Powered paragliding experience in Okinawa, Japan

About this tour

• Professional coaches provide one-on-one guidance, safe and secure
• Enjoy a 360-degree view of Okinawa's stunning seascape from a height of 200 meters
• Family friendly

The content of this product is provided by machine translation and may not reflect the actual information, please take this into consideration before booking.

A powered paraglider is a personal recreational aircraft that uses an engine to fly in the sky, combining a paraglider and an engine power unit. During the entire activity, the instructor will accompany the participants and control the direction. The participants only need to enjoy the beautiful scenery at high altitudes.
Due to factors such as weather and wind direction, you will need to confirm whether you can take off and the specific take-off address before 9 am on the day of the experience. If you are unable to take off due to factors such as unsatisfactory wind direction on the day of the experience, you can choose to reschedule or get a refund. If you encounter a day that is confirmed to be unable to take off, we will contact you in advance and ask you to reschedule or refund.

• Sessions: morning session & afternoon session. The sessions are generally divided into morning sessions at 10:00/11:00 and afternoon sessions at 13:00/14:00/15:00. The meeting time will be confirmed with you before 9:00 am on the day of the meeting.

• Location: The take-off location is usually located in but not limited to the following addresses: Nakajo City (中城モール), Urumashi (Uruma City Sea Road) or Yomitan Village (Kumiohara Beach), which is about 40-60 minutes drive from Naha City. It will be adjusted according to the wind direction on the day. The detailed meeting point will be confirmed with you before 9 am on the day.

• Time: Total time is about 1 hour, aerial experience time: about 10 minutes.

• Regarding pick-up and drop-off: Pick-up and drop-off service is currently unavailable. Please go on your own and arrive at the flight location 10 minutes in advance.

—FAQ—

Q: How safe is paragliding?

A: Paragliding has gone through more than 30 years of development, with several technological upgrades and a complete set of testing and inspection standards. The paraglider can automatically recover within a few seconds after the wing is broken due to turbulence. There is a 15 cm thick sponge or a 30 cm thick air bag cushioning under the seat, and a spare parachute as a last resort for self-rescue. It can be said that today's paragliding equipment is very mature and safe.

Q: I saw other parachutes flying very high, but my instructor didn’t take me to fly high. What’s going on?

A: Paragliders are unpowered aircraft and cannot climb to any height like airplanes. They must rely on rising thermal currents to climb. However, rising thermal currents are intermittent, and each one has a different diameter, rising speed, and rising apex. Those paragliders that get particularly high are those that are lucky enough to catch a strong thermal current. So even though the instructor wants to fly high, the altitude of each flight is unpredictable.

Q: Is there anything I need to do to cooperate with the coach?

A: The takeoff phase is the only part where you must cooperate with the instructor. First, you must wear the right shoes for running. When the coach says "Run, run, run" behind you, you must run forward with big strides until your feet leave the ground and fly out of the take-off field boundary. Frequently, passengers are too scared to run and sit down on the ground; other times, because the wind is strong when the parachute is opened, the passengers' feet are temporarily off the ground, and then they sit down, but touch the ground again after a moment. Both situations must be avoided, because once the passenger sits down and stops running, the coach will not have the strength to drag him and takeoff will fail. In the worst case, two people would fall to the ground, and in the worst case, they would roll down the hillside several meters. Remember to do everything you can to keep your feet pointed downward during takeoff. Even if you are temporarily airborne, be prepared to touch the ground and run again until you are out of the takeoff field!

Q: Can I bring a camera or mobile phone to take my own photos?

A: It is strongly recommended not to bring your own camera for taking photos and videos, as it may be damaged due to falls, etc. If you must take pictures, you can use your mobile phone (bring your own selfie stick). Please be sure to tie the camera to the seat bag with a rope or hang it around your neck. The club is not responsible for any damage or loss.