Paragliding for dummies Intelligence Artificielle et Parapente
Condorito Parapente

Last update : 30/12/2022

As a webdeveloper, I started dabbling with " ChatGPT "on my smartphone, while I was waiting in line at the cinema, a few days ago. It's a chatbot, based on artificial intelligence (AI).
I gave it a logic brief, and within a minute, I had working code! You can find a similar demo on this video.

Impressive. I was right to change jobs. Paragliding instructors may still have some breathing room.

I continued the "talk" today.

AI, tell me about paragliding

Paragliding Valle De Bravo Artificial intelligence
Paragliding Valle De Bravo

Paragliding is a free-flying sport that involves soaring through the air using a delta-shaped sail (is that right?), called a "paraglider," and a flight harness. Paragliders usually take off from launch sites on high ground, such as hills or mountains, and fly using updrafts to stay aloft. They can navigate by using the control handles of the canopy and making controlled turns and descents.

Paragliding is accessible to everyone and can be practiced at all levels, from beginner to advanced. To begin paragliding, it is recommended that you take lessons with a certified instructor and go through a tandem flight to become familiar with the equipment and basic techniques. Once you have gained experience and obtained your pilot's license, you can fly solo and explore new flying destinations.

Paragliding offers a breathtaking view of the landscape and a sense of freedom and escape. It is also a relatively inexpensive sport (well, relatively speaking) and can be practiced in many places around the world, making it a popular activity for outdoor sports enthusiasts. However, it is important to remember that paragliding is a risky sport and safety must be a constant concern when flying. Be sure to follow your instructor's safety instructions and respect the rules of the air.

AI, is paragliding dangerous ?

Paragliding Mexico Artificial intelligence
Paragliding Mexico

Paragliding is a risky sport and there is a certain level of danger associated with every flight. However, by following your instructor's safety instructions and respecting the rules of the airspace, you can minimize the risks and enjoy this activity in a safe and enjoyable manner.

Here are some safety precautions to follow when paragliding:

  • Take a paragliding course with a certified instructor.
  • Use quality equipment in good condition.
  • Always wear a helmet and sunglasses to protect your head and eyes.
  • Observe airspace rules and authorized flight limits.
  • Avoid flying in windy or stormy days.
  • Stay in contact with your fellow pilots and airspace controllers (if you are flying in a controlled area).

It is also important to note that paragliding is a sport that requires adequate physical condition. If you have any health problems or physical limitations, it is recommended that you consult a physician before paragliding.

By following these safety guidelines and using common sense, you can minimize the risks and enjoy this exciting activity in a safe and enjoyable way.

What is the best place to go paragliding ?

Paragliding Annecy Artificial intelligence
Paragliding Annecy

There are many excellent places to paraglide around the world, but the best place depends on your preferences and skill level. Here are some criteria to consider when looking for a place to fly:

Weather: Wind and thermals are crucial to paragliding, so you should look for places that have favorable weather conditions throughout the year. Sunny, arid regions, such as southern France and California, are often good choices.

Terrain and scenery: Launch and flight sites with a great view of the scenery are particularly popular with paragliders. Mountains, lakes and valleys are often good choices, but any place with a panoramic view can be fun to fly.

Accessibility: Places that are easily accessible and offer a supportive infrastructure, such as paragliding schools and equipment rental stores, are especially convenient for beginners.

Culture and nightlife: If you are on vacation and want to enjoy the nightlife and culture of the place you are flying to, you should look for places with a lively cultural scene and entertaining nightlife.

There are many other criteria to consider when looking for a flying location, and it is important to do thorough research before traveling to a new location. If you are a beginner, it can be especially helpful to do a tandem flight with an experienced instructor to familiarize yourself with local conditions and flying sites.

What about paragliding in Valle de Bravo (Mexico) ?

Valle de Bravo is a popular destination for paragliding in Mexico because of its favorable weather conditions and beautiful views. Located about two hours west of Mexico City, Valle de Bravo is a small town nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains, forests and lakes. The town is known for its colonial-style architecture, old church and natural beauty, making it a popular weekend getaway for locals.

There are several sites in the area that are suitable for paragliding, including Cerro Gordo, which offers a consistent thermal and ridge climb, and Cerro del Cuatro, which offers a longer and more challenging flight. The best time to paraglide in Valle de Bravo is between November and April, when the weather is dry and the winds are more stable.

To paraglide in Valle de Bravo, you must be in good physical condition and have a basic knowledge of the sport. It is recommended that you take a paragliding course or tandem flight with a certified instructor before attempting to fly solo. There are several reputable paragliding schools in the area that offer lessons and tandem flights, so you can learn the basics and get a feel for the sport before attempting to fly it alone.

In general, paragliding in Valle de Bravo is an exciting and unique experience to discover the natural beauty of the area. With its favorable weather conditions and breathtaking views, it is no wonder that Valle de Bravo has become a popular destination for paragliders from all over the world.

And paragliding in Annecy, France ?

Annecy is a popular destination for paragliding due to its favorable weather conditions and spectacular scenery. Located in the French Alps, Annecy is surrounded by mountains and lakes, offering numerous flying sites with panoramic views of the snowy landscape.

There are several paragliding schools in the Annecy area that offer lessons and tandem flights for beginners and experienced paragliders. The instructors are all licensed professionals and will guide you to the best flying sites in the area. You can also rent paragliding equipment at one of these schools or at a local sports store.

The best times to paraglide in Annecy are in the summer and fall, when the weather is stable and the thermals are strong. However, it is possible to fly all year round in the region if conditions permit. Remember that paragliding is a risky sport and safety must be a constant concern when flying. Be sure to follow your instructor's safety instructions and respect the rules of the air.

First take-aways

It's quite bluffing. Not perfect, sometimes repetitive, approximate, but overall encouraging, even quite worrying. Hopefully this artificial intelligence will respect Asimov's 3 laws of robotics :

  1. A robot may not harm a human being or, remaining passive, leave that human being exposed to danger;
  2. A robot must obey the orders given by human beings, unless such orders contradict the first law;
  3. A robot must protect its existence to the extent that such protection does not contradict the first or second law.

If you don't have a friend, and you need to talk, you can create an account on chat.openai.com. The images illustrating this article are also produced by artificial intelligence. You just have to create a discord account and connect to the channel "MidJourney". I put the text I typed as a caption, under the result obtained in image, which you can get in larger size by clicking it. For the image put forward, very strange, it is the result of Condorito + Paragliding.

If you want to know more about paragliding, I advise you to read Paragliding for Dummies".

Artificial intelligence applied to paragliding

  • Can I fly today ?
  • Can I go cross-country ?

These are the two main questions that paraglider pilots ask themselves. The Frenchman Antoine Meler works in computer science and is himself a passionate pilot. He has programmed a new type of weather forecast based on artificial intelligence. He combines data from past weather systems with actual flights on those dates to create a new forecast.

For the moment, these forecasts only encompass Western Europe, but it is already very promising:  https://paraglidable.com/

 

Condorito

Parapentiste depuis plus de 20 ans, je suis le créateur de ce site. Moniteur à l'école de parapente des Grands Espaces paragliding school, j'aurais peut-être le plaisir de vous faire survoler le lac d'Annecy en parapente. Je migre l'hiver à Valle de Bravo (Mexique). Hasta pronto ! More info

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