Paragliding: The Conquest of the Third Dimension

Paragliding: The Conquest of the Third Dimension

Why we fly, how we got here, and why the Dolomites are the perfect stage

There is a precise moment, suspended in time like a soap bubble, when the soil stops being obligatory. Your feet leave the grass, the hum of the world fades, and all that’s left around is the discreet rustle of the wind on the nylon cells. You’re flying. Not on an airplane, not clinging to an aluminum frame with roaring turbines: you are simply flying supported by compressed air inside a sail you have folded with your hands. You’re flying a paraglider.

Paragliding is one of the great silent revolutions of the twentieth century. No engine, no runway, no control tower: just a pilot, a sail, and the physics of the atmosphere. But behind this apparent simplicity lies a fascinating history of aeronautical engineering, challenges to the impossible, and an ever-deeper understanding of gliding flight. A journey that today, on the thermal currents of the Dolomites, reaches its most beautiful expression.

Why a Paraglider Flies: The Physics of Free Flight

To understand why a paraglider stays in the air, you need to familiarize yourself with two fundamental concepts: the airfoil and the Bernoulli effect. The sail of a paraglider is not a flat curtain: it is a three-dimensional aerodynamic profile, inflated by the dynamic pressure of the air entering from the front cells. This shape – convex on the top surface and flatter on the bottom – is not random, but engineered to generate lift. When air flows around the profile, the air passing over the upper surface must travel a longer distance than the air flowing underneath. To satisfy the principle of continuity of flow, the upper air accelerates, and – according to Bernoulli’s Theorem – a higher speed corresponds to a lower pressure. A pressure difference is then created between the lower surface (higher pressure) and the upper surface (lower pressure), which generates the vertical force called lift. As long as this lift exceeds the weight of the pilot-sail system, the paraglider remains at altitude.

The glide rate and thermals

A modern paraglider steadily descends relative to the surrounding air – this is inevitable, because every body subject to gravity loses altitude. But the key parameter is the glide rate: today’s sails can travel over 10 meters forward for every meter of loss of altitude. This means that on a slope with calm air, the flight can last a long time. But the real secret of prolonged free flight lies in thermal currents. A thermal is a column of warm air rising from the sun-warmed ground. When a paraglider enters this ascending bubble and its rate of ascent in the thermal exceeds its rate of descent relative to the air, the pilot gains altitude. The large Alpine valley floors, such as the Val di Fassa, are extraordinary heat engines: the rock faces of the Dolomites heat up rapidly in the morning, generating powerful and stable currents that allow for hours-long flights at extremely high altitudes.

The controls: how to steer a sail

A paraglider is directed via the brakes: two controls that act on the trailing edge of the sail. Pulling the right brake increases the aerodynamic drag of the right wing, causing the paraglider to rotate to the right; pulling both reduces speed and increases lift for landing. With time and practice, this communication between hands, sail and air becomes almost instinctive, a silent conversation between the pilot and the element. Modern sails also feature accelerators (which increase speed) and trimmers to optimize the profile under variable conditions.

The Evolution of Paragliding: Forty Years of Silent Revolution

The history of paragliding is recent, fast-paced and fascinating. It all started in the 1960s and 1970s when American and French paratroopers began experimenting with slope jumps with their rectangular parachutes. One of the key names is that of David Barish, who as early as 1965 came up with the concept of “slope soaring” – gliding down mountain slopes with a textile wing. But the actual birth of paragliding as an autonomous sporting discipline is generally traced back to 1978, when Frenchman Jean-Claude Bétemps descended from the summit of Pointe du Pertuiset in a modified sail, paving the way for a movement destined to spread throughout the world.

The 1980s and 1990s: from canvas to technical fabric

In the early 1980s the sails were rudimentary, with unsophisticated profiles and low planing coefficients. Pioneer pilots accepted high risks in exchange for unprecedented experience. But aerodynamic engineering advanced rapidly: the first internal cells appeared to stabilize the profile, the materials switched from porous fabrics to high-tight nylon (the famous Porcher Marine and later fabrics covered with silicone or PU), and the suspension ropes transformed from mountaineering ropes into Dyneema and Aramide with enormous resistance and very small diameters. The discovery of diagonal inner cells and high-stretch profiles revolutionized performance: by the mid-1990s, competitive sails were achieving glide coefficients above 9, with flight stability unthinkable for the first generations. Flight schools multiplied throughout the Alpine region, and paragliding became an internationally recognized sport with the birth of the International Aeronautical Federation (FAI) and the first official competitions.

