How To Fly Cross Country (On A Paraglider)

Join Flybubble Paragliding on a spectacular XC flight in England and learn how to go cross country on a paraglider. You don't need a high-performance hot ship. You don't need to take crazy risks. You just need commitment, a little faith, and a wing you trust. And some of the tips in this video...
Music under licence from UPPM France
CGS_5_1_Tales_Of_The_Heart_Larcombe_Murray_917066
KOK_2390_6_Electro_Fast_Tracks_Bordat_848891
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[@sza1985]

It's so many times I have watched this video. Each time something new gets into my head. Mind you I m already flying XCs, but this has so much to learn. Really really thanks. You are awesome.

[@ParaglidingManiac]

Outstanding video! THAT'S, why I subscribed to Flybubble Paragliding!

[@SelfproclaimedDCSdebriefer]

Probably the most inspiring Pg video for people starting out.

[@chilledxander]

Can't wait to have lessons when I find somewhere

[@MrCrazyclint]

I keep coming back to fly bubble because it's well narrated top footage and all the clips make me keen to fly not turn away yeeewww good job

[@marionthecloud9774]

Love when you say... THIS... THIS IS WHY I FLY hahaha what a feeling man

[@SerbanOprescu]

I've noticed it, too!

[@feromonkey]

Yes it is!! I played it on and on... I flyed to into a cloud in the southern of Chile. The colors of your wear came to awesome

[@theflygirl6195]

Great video🔥🔥

[@landlockedviking]

riding the edge of that cloud was pretty sweet!

[@SerbanOprescu]

This is the first time I've heard Greg's voice pitch go high! :) He was ecstatic!

[@feromonkey]

Sublime!

[@xistsixt]

Greg you inspire me... Your passion is infecting, the teaching is very well done... Greetings from the advance land... 😊

[@xistsixt]

2 years later and I get a heart from you. Fully remembering the time waiting to finally start the instruction. In the meantime I'm fully airborne, flying XC in the Alps, 125km flat triangle in my bag, and some first competition experiences. I guess your videos helped as a part of the learning process. Thx for the reminder ☺️😎

[@declan.fleming]

awesome job Greg ... what a cloud :D

[@WesleySmith1920]

Thanks Greg, that was super helpful

[@MortezaFC]

How am i just learning about this sport? Incredible

[@skymaster4121]

Wow! Thanks for the tips, loved the video 😊🙏👍

[@superdave54811]

I see cloud street happen often around my area, but no large hills to reach it. We have to rely on powered flight as flatlanders.

[@jankalfus42]

Amaaaazing video! Can't wait to do my first XC flight! :)

[@Freeflyer91]

How do you tell your significant other that they need to drive 200km round trip to pick you up? :)

[@MarkLoves2Fly]

You discuss that part first. If you don't have a significant other, you can always find out who your friends are. Where I fly, we have a group connected by the "Telegram" App, who are willing to drive retrieve. Generally for short XC we give them $5 USD, if it is beyond a graduated set of distances, with increment this payment by $5 each increment. This more than pays for the fuel consumption, and creates an incentive for people to drive retrieve. Good stories during the drive also help. ;)

[@greghamerton4422]

It's real easy in the UK .. there's good public transport so you can find the local bus or train using google maps, and get back close to the hill you started from. We also have a great Telegram group where all the pilots help each other to get back to the hill.

[@turaib]

hitchhike - part of the sport ;-)

[@johnybfd2845]

Greg Hamerton Where in uk r u plz. I wana try it for the very first time and im excited

[@laniik]

Love this video! this is super helpful and fun to watch. You guys should sort out shipping to the USA btw. =)

[@nicolaesasu]

Amazing video!!!

[@rchristie5401]

Great job.

[@jtee4103]

Great video. I feel worried now not getting back down

[@ysoner]

I am about to transition from skydiving to paragliding and I find these videos invaluable! Thanks. XC is definitely something I want to be able to do. How many total flight hours, approximately, would be required to have enough experience to do XC?

