Terms, abbreviations and pilot slang

Paragliding glossary

From your first thermal to flight computers. Explore essential terms, abbreviations and pilot slang, with related concepts and further reading.

Showing 10 of 41 terms

Air and weather

The lower boundary of a cloud.

A heap-shaped convective cloud with distinct edges.

The side of a slope or obstacle sheltered from the incoming wind.

Rising air that can help a glider maintain or gain height.

Rising air produced when wind is deflected upwards by a slope.

A region of rotating airflow that can form on the lee side of terrain.

Air moving downwards.

A rising current driven by differences in air temperature and density.

Irregular, swirling airflow with changes in speed and direction.

The side of a slope or obstacle facing the incoming wind.