Information about your
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For the ultimate paragliding adventure
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What happens the day of my paragliding flight? Ruch Country Store located off Jacksonville Hwy 238
We'll meet at the Ruch Country Store, refer to the directions on how to get there.
We'll go over some discussion points about launching, flying, and
landing the paraglider. You'll sign a waiver and fill out a form that
makes you a temporary student pilot and we'll drive up to the launch. The
whole paragliding experience usually lasts 2-3 hours. Depending on the
conditions and time day the flight can be as short at ten minutes or
last longer than an hour. If your tandem flight is less than 15 minutes
because of conditions another flight will be offered same day. If
conditions are such that it is unsafe to fly that day, a make-up
flight within 30 days will be offered. Pictures, video, and a flight
track will be available to share with friends and family. We'll arrange a meeting place and time. All the flights cost the same but not everyone wants the same flight. Read below to get a general idea of the flying experiences offered.
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Introduction of the tandem pilot and the flying site
 Tandem Pilot Michael Jahn & son enjoying a Ducks game, Go Ducks!
Hello, my name is Michael Jahn, I'm the owner and operator of Epic Air Tandem Paragliding. I'm an United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA)certified tandem instructor and a member of the Rogue Valley Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (RVHPA), a local flying club. I live in Medford, Oregon and offer instructional tandem paragliding flights.
I'm passionate about paragliding and would love the opportunity to share the exhilarating sport of flight with you.  Woodrat Mountain located in Ruch, Oregon
The flights take place at Woodrat Mountain, a paragliding and hang gliding site located just outside of Jacksonville. Woodrat Mountain has a lower and upper launch. It is known by paragliders and hang gliders throughout the Pacific Northwest for its converging and thermic lift.
Every June, Woodrat Mountain is the site for a national paragliding competition called the Rat Race. It has become one of the most renowned paragliding and hang gliding sites in the United States. |
Introduction to paragliding
Paragliding, often called parasailing, in the morning or early afternoon is a great way to get introduced to the extreme sport of paragliding. It is for those who just want to say they did it. The flight will be shorter but the conditions will be smoother. The flight is designed to get you familiar with various components of paragliding including launching, flying and landing the paraglider. When we leave the launch, you will have a bird's eye view of the Applegate Valley including mountain ridges, forested terrain, houses, and vineyards. Upon landing, we will set up over a large green pasture at the base of the mountain and glide across the field until our feet touch the ground. Morning flights are offered on Saturdays and Sundays.
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Evening Soaring around the Applegate Valley
Evening soaring is a great option for those who want a longer flight without all the turning and bumps. During the evenings usually after 5PM, the heat that has built up, throughout the day, is released. The release of this heat along with valley winds creates strong consistent air that is often soarable. We call this effect Glass-Off. During a glass-off flight, the air is soarable. The strong winds deflect off the mountain ridges allowing us to fly for an extended period of time. You will receive in flight training, about ridge lift and lift lines called convergence. We will have a discussion about the causes of ridge lift, convergence, and how pilots use it to sustain flight. Evening glass-offs are offered between 5-8PM Monday thru Sunday from March through September.
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Paragliding in thermals
Afternoon flying is for the little more adventurous, and, it is a nice transition for those who have already taken a morning and evening flight. The flight may be a little bumpy and textured as we climb to elevations of 1000 to 3000 feet above launch. These heights offer a pristine view of the Rogue Valley, Mt. McLaughlin, and possibly Mt. Shasta. You will learn about thermals and how paraglider and hang gliders use them. Afternoon flights are offered on Saturdays and Sundays.
To watch previous paragliding student flights click here.If you still have questions and need more information before you decide to paraglide click here. |