[@greghamerton4422]

you'll pick it up faster than most, although take time developing the feel of fine control by doing lots of ground handling first (in the air you'll probably want to call it a 'canopy' and yank on the controls until you learn the difference from skydiving ;-) A good progression to XC flying would take about 100 hours or so of thermic airtime, although you can do simple (straight ridge, or flatlands) XC from about 50 hours: you want to build up lots of experience flying different sites so you learn the airflow over terrain features at 'known/safe' paragliding sites, before you go off on your own and have to work it out as you fly along. Hard to set any real guidelines: you can judge what to do with a cautious approach (staying away from unknown terrain until you're experienced). Have fun!

[@ysoner]

@@greghamerton4422 Thanks!!

[@ysoner]

So I just came to this video to see when I posted this comment, apparently 8 months ago. Today I finally had the courage to leave the peak and did my little 4 km XC. Memorable day for me. Next time I will come back to the video will be my first 100km :)

[@ysoner]

And after about a year (14 months I think) from this first comment, I did my first 100 km in Manilla, Australia. What a feeling! Thanks for taking your time answering my questions. I keep watching all your videos mate.

[@chez372]

@@ysoner what about now??

[@paraglidingSafety]

Nice, but which airspace class was that? In E you could meet a passenger jet flying out of this cloud

[@wuugie]

1:45 thanks joda!

[@SerbanOprescu]

Music is exceptional, too. It completes the video perfectly. And if anyone has noticed, in "A paragliding adventure in the Pyrenees" (besides spicing it with Greg's heartbeat), at 16:56, the music actually made use of the variometer sound into the song. They really worked on it.

[@greghamerton4422]

glad you appreciate the details, Serban! You might have some fun looking at the music titles chosen for various videos too...

[@SerbanOprescu]

Yes, Greg, your videos are rich with details. From the cloud shadows peppering the hilly landscape to your detailed explanations on how to ground handle the paraglider and get a more commanding use of it, to how to get thermal updraft when clouds invite it, your videos beg any mouth-watered human to care for the details. I, for one, still keep for the cloud shadows... :)

[@crimsonraen]

"This, this is why I fly." YES Greg! SO good!

[@farapar3783]

When flying it would be great to mention height you get in your videos thnx

[@adamosgood]

Just think how pretty the blue sky would be if all those jets didn't leave magical contrails that somehow never evaporate and grow and spread out. Nice flight, love the vids.

[@peterblackburn7269]

wow greg as just did my course and i cant imagine doing like this!! amazing love your vids 🤗.... safe flying greg

[@willryan6405]

i would love to bring up food and snacks and spend a while gliding and eating snacks while looking into the distance

[@SemiFlyingPharmacist]

Great tutorial! :)

[@MichaelRainabbaRichardson]

I'm in Aww. I recently started flying PPG in the US (Phoenix, Arizona), but PG is where my heart is after seeing gliders at Torrey Pines in California. That scene where you come out of the cloud is literally my life's dream. I think our conditions here will be terrific for it, but so far all the PPG Pilots I've talked to seem to be scared of thermals. I on the other hand, switched gears from working on my solo glider license to learning to fly PPG. Thanks for sharing this amazing video.

[@Rabsian]

When you're flying along side that cloud isn't it possible a small aircraft could fly through from the other side and straight into you? Love the vid btw, very informative. Thank you.

[@greghamerton4422]

On a paraglider, you can hear any aircraft from miles away. There weren't any aircraft nearby. But yes, it is something to be alert for.

[@Rabsian]

Aha, fair enough.

[@Vbluevital]

Thanks for asking my question Rabsian. Awed Spectator want to be pilot! 🤗

[@dillonmoll1055]

@@Vbluevital ur comment is confusing lol

[@Paiadakine]

In the USA there are distances away from clouds (and visibility) depending on what class airspace you are in.

[@shawnbroman]

P2'd back in Aug 2017 ...I am ta thermal addic! ....This vid is incredible & thanks for all the tips

[@filipevoolivre]

Just the best feeling ✌️

[@icemanrunning777]

What's that beeping sound? Altimeter? Updraft or thermal sensing device?

