Wing
Modern wings have upper and lower surfaces shaped by air entering the cell openings. They are produced in classes for different pilot levels and uses.
The history of paragliding
From the dream of flight to modern paragliding.
The human desire to fly is ancient. Paragliding as we know it today is a modern air sport made possible by ram-air wings and the development of running foot launches from slopes.
A useful distinction
The idea of flight is old; paragliding is new.
Ancient stories of flight, Leonardo da Vinci's drawings, parachute experiments and the development of hang gliding all belong to aviation history. It would not be accurate, however, to call all of them paragliding.
The key development behind modern paragliding was the fabric, multi-cell wing that forms an aerofoil as air enters from the front. This allowed a pilot to launch by running down a slope and to glide through the air rather than simply descend.
Milestones
A short timeline
Key dates in the development from parachuting to paragliding.
Parachute descent from a balloon
André-Jacques Garnerin's parachute descent from a balloon in Paris became one of the major milestones in parachuting history.
The ram-air multi-cell wing
Domina C. Jalbert's patent, filed in 1964 and published in 1966, described air entering front openings to form a flexible wing profile.
Foot launches at Mieussy
The work of Gérard Bosson, Jean-Claude Bétemps and André Bohn in Mieussy, France, is widely regarded as a key event in the emergence of modern paragliding.
Wings designed for the sport
As parachute canopies evolved into wings designed for foot launching, glide performance, steering, harnesses and suspension systems improved rapidly.
The first work in Türkiye
According to Turkish Aeronautical Association records, the first running launches used aircraft parachutes in 1987; purpose-built paragliders arrived in Türkiye in 1988.
Institutional development and the World Air Games
The discipline was formally recognised within THK in 1995 and joined its ultralight school in 1996. Türkiye hosted the first World Air Games in 1997.
The birth of the modern sport
A new form of flight beyond parachuting
A parachute is primarily designed to provide a safe descent. The paraglider developed into a wing that can launch on foot from a suitable slope, use rising air and cover distance while gliding.
The foot launches at Mieussy on 27 June 1978 became an emblematic moment in this transition. Early work used wings made for freefall parachuting. Manufacturers then redesigned the wing profile, cell structure, line arrangement and harness for foot launching.
Paragliding consequently became an independent sport with rules, training systems and equipment distinct from parachuting and hang gliding.
Paragliding in Türkiye
From early trials to a widespread air sport
According to Turkish Aeronautical Association records, the first running launches in Türkiye used aircraft parachutes in 1987. These trials around Erzincan, Adıyaman, Kayseri and Ankara were followed by purpose-built paragliders arriving in 1988.
The discipline was formally recognised within THK in 1995 and joined its ultralight school in 1996. Türkiye hosted the first World Air Games in 1997, bringing paragliding and many other air sports together in one event.
Training, university clubs, local sports clubs and flying sites grew over the following years. Current federation rules and guidance are the authoritative references for training and pilot qualification processes today.
Equipment development
Lighter, more controllable and classified by purpose
The wing's basic principle remains, while materials, design, protection and flight instruments continue to develop.
Harness and reserve parachute
Harnesses became more supportive and protective. The reserve parachute, its connection system and protective equipment are now fundamental parts of flight preparation.
Lines and controls
Improved materials and manufacturing made suspension systems lighter. Brake controls, speed systems and wing geometry allow more precise control.
Flight instruments
Variometers, satellite positioning, radios and detailed weather forecasts are widely used for flight planning, communication and recording.
Sources
Principal records used in this article
Historical information was summarised by comparing federation, institutional, patent and museum records.