Do you fancy soaring high with the eagles? Well, I do. No, I haven't done any paragliding yet, but I plan to. As far as I can see it's the cheapest, easiest way to get to fly - other than in a plane, of course. Much cheaper and easier than learning to fly a plane; also cheaper and easier than hang gliding. Of course, there's also hot air ballooning but then you just have to go where the wind takes you.

I nearly forgot - there's microlighting too. Now that's ok if you don't mind a noisy engine a couple of feet behind your head. But if you just want something you can pack in a bag, carry with you to a suitable spot, unpack, strap on, then take off then paragliding is it.

Imagine driving to a beautiful upland location. You put on your flying suit and boots and take out your incredibly light flying machine - your paraglider. You inspect your equipment, don your helmet and harness, then allow the wind to raise the canopy - and launch skywards. This is paragliding!

Paragliders were developed from parachuting canopies. Modern paragliders can be flown easily on windward slopes. It is a similar experience to hang gliding, but a paraglider is more portable and a little easier to learn to fly. They are more affected by strong winds than hang gliders but are easier to land in confined areas.

Once you have gained a sufficient level of skill as a paraglider pilot you can aim for cross-country flying and an experienced pilot in good conditions can travel long distances across country. A summer sky filled with fluffy cumulus clouds provides invisible lifting currents which pilots use to gain altitude. You can navigate from cloud to cloud, in almost total silence, watching the landscape unfold beneath you as you soar across the sky. Flights of over 150km have been made by paraglider pilots.

The videos below show what is possible...

Ok, the level of flying skill shown in the videos above is not something you can pick up in a few days. But you can get off the ground by taking a paragliding course lasting a few days.

In the UK a full course at a BHPA school will take around ten days of flyable weather. There are also various short 'taster' courses available lasting for as little as one day to give you an idea of what to expect.

Training is usually conducted on a gentle slope. Your instructor will explain how the canopy is laid out, inflated and controlled by its brake lines; you'll then take it in turns with other members of your group to have your first short training hops.

When you've become adept at ground handling, controlling airspeed and making gentle turns, you'll probably go to a higher hill for longer flights. The instructor may even take you up dual on a special canopy to demonstrate an exercise. As things fall into place you'll learn to soar - to stay up in favourable winds and make longer flights.

In the classroom you will cover flight theory, meteorology and basic air law and sit a simple exam. With a positive assessment from your instructor on your flying, normally on your own, you are given a BHPA Club Pilot rating enabling you to fly in a club environment.

You can also learn to fly on an airfield using a winch to tow you aloft. Training this way takes less time and you can easily convert to hill flying later if you choose.