comes up, both the Pilot and Passenger may be forced to
take a
few steps backward by the glider. Both are trying to resist this and maintain their
position. Once the wing is overhead, the backwards motion will stop. The Pilot
will then turn around and face forward with the passenger. Both can then
proceed to run off the Launch area. Sometimes because of the wind, running
may be a little difficult and the take off will normally occur at a slower
pace. It is very important to keep the forward motion going all the time until
well clear of the ground. The passenger can now put their arms under the tandem
spreader bars and sit back in the harness and enjoy the view. Sometimes when
launching I will need to have the passenger move slightly to the left or
right while running forward in order to get into the right position for
take-off.
At all times you must keep the forward motion unless instructed
otherwise.
Preparing for
landing:Wellbefore making your approach for landing, the passenger must
ease forward to the front of the harness onto their leg loops. This is done by
straightening the legs and back. You must be in an upright position when coming
in to land so you are able to run if it is necessary.
In
light winds, running is sometimes necessary. In stronger winds, landing may be
just two steps, but on every landing the Pilot and Passenger need to be ready to run.
In Flight 