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The sport hasn't been around
for very long but, then again, in the greater scheme of humanity, neither
has flying.
Our history starts with
parachutes, wends through some interesting twists and lost lineages and
eventually comes through paragliding. The book goes into a few offshoots
including David Barish whose work predated even the earliest efforts that
eventually led to commercial success.
Like archeology, new information
is always being dug up and it will be placed here when we learn of it. The
latest has been condensed here in the TimeLine.
Below are addresses; pieces of history from the Wills Wing Dealer listing page (up as of Sept
20, 2007). Unfortunately, they are no longer current. Pago Jets have
long been discontinued. If you
have contact information from either Patrick or Don, please let them
know I would love to interview them for a continuing history of our
sport in the U.S. Early
French Homebuilt
2009-11-28 Francesco DeSantis provided these pictures and a
look back at our early history. Given the dearth of production
paramotors in 1989, it's not surprising that French paraglider
enthusiast, Axel Charles-Messance, and a friend, built his own. He is
pictured below flying the unit under an Alien wing built by
Custom Sail (a wing Francesco also flew).
Axel is a journalist living in Bethesda Maryland, having just moved from
a 2-year stint in London. He's recently gotten back into powered
paragliding but now with a much, much lighter weight machine. Welcome
back Axel!
   
1) Foot dragging started right away. 2) Following watercraft--hmmm, look
familiar? 3 & 4) Reconnecting with the sport. |
