Flyability

The Buggie

The original buggie was designed in 1994 and is still flying pilots and passengers, with a variety of disabilities, today. This is due to it's simple and sturdy design. Made from fibre-glass or carbon Kevlar, if you have the budget, the buggie is light and strong, making it easy to manoeuvre on the ground and almost un-noticeable to fly with. It slides into any large seated harness and the elevation straps connect to the mailons. The hole allows the leg straps to come through the