The 2000s and the EN revolution: European certification

The real turning point for paragliding safety came with the introduction of European certification standards, now known as EN 926-1 and EN 926-2 (LTF/AFNOR) standards. Each sail is today subjected to a series of standardized tests that simulate critical flight situations: asymmetric locks, twists, stalls, spirals. Only sails that pass these tests obtain type approval certification, divided into classes ranging from EN-A (maximum passive safety, ideal for beginners and tandem flights) to EN-D and CCC (high performance for experienced pilots and competitions).

The Modern Era: Aerospace Materials and Computational Design

Over the past decade, the paragliding industry has undergone extraordinary technological acceleration. Profiles are now designed entirely with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation software that analyzes millions of configurations before a single prototype is built. The fabrics achieved almost zero porosity with weights less than 40 g/m², the internal ropes are Dyneema Sk75 and the connectors are CNC machined titanium.

Next-generation open-cell tandem sails, such as those used by FassaFly, are a direct result of this route: maximum lift, exceptional stability even in moderate turbulence, and predictable behavior that minimizes surprises. The electronics made their entrance with talking GPS variometers, real-time profile analyzers and navigation instruments that allow the pilot to make the most of every available aerodynamic resource.

The safety of modern paragliding: a much safer vehicle than you might think

The question that almost every person who approaches paragliding asks is always the same: “But is it dangerous?” The honest answer is: it depends on how you practice it. A tandem paraglider with a certified professional rider is statistically less risky than many common sports activities, such as cycling or alpine skiing. The perception of danger is distorted because flight evokes an ancestral sense of vulnerability, but the data tells a different story.

passive safety systems

A modern EN-A sail has extraordinary passive safety: the locks reopen spontaneously within seconds without pilot intervention. Certification tests require the sail to automatically reconfigure from critical situations such as stalls, unintentional spirals, and asymmetrical closures of 75% of the surface. Basically, the sail wants to fly again – the pilot just has to leave the controls and wait.

The emergency parachute (reserve)

Each professional harness is equipped with an emergency parachute (reserve): a rescue system that opens in less than three seconds and allows for a safe landing even in the very rare event that the main sail becomes unmanageable. Professional tandem pilots, such as those at FassaFly, periodically perform reservoir launch simulations and keep the emergency parachute constantly overhauled and folded by certified technicians.

Pilot training and condition selection

The human factor is the most important. A professional pilot never flies in conditions beyond their capabilities: assessing weather, atmospheric stability, wind speed and direction is a skill that can be built with years of experience. The best tandem pilots have thousands of flights under their belt and can read the sky like an open book.

There are also specific operational protocols that professional pilots scrupulously follow: pre-flight control of the sail and harness (the so-called “pre-flight check”), verification of the take-off area, briefing the passenger, and analysis of the weather window. Nothing is left to chance. Tandem flight with a certified professional is, in essence, the most controlled and safe form with which a human being can experience the freedom of flight.

Flying is not defying death. It’s learning to respect the laws of the air so deeply that you can use them to your advantage.” – Aphorism of Free Flight Culture

The Dolomites: the most beautiful stage in the world for flying

There are places in the world where nature seems to have built everything specifically for those who want to fly. The Dolomites are one of them. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the dolomite towers and walls that rise vertically for hundreds of meters are not only a unique visual spectacle: they are also a natural aerodynamic machine of extraordinary efficiency.

The large south-facing walls heat up rapidly in the morning sun, generating powerful, well-centered thermal currents that rise to altitudes of 2,500-3,000 meters. Wide, well-defined valley floors create safe flight corridors. The clean air of the Alpine altitudes guarantees visibility that is almost impossible in the plains: you can see the peaks of the Sella Group, the Marmolada, the Sassolungo, the Catinaccio. Paragliding in the Dolomites is not just sport – it is contemplation.

