Unlike other clubs COSMOS take the chance of having bad weather to make either conferences about latest technical info's or plans for a journey in the LEBANESE nature.
In spite of many occasion in the year, COSMOS celebrate with his members at
every new committee or any event might takes place.
PARAGLIDING IN REAL
This means sitting on the hill , moaning about the wind
being too strong or too weak or its in the wrong direction or if its just right its
raining. Still once in a while it is flyable and this is how its done.
He first makes a wall by laying out the canopy and with his back to the wind he takes the tension on the lines. Care must be taken to be square to the wind i.e: right behind, and have equal tension on both sides of the canopy.
Now comes the tricky bit. He
takes a step backwards and
pulls on the A lines (thats the
front facing lines). This raises
the wing , and as it comes up
he pulls on the brakes to slow
it so it stops above his head.
Well thats the theory. Often it
will overshoot and collapses ,
or he puts too much brake on
and it will lift him off his feet
and drop him in mess on the
ground. It could lift more on
one side then the other in
which case he will run sideways
to keep under the center of the
wing and apply a bit of break
on that side. After the third
attempt it is up and stable so
he turns and faces into the
wind and turns round to face
the wind.
He can wait his moment - keeping the wing stable above him. He could always
turn round again , walk towards the wing and apply the brakes which will
collapse the wing and put it on the ground. Or he could walk forward and he's
off He's off.... Sometime you can get quite
high, using the thermals to gain height
(personal best 8500 ft ). On the top right he is
flying in FARAYA area. Some rough
thermals there!.
More locally he often flies low at CEDARS (Bottom right).
We are also licensed to fly "ULM" & "PARAMOTOR" of which we will start flying at 1st Jan 1998 in RIYAK, KLEIAAT & BEIRUT airports, paragliding sites are:
CEDARS (Bekaa & Becharre sides), FARAYS, HARISA as well as MEZIARA site.
Some Faq's about paramotor are found here.
