Parasailing

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Parasailing in Kumköy (Turkey)

Parasailing is a term in use since the mid-1970s for flying with a controllable parachute behind a vehicle, especially a boat. A special parachute is used, in which nozzle-like or flap-like openings are incorporated on the lower rear side, which provide the necessary lift .

The origins lie in the idea of ​​transporting a parachutist into the air in a different way than by plane. First attempts were made with a winch and then also with a car. At the summit , the pilot was released and was then able to fly independently. In the area of ​​gliding, this has long been practiced using a winch. After the first attempts with a winch and a land vehicle, the idea of ​​trying it behind a boat on the much safer water was born.

Without being able to prove this, various websites report independently of one another on attempts in the 1960s with drawn parachutes in France, Great Britain and the USA. An exact historical record is not yet available. Some reports are questionable because the closed round canopy parachutes allegedly used cannot be climbed by pulling as no lift is generated. The screen would open and drag across the floor.

In the summer of 1978 commercial flights with a hang-glider (kite) behind the boat were offered by the local water ski school on Lake Caldonazzo in northern Italy . Due to the extremely difficult handling of dragged kites, especially for beginners, crashes often occurred and the offer was discontinued.

A modern parasail screen is a round screen, the direction of which can be influenced by the pilot to the right and left. The towed pilot is attached to the parachute system with a harness. As a rule, in the event of danger, the attachment of the pilot can be released ad hoc using a pulling nipple. The lines are between 30 and 100 m long. The physical conditions mean that at least a third of the line hangs down in an arc shape due to the weight, so that the height of the umbrella is approx.

In rare cases, flat umbrellas are also used, which, however, cause problems for beginners due to their relatively high instability in the air compared to round umbrellas. On land there is also the possibility of being pulled by a towing vehicle. Because of the higher risk of accidents, this is rarely done.

Depending on the size of the parasail screen used, individuals or several people can be pulled. The start takes place from the beach, a jetty or a platform.

The pilot needs to tighten the leash and opening of the screen a few feet run along far and is then immediately pulled up.

The towing boat should have a mass of more than 500 kg and an engine output of at least 80 kW.

Specially built boats are used in the professional sector. On these there is a platform for take-off and landing, a frame for holding the paraglider and an electric winch to raise the pilot with parachute or to catch up again.

Parasailing is now also offered as a recreational sport at some of the livelier holiday resorts.

Web links

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