One form. One human reading the other end.
Tell us what you want to fly. We'll respond within one business day with the next two viable dates, weather windows we'd target, and a deposit link. No automated chatbot, no marketing list — Bo or Maren will write you back.
What are you trying to fly?
For tandems and one-day intros, give us two or three Saturdays you can do. For courses, give us a 3–4 week window. We'll match you to a Carolinas-area weather pattern that's likely to deliver.
Or get us directly
Email: fly@ridgehawkpara.com
Phone: (704) 555-0184
Shop: 1142 Camden Rd, Suite 4, Charlotte NC 28203
Hours: Tue–Fri 1–7pm · Sat by appointment
The questions every first-timer asks.
Is paragliding scary?
The launch is the most adrenal moment — a few seconds of jogging while the wing inflates overhead. Once you're airborne, the sensation is closer to a slow ski lift than a roller coaster. There is no falling, no diving, no engine noise. Most first-time tandem passengers describe it as "weirdly quiet."
What if the weather is bad on my date?
We reschedule at no charge. We will not fly anyone in marginal conditions. Our flight-day decision is made the morning of, based on launch-site observations and a model run from the latest Tennessee Valley sounding.
How long is a tandem flight?
A typical Henson Gap tandem is 8–25 minutes in the air, depending on conditions. The Thermal Tandem (weather permitting) targets 45–90 minutes. The "ground" portion — sign-in, gear-up, brief, debrief — is about 90 minutes total.
Can I fly with a GoPro?
Yes, on the strap we provide. No handheld phones in the air. We'll also email you our own chest-cam footage within 48 hours.
How is paragliding different from skydiving?
You take off from a slope, not a plane. The wing is always overhead, not deployed from a pack. Flights are 10 minutes to hours, not 60 seconds. There's no free-fall. Paragliding is much closer to sailing than to skydiving.
How long to become a rated pilot?
Typically 10–14 training days for the USHPA P2 rating. Most students spread that over a season of weekends; a smaller number do an intensive over 12 consecutive days. Total cost is $1,750–$2,500 depending on the school. Ours is $2,250.
Do I need to buy gear before training?
No. School gear is included in your tuition. Don't buy a wing until your instructor recommends it — usually after 30+ flights. Buying too early is one of the most common mistakes in the sport.
Is this regulated by the FAA?
Yes — paragliders fall under FAA Part 103, the ultralight-vehicle rule. There is no FAA pilot license required, but the U.S. Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (USHPA) self-regulates the sport at a level the FAA accepts. Every site we fly requires a current USHPA rating to sign in.
What's the worst-case scenario, really?
Paragliding is taken seriously because the risks are real. The most common incidents are landing injuries, not in-air failures. Our school carries a clean record under instruction. We will turn down a flight if the air says no.
Most people who book a tandem
book another one.
We've never advertised. The school has grown by word-of-mouth from 2017 onward. If you're reading this, someone you know — probably someone you trust — flew with us once and didn't shut up about it.