Online school · Small wings · Module 4

Weather for speed flying

The fourth module of the “Small wings” course. Why the wind near the ground matters most for a small wing, how the wind changes ground speed, why we go by the gusts, how much wind is allowed, how the slope “breathes” during the day, why flat light is dangerous in winter, and how to use the forecast.

⏱ 20 min📖 9 sections✓ 20 questions2 animated diagrams

Why speed flying needs its own weather

In shortA small wing flies fast and close to the ground. So the most important thing for it is the wind right at the ground: its strength, gusts and direction at launch and at landing. We decide by the strongest gust, we land only into the wind, and we treat the forecast as a guide and check it on site.

A paraglider pilot thinks about thermals, clouds and the wind at altitude. A small wing pilot spends almost the whole descent a few tens of metres from the slope. What matters to this pilot is what happens near the ground: gusts, wind from behind, turbulence from a heated slope.

Real-life example. A cyclist on the road watches the wind in the fields, and a skier on a forest trail watches the roots under their feet. Both look at the weather, but each at their own.

What follows is for our students

The full module text, the practice sessions and the exams are open to those who train with us. Access to the theory is included in the course fee: it runs for the whole course and for three months after it ends.

If you are training with us now, or have trained with us before, sign in with your access code. If you are a pilot from another school, access can be bought separately.

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Weather for speed flying

Why speed flying needs its own weather

What follows is for our students

Module practice