Are you a paragliding or hangglider pilot?

For those people who had a dream of flying but really are not sure about jumping off the side of a mountain, paragliding might be your answer. Paragliding is not to be confused with parasailing. Paragliding is soaring through the air freely. You soar thru the air like a bird on the wind.Not to be Confused with Parasailing
Parasailing is where you are tethered to a boat, or car or some other moving vehicle. Parasailing is more like a kite. You are fixed to it and it is the equivalent to a boat flying you.Difference Between Hang Gliding and Paragliding.

The main difference between two is, hang gliding has a fixed wing that you fly like a glider while a paraglider is more flexible and slower.The fixed wing on a hang glider will be the plane and you will be hanging down from it in a prone position, thus the name hang gliding. Faster and more rigid, hang gliding gives more of a rush.While both paragliding and hang gliding will have almost the same capabilities of soaring, you do not have to jump off a cliff, mountain or structure to paraglide. In order to take off, you will pull back on the cords that will allow the flexible chute to fill with air and lift you off the ground.The Power to Choose Liftoff
With paragliding, if you something feels "off," you have the option to abort launch.
Hang gliders, on the other hand, once you start, you are committed and have to take off. As a general rule, gravity doesn't reverse itself. Therefore, once you jump off the cliff, it does not matter what you see, you got to go.

Safety Rules Fall Under the USHGA
Both sports are governed by the USHGA (United States Hang Gliding Association). Neither paragliding nor hang gliding requires a license since both sports are self-governed.They both have ratings that will allow you to know how you are developing and thus keep you safe. Biting off more than you can chew could be deadly. The ratings also give you an idea on how difficult a particular area is to glide in.Take lessons and establish a rating before you buy either of the equipment for hang gliding or paragliding. Safety first is the best solution for a sport that will give you the opportunity to soar like a bird and see the world from a perspective you could only dream of.

Slow Paced and Easy to Learn
Paragliding is slower and generally is easier to learn than hang gliding. Either the hang glider or the paraglide will cost you about $3,600 to $5,000 to get your own equipment. Properly taken care of it will last approximately four years or more. I would suggest checking both of them out before you make a commitment. After checking them out, you can make an informed decision on which you prefer.