[@lincolnchains3731]

I wish I could do stuff like this without pissing and crapping my pants. Really cool to watch though.

[@tomastichy2192]

fly in clouds = danger for all

[@Paiadakine]

I dont know if this is dumb question but is it better to circle in a thermal CW or CCW?

[@safranpollen]

Greg nice impressions with the right passion ! But at same time `ve to consider, on days like this ya`re presenting right over here, you can use any other of the new A / low B-glider`s , which is performing&supporting your personal style best, to do this, if ya know how to fly :-))))

[@KilkennyLights]

Beautiful Video. What does fly bubble think of the new buzz z 5. Thanks for all the helpfull videos

[@JanPBtest]

I still fly a Z3, hee hee

[@cupcakequeen011]

Paragliding looks so fun. I wish I had the resources to be able to do this!

[@BlackWarriorLures]

What do the clouds feel like?

[@greghamerton4422]

vague, and slightly nervous

[@pentachronic]

Ha Ha. Very funny 😁. Misty eyed too by the looks of it.

[@muhammadhazikrabbani2697]

So Really Can U Travel Any Countries In That Paratrooper But After We Land Even If We Have Passport Visa Will They Catch Us In Europe For Landing Without Permission I Know Theirs No Need For Permission But Seriously Plz Guide Me I Want To Travel From London To Turkey Actually If It's A World Record I Want To Break It I Hope U Will Reply Jazakallah.

[@vidimart]

Hy man, you met the best combination for a xc pilots that is a humidity convergence still active and not crashing down, you should mention that this is the best line you can take in a XC, and you know what, humidity convergence happens more or less always in the same areas... highway you have not to miss.. Visit my facebook group for more video about humidity convergences. Ecovoo Praglider Socorro (Brasil)

[@00Skyfox]

What happens if you just let go of the control lines and let the glider do its own thing? Does it pretty much keep going in a straight and gently path, or will it get out of control if you don’t take hold again soon? I’m just wondering if you could pull out a thermos and enjoy a snack or a hot cup of coffee when you have enough altitude.

[@sandstau]

Go on then, i do you get back? Always wondered that .

[@alltheboost5363]

That was amazing... how do you know where not to fly... cuz if there's a big updraft there's a big downdraft somewhere. how do you identify what you want to stay away from when you find those great thermals?

[@mjumper]

Can you just simply land everywhere? I mean these fields are private property and crops are growing in there, do you still land and then go away?

[@Khoinguyenne24]

Omg k nghĩ là kênh này có phụ đề tiếng việt😍 mình thích xem những video nước ngoài dù k giỏi tiếng anh😙

[@Wil_87]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing! 😊 Who in their right mind have given this video a 'negative' rating?! It would be good to hear their justification!

[@avstryker]

Probably the little bitch up a couple of comments up from yours crying about flying the edge of the cloud.

[@ryanvess6162]

@@avstryker it's all fun and games until you go from suspended from a canopy to the front of a Lear

[@josephmoodie4970]

Is it better traveling cross country with or without an engine ?

[@paperflight3104]

Which type praglider is this

[@SerbanOprescu]

The view was spectacular, indeed. I've never seen anything like this before. On the other hand, I am reluctant to go into a cumulus.

[@antonystringfellow5152]

Looks great but it would be crazy to try that here (Brazil). Cloud like that can turn into a huge monster in just a few minutes.

[@robertzeeland]

I think Greg is flying straight into the low clouds drifting in from the coast. No chance of getting hovered up to 30000 feet here! :D

[@Hemersonr]

very good.... informative and also simple for everyoneto get how to play with the air... well done as aways... hugs

[@MountainGates]

Awesome, Thanks for sharing your expert opinions. Ali Himalaya K2

[@freespacexl]

more excellent content and great tips, thanks

[@13456cds]

TOO FLY!.... SO high!!! cross country! on WIND CURRENTS./????.!!!!!!!! 2 words SALMON!

