Wing/Sail: The fabric structure that generates lift.

Leading Edge: The front of the wing that cuts through the air.

Control Bar/Base Bar: The bar the pilot holds to steer by shifting weight.

Keel: The central beam running from nose to tail, acting as the glider’s backbone.

Battens: Rods that maintain the wing’s shape.

Kingpost: A vertical post supporting the rigging (only on some gliders).

Crossbar: The internal bar connecting the leading edges for stability.

Hang Point: The point where the harness attaches to the glider.

Riser Lines: Cables that help stabilize the wing.

Wires: Support cables connecting the control bar and wing.

Nose Cone: The aerodynamic cover at the front of the wing.

Canopy: The wing structure of a paraglider, made of fabric cells that inflate.

Risers: Straps connecting the canopy to the harness and used to control the glider.

Brake Lines: Lines used by the pilot to control speed and direction.

Harness: The seat in which the pilot sits, attached to the risers and wing.

Carabiners: Metal clips that connect the harness to the risers.

Suspension Lines: Lines connecting the canopy to the risers, distributing weight evenly.

SHARED TERMS

Wing: The fabric structure that creates lift (can refer to both the hang glider’s sail or paraglider’s canopy).

Harness: The support system securing the pilot to the glider.

Variometer (Vario): Instrument that measures ascent or descent rate.

Lift: Rising air currents that allow gliders to gain altitude.

Glide Ratio: Distance a glider can travel forward for each unit of descent.

Airspeed: The speed of the glider relative to the surrounding air.

Pitch Control: Controlling the angle of the glider’s nose (up or down).

SHARED TERMS

Launch: Taking off from a hill or flat ground using wind and/or running.

Flare: Slowing down and increasing the angle of attack during landing.

Cross-Country (XC): Long-distance flights over varied terrain, using thermals to stay aloft.

Top Landing: Landing back on the top of a ridge or hill.

Final Approach: The last part of the flight path leading to landing.

SPECIFIC TO HANG GLIDING

Control Bar: The bar used to steer by shifting weight (hang gliders only).

Keel: The central beam of a hang glider.

Whack: A rough landing, often when the nose of the glider hits the ground.

SPECIFIC TO PARAGLIDING

Brake Turns: A way to turn by pulling the brake lines.

Big Ears: A technique where part of the canopy is folded to descend faster.

B-Line Stall: A descent maneuver in which the B-line (one of the canopy lines) is pulled down to collapse part of the wing.

Spiraling: A fast, tight descending turn.

Thermals: Rising warm air currents used to gain altitude.

Ridge Soaring: Using updrafts along ridges to stay airborne.

Wind Gradient: The change in wind speed with height, crucial near the ground.

Rotor: Turbulent air behind obstacles like mountains or ridges.

Sink: Air moving downward, causing loss of altitude.

Convergence: Meeting of air masses that creates lift.

Wave Lift: Smooth updrafts formed when wind flows over mountains or ridges.

SHARED TERMS

Reserve Parachute: Backup parachute for emergency situations.

Spoilers: Devices used to reduce lift for controlled descent (more common in paragliding).

Speed Bar: A mechanism to increase speed by reducing the angle of attack.

Turtling: When a pilot falls backward onto their harness, often during launch or landing.

SHARED TERMS

PG1, PG2, PG3, PG4, PG5: Pilot ratings for paragliding, from beginner to expert (same structure as HG ratings for hang gliding).

HG1, HG2, HG3, HG4, HG5: Pilot ratings for hang gliding, from beginner to expert.

Roll Control: Tilting the glider left or right to change direction (hang gliders shift weight, paragliders use brakes).

Stall: Losing lift when the glider slows too much.

Spiral Dive: A rapid, spiraling descent.

Rigid Wing Glider: A fixed-wing hang glider.

Flex Wing: A flexible-wing hang glider that is controlled by shifting weight.

Single-Surface Glider: Beginner-friendly hang gliders with a single-layer sail.

Double-Surface Glider: Advanced hang gliders with upper and lower sail surfaces.

EN Ratings: European standard for paraglider performance, with A (easiest) through D (most advanced)

LZ (Landing Zone): The designated landing area.

DZ (Drop Zone): Term borrowed from skydiving, occasionally used for landing zones.

Bomb Out: Landing early due to not catching enough lift.

Ground Effect: Reduced drag close to the ground that helps with landing.

Thermal Chaser: A pilot who actively seeks out thermals for longer flights.

Boating Around: Staying up in smooth lift without much effort.

Sled Ride: A short, uneventful flight with no significant lift.

White Knuckle: A tense or challenging flight due to rough conditions.

Sky Pig: A pilot who stays airborne for a long time.