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Nomenclature & Definitions
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These names and definitions represent an agreed-upon
standard on which training and test materials can be based.
An informative and sometimes humorous listing of terms
can also be found on www.poweredparaglider.com
under "Terminology". This includes some "less
official" versions of everyday occurrences while enjoying our
air-high.
Paraglider
The paraglider comes in many flavors of which we'll
categorize as beginner, intermediate and advanced. Some are designed for
motoring and others are not. Many that are primarily used for free
flying work well for motoring and some are unsuitable to use with a
motor.
The parts of the paraglider, starting from the top are
as follows.
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Wing: Fabric
surface that provides all the lift;
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Lines: Go
from the wing down through multiple
cascades to the quick-link rings which are attached to the risers.
Most gliders have A, B, C and D lines. The A lines are the most
forward and attach closes to the leading edge and the D lines attach
to the aft part of wing (but not quite the trailing edge;
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Quick
Links:
Key ring sized metal circles (or other shapes) that attach the
risers to the lines.
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Risers: go
from the quick links down to the carabineer on the pilot's harness.
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Carabineer:
the thick metal clip that hooks the risers to the harness
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Harness:
What supports the pilot and motor during flight.
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Trimmers:
Riser sets that have an adjustment on the rear risers (usually the C
& D) which shorten and lengthen them so as to change the planing
angle of the wing. Let the trimmers "out" and the back of
the wing goes up allowing it to go slightly faster.
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Speed Bar: A
bar down by the pilots feet with lines running up to the risers. It
is pushed with the pilot's feet which pulls down the front two
risers (A & B's). That changes the planing angle of the wing to
make it go faster.
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Paramotor
There are many characteristics that can
classify the many different motors. These are some of the more prominent
features that distinguish them.
| Attribute |
Types |
Explanation |
| Harness Structure |
1. J-Bar
2. Distance Bar
3. Jacket
4. Free Flight |
The basic structure of the
harness. Affects everything about the feel of the unit. |
| Power Plant Type |
1. Two-Stroke reed valve
2. Two-Stroke standard
3. Four-Stroke |
Basic type of motor used. The
vast majority are presently standard two-cycles |
| Hook-in points |
1. High (above shoulder)
2. Mid-level (Top pilot's armpits)
3. Low (Just above pilot's navel) |
Where the risers clip into the
harness. Higher is more stable, lower is better weight-shift capability. |
| Weight Shift |
1. None (Rigid)
2. Floating J-Bar
3. Balance Arm
4. Harness Only
5. Harness thru distance bar |
The method used to increase the
ability of the pilot to use weight shift for turning |
| Drive Type |
1. Direct
2. Belt Reduction
3. Geared Reduction |
This is how the engine drives the
propeller |
| Clutch |
1. None
2. Geared
3. Hydraulic |
Allows the prop to stop (or
windmill) until engine rpm is increased |
 Drive
Type: There are three primary methods of converting crank-shaft torque to
prop torque.
1. Direct Drive has the prop bolted to the crank shaft of the engine,
2. Belt
Reduction Drive reduces the rpm of the prop through the use of a belt, and
3. Gear
Reduction reduces the rpm of the prop through the use of gears. The geared
reduction usually has a clutch where the prop doesn't spin (or spins slowly)
with the engine at idle.
Clutch: Some motors have clutches to
keep the prop from spinning while the motor is at idle. This also reduces wear
on the engine for geared systems (no belt to absorb the shock of each ignition). Others have no clutch and the propeller always
spins at some ratio to the engine rpm.
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