A Blizzard of Paragliders

bydanjohnson

Sunday, July 03, 2005 at 12:41 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Dozens of competitors participated in the Swiss Paragliding Championships held in the Swiss Alps this past May.
A photo taken by competitor Martin Scheel and released by the Associated Press illustrates the close-in flying of these unpowered aircraft, confirming it is not digitally altered.
Paragliders are lightweight, portable aircraft capable of speeds between 25-40 mph and glide angles of 7:1, easily carried in an oversized backpack.

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Fellow competitor, Martin Scheel, took this photo which was released by Associated Press (AP Photo/Keystone, Schweizerischer Haengegleiter-Verband, Martin Scheel)

According to news released by the Associated Press, dozens of paragliders (the unpowered sort) flew in competition above the picturesque Swiss Alps during the Swiss Paragliding Championships in late May this year. One of the competitors, Martin Scheel, snapped this impressive photo. It is not a doctored or “PhotoShopped” image but reveals the close-in flying done by these lightest-of-all aircraft. Paragliders fly from 25-40 mph and some claim glide angles of 7:1. Any of them can be carried in an oversized backpack. For more info on American paragliding, contact the U. S. Hang Gliding Association.