FAQ about paragliding in Kansas. 

1. Is it possible to fly free flying paragliders in Kansas?
Yes. We go up using special towing winches, sometimes we fly on small ridges (250ft). 

2. Can I be taught to fly paragliders in Kansas?
Yes, by United States Hanggliding and Paragliding Association certified instructor: 
http://www.ushpa.aero/instructors_map.asp?state=ks&div=Both&view=list

3.Is it lessons available just on weekends?
No. Training can be arranged 7 days a week. Evening (from 6pm) on business days, and mornings and evenings on weekends. 

4. Where lessons are held?
In Ottawa municipal aiport: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=38.552596,-95.254898&spn=0.059336,0.11673&z=13

4.How much training cost?
One day courses are 100$ (~3hr session) you will fly (about 10ft of the ground) on your first session. Full P2 program is 1000$ (12-15sessions). It includes all needed equipment rent. 

5. Are there any limitations? 
Equipment that KCpara has now, limits pilot weight between 150 and 225lbs. 
You should be in general good health. Physically it's about as hard as play tennis. 

6. Does KCpara sells paragliding equipment?
Yes. Great choice and prices for local pilots.

7. Is it towing dangerous? 
In flats air most of the time is much calmer (no rotors, no very strong thermals, lots of space to land) than in the mountains, even towing requires some extra skills, whole flight in general is safer than flying in mountains.

8. How high you can be towed? 
Usually 600-1000ft, sometimes up to 2500ft (depending on wind strength and direction).

9. How hight you can go up? 
By using thermals you can climb to the cloud base, which is for eastern Kansas 3000-4000ft average. Sometime reaches over 7000ft.

10. How far you can fly?
Kansas state record is 200km or ~125miles. 20miles flights is something average here. 

11. How long can you fly?
On good days 1-2hr flight is average. Sometime (2-4 times a season) up to 4-5 hr. 

12. Do you necessary need thermals to fly? 
No. Thermals helps to stay longer in the air or go up without towing, but absolutely not necessary. As beginner you should avoid thermals, as thermal air is not smooth air. That's why PG lessons are held in the morning (6am-11am) or evening (6pm to sunset).

13. How long PG season lasts in Kansas? 
Thermal season last from February to the end of November. Training flights (no or very light thermals) can be done all year round. However paragliding is limited to about 18mph winds (for experienced pilots) and 10mph for training. In winter and spring there is lot's windy days. Spring usually is mix between excellent and no flying weather. Mid. June to Early September provides most of flying weather (usually we fly every weekend 2days in a row). Spring and early fall provides most comfortable weather for training (not hot).

14. How much airtime you make a season?
Depends how often you can go for flying. Recent practice showed 45 - 77hrs/year.

15. How much airtime beginner can expect? 
If you start early spring you can expect 10-20hrs on your first season just by flying in Kansas. 

16. Does Kcpara pilots fly paramotors (powered paragliders)? 
Yes. It's good option to fly when there are no thermals. 

17. Does KCpara provides rides (tandem flights)?
Not at the moment. We are working on it. 

18. Do you need special training to go from paragliding to powered paragliding? 
Free flying instructors requires higher canopy control skills before issuing student license (P2), because free flying PG's most of the time flies not in a smooth air (thermals).
Once you have your P2, you will have the piloting skills required to fly both PG and PPG.  You can then do the research required to find the right PPG engine for you and you will understand both when and where to fly PPG.