[@CampTlangram]

awesome, and good tutorial video especially for junior pilot

[@jae7170]

Imagine taking a flight in South Korea and end up landing in North Korea 😶

[@Warbird-Aviation]

Thanks very much. This video inspired me....

[@GlaucusBlue]

What a great video. What do you do if you do have to land, and you'remiles away from anywhere? Hoping to go do a course in may if we aren't still in lock down. Just looks to amazing not to give it a try.

[@avila5791]

Beautiful... I like your flying style... I'm totally into the paragliding. Much loves 💟💛

[@joeyy33]

It could be time to try a tandem flight. Wonder if I'm going to get hooked?

[@solslab9584]

You will

[@bibbabibba1975]

Literally

[@anamir3347]

Yep

[@AndreasEUR]

Aww, I wanna try paragliding soo bad.. But the courses here in Norway are so far apart and the earliest one is already fully booked.. :/ Are the rules in UK the same as in Norway with needing a license? Americans are truly the best place, there is no license needed to fly, and imho that should be the same everywhere.

[@ALHJ1997]

You don't need a license to fly a paraglider in the UK

[@labeeeb1]

❤

[@eterniter45]

Buddy T-fal. He is hard to stick to :D

[@johnkassel473]

How does all that geo- engineering above those cumulus, clearly evident in the vid, effect everything m8?

[@chasemcdaniel3620]

Cross country for Europeans is cross state for people in the U.S. Just so you people don't get ambitious and end up in Alabama.

[@aslseguridad]

Excelent!!!!!! Thanks to share!!!!

[@martystevensen241]

Would it be possible to catch an airstream and fly further and using less gas? Maybe catch a tailwind to fly faster?

[@Farmer2492]

Fantastic Video, do you ever get Nervous, Farmer from Australia

[@greghamerton4422]

only when I don't understand what is happening with the air (and it's turbulent). Most of the time, the sky is made for flying through!

[@Farmer2492]

Thank you Greg how long have you been flying was it hard to learn

[@greghamerton4422]

@@Farmer2492 since 1992. paragliding is super easy to learn, so you can get yourself into lots of trouble really fast - it takes a long time to learn to do it safely :-)

[@Farmer2492]

@@greghamerton4422 Thank you Greg

[@satan7553]

Where does he paraglide? The view is soo pretty!

[@mohamadadnaneljeiroudi9206]

Thank you, Greg, for this poetic journy! Truely inspiring!!

[@brianstayton2595]

Hi beautiful views up there! What is the beeping sound i keep hearing? I skydive and im looking on getting into this because i just love flying canopy.its my favorite part of it all.do u have to launch from a hill every time? Blue skies buddy

[@JedF2010]

Brian Stayton the beeping is the variometer. It beeps differently when climbing in altitude or descending., so you can tell what’s happening with altitude when you don’t have a visual point of reference to accurately gauge this.

[@brianstayton2595]

J2013 thanks i understand how that could be useful. Do u need to have a hillside to launch. Or can u just take off if u have enough wind?Blue skies

[@JedF2010]

Brian Stayton unfortunately, I’m not a paraglider pilot. I did a bit of hang gliding years back. But, I would think you would need a ridge of some kind corns nice slope to give you lift. Paramotor on the other hand can take off from flat fields.

[@JedF2010]

Brian Stayton unfortunately, I’m not a paraglider pilot. I did a bit of hang gliding years back. But, I would think you would need a ridge of some kind or nice slope to give you lift. Paramotor on the other hand can take off from flat fields.

[@abitofaviation]

Hey Brian, I also switched from skydiving into flying Paraglider. Absolutely worth it due to the views, the flight feeling and that you can combine it with almost every vacation!

[@slicek1melloeditz]

Imagine having a paramotor and you tell your mom your just gonna go to russia

[@vizlerandras]

Smashing! Any chance we'll see some of your X-Pyr adventures as welll?

[@Sandroidus]

Epsilon 8 = EN-B, Artik 4 - EN-C. Why two classes above ?

