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From: kas@hpcvia.CV.HP.COM (ken_scofield)
Newsgroups: rec.skydiving
Subject: Re: Differences between parachutes and paragliders
Message-ID: <42640008@hpcvia.CV.HP.COM>
Date: 3 May 91 18:52:20 GMT
References: <6435@qip.UUCP>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Corvallis, Oregon
Lines: 32

From: galperin@husc9.harvard.edu (Gregory Galperin)
Message-ID: <1991May1.212459.776@husc3.harvard.edu>

>	Paragliders originated in mountaineering/climbing as an easy way of
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
  Your note was very informative and entertaining, but I wonder about the
  above statement.  While I have no doubt that climbers may have contributed
  to the development of paragliders, I doubt they originated the concept.

  I've been skydiving for nearly 20 years, and witnessed the introduction
  of ramair canopies shortly after I started jumping.  Seems like it wasn't
  too much later that I was hearing about weather-grounded jumpers "slope-
  soaring" off nearby hills on cloudy and/or windy days with their ramair
  canopies.  Granted, it took alot of wind and/or a steep slope to get
  early ramairs airborne, but it could be done.  In my mind, this was the
  beginnings of 'paragliding'.  I have no idea who was the first person to
  actually modify a ramair in some way to make it a better 'paraglider',
  but I'll bet it was a bored, ground-bound skydiver... (who may also have
  been a climber with a 'great idea').

  This is not intended as a flame, so please don't take it as such.  Just
  my personnal observations and speculations...


                 Ken Scofield           C-9355  SSI #453890085
      ^          Hewlett-Packard, ICO   Phone:  (503)750-2426
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