The Fassa Valley: the heart of the Dolomites soaring

Among all the valleys of the Dolomites, the Val di Fassa occupies a special place. Framed between the Sella Group, the Catinaccio-Rosengarten and the Marmolada – the queen of the Alps – this Ladin valley offers a concentration of take-offs, thermals and views that has few equivalents in Europe.

The valley’s exposure, the morphology of the walls and the quality of the air make it perfect for flight in all seasons: in spring thermals are born early and the grazing light on the pink-orange walls creates photographic atmospheres; in summer the currents are powerful and thermal flights at altitude are the order of the day; in autumn the air cools and stabilizes, giving away very long glide flights with a golden light that dyes the crudes amber. The Val di Fassa flies, and those who really know it wouldn’t want to fly anywhere else.

FassaFly: Flying with the best, in the Dolomites you love

In this context, FassaFly, the tandem paragliding service based in Val di Fassa, led by professional pilot Jimmy Pacher, was born and prospered. FassaFly is not simply a commercial activity: it is the materialization of an authentic passion for free flight and the Dolomite territory, the result of years of experience, high-level competition and a deep love for this corner of the world.

Jimmy Pacher: A Champion Who Shares the Sky

Jimmy Pacher is one of those pilots who made paragliding not just a profession but a philosophy of life. Raised in the mountains of Val di Fassa, from a young age he developed a sensitivity to the air and to reading Alpine weather that is only built by experiencing the mountains every day, in every season. His racing career has led him to compete in crosscountry races on European and international courses, honing an understanding of thermal flight that few pilots can boast.

But what really sets Jimmy apart as a tandem pilot is his ability to convey to the passenger not only safety, but also wonder. During the flight, while managing the sail and the weather conditions with absolute ease, Jimmy is able to share his reading of the landscape, to point out the peaks, to tell the geological history of these incredible mountains. Flying with him is not a service: it is an experience that remains etched in the memory.

The tandem flight experience with FassaFly

A tandem flight with FassaFly begins long before takeoff. Jimmy gives a thorough briefing to the passenger: he explains the movements to make during takeoff, how to position himself during the flight and above all how to prepare for landing. There are no shortcuts: every passenger deserves to understand what they are about to do, to feel an active part of this adventure, not just a spectator.

Take-off takes place from spots personally selected by Jimmy from among the best in the Val di Fassa, chosen based on the day’s conditions to ensure maximum safety and the best possible viewing experience. On days with good thermal activity, flights extend at high altitude for many minutes or even hours, reaching views that cannot even be imagined from the road.

FassaFly offers flights for everyone: for those who have never felt the wind under their feet and simply want to experience the thrill of free flight in absolute safety; for athletes who want to add a vertical dimension to their high-altitude vacation; for families looking for an unforgettable experience to share. The only limitation is weight (max 100 kg) and the need for adequate weather conditions – which Jimmy personally evaluates every morning with the seriousness of those who have built their reputation on this.

The tandem sail: safety and performance combined

The tandem sails used by FassaFly are latest-generation aerial machines, EN-A approved for professional use, specifically designed for passenger transport. They have large wing surfaces to support the weight of the bipostonic system, low landing speed to ensure maximum comfort in the final phase, and very docile behavior in the event of a disturbance. They are regularly inspected, subjected to porosimetric checks of the tissues and overhauled in the ropes: nothing is overlooked.

The time to fly is now

Every year thousands of people come to Val di Fassa to ski, walk, climb. Many look up, at those walls of light rock that get lost in the blue of the Alpine sky, and wonder what it must be like to fly there in the middle. Few, too few, give themselves the concrete answer. Yet tandem paragliding is today the most accessible, safe and spectacular form with which anyone – without any technical preparation – can experience free flight over the Dolomites. You don’t have to be a sportsman, you don’t have to have mountain experience, you don’t have to not be afraid. Fear, in fact, is part of the game: that slight contraction in your stomach at takeoff is the signal that you are doing something true, authentic, memorable. Then the feet leave the ground, the sail stabilizes, and that feeling gives way to something totally different: freedom.

With FassaFly you can experience all of this. Contact Jimmy Pacher at www.fassafly.com, choose your next stay in Val di Fassa, and add a dimension to your trip you didn’t know you were waiting for. The sky of the Dolomites awaits you.