[@greghamerton4422]

we don't define classes only by EN rating. Epsilon is a Progression wing (low B), Iota is an XC wing (high B), Artik is a Sports wing (mid C)

[@AlanMeile]

Do you have any tipps on flying in x-country in switzerland?

[@chriscraven9572]

Super video Greg

[@UnderseaCaveman]

more beeping than not beeping.....as a distant observer, if it is an alarm it's too sensitive! Sort of loses its meaning, becomes background noise.

[@comsol2008]

The beeping is from the vario. It lets you know if you are going up or down and how fast. Once you have flown for a while then it is no longer distracting to the pilot quite the opposite. So for the pilot it has lots of meaning and helps us map out a thermal to find the best areas of lift

[@kshitizbatajoo861]

Performance of glider doesn’t really matter?? Ho abt different geographical terrain?? And active piloting always require thermal is not every time smooth..Am I right?? Give me suggestions 😊👍

[@greghamerton4422]

performance of wing matters very little, performance of the pilot matters a lot, and this is dependant on being in total command of the aircraft. Active piloting inputs are hardly required on a low EN B wing, but for sure they help make you safer. Active piloting inputs (very fast, very accurate) are required on a EN C or D wing, all the time.

[@samanwahhab]

Perfect lovely flying

[@PPGFlyr]

Two thumbs up! Love this channel.

[@bilalakramofficial9446]

how much cost of glider

[@YZFoFittie]

I just subscribed because you sound like Bear Grylls...XD

[@Deano155]

Love your videos yeee Haaa!!! Mate have you got a video on sinky air and how to avoid it

[@panther-xc8929]

👏♥️

[@ianbradleya]

I fly a paramotor right now but want to start XC whats the next step?

[@adriansmithurst]

Can you fly without a phpa license or is it mandatory

[@fossil98]

You flew 100km? Did I hear that right?

[@zeidoki]

In your recommendation...

[@nassirnassir7286]

woooow enjoy the ride

[@windjammer3950]

how do you feel the thermal??

[@egae6782]

by your body. And you hear the variometer beeping

[@jrdn.lauren]

Egis D . ahh thats what that was.

[@dazabexton6306]

Great video I be up there on my ozone lovely feeling 👍

[@filippodellavedova6899]

Gregtastic! Thanks for sharing.

[@musickeepsalive7752]

Paragliding or sailplane ? Which one is better

[@simonphelps5793]

Paragliding. I have only flown planes, paragliders and hang gliders. Planes don't make me fell safer even though they had a motor. Hang gliding I did not like flying face down and my bad shoulder did not like holding that bar. Paragliding you have a good seated position and it feel like you are flying unlike being in a plane ... and I am sure a sailplane feels the same way as a plane. The common buzz that both sailplanes and paragliding use thermals to gain altitude and that takes away the annoyance of a motor.

[@papucimurdari]

It depends on where/when you fly. With a paraglider, you are much more independent: you have a light rucksack, and you can go flying any time, land almost anywhere, pack your glider in your rucksack and go home. You can still do 1-200 km flights if you gain enough experience. A sailplane, on the other hand, has much much more performance, but you are dependent on a tow-plane and also, you can't take off or land anywhere. The costs are also much higher.

[@musickeepsalive7752]

+papucimurdari What about safety ? Birds can collide easily in a paraglider

[@NGC1433]

It is the question of does, say $60k matter to you or you can throw it at a hobby. Of course there is joint ownership, or rent/club variations, where you do not need to buy the sailplane. Paragliding is more like kiteboarding, you own the gear, you take it with you anywhere in the world.

[@TenBuckTraveler]

what is all that beeping? would drive me nuts flying in such a beautiful area haha

[@YZFoFittie]

Thats the device giving you feedback about whether you are gaining or loosing altitude...

[@Aeradill]

I think you'll start loving the sound. The more it goes off the better your lift!

[@bibbabibba1975]

Its called a vario

[@maximumhd6331]

mmm look at that flat earth she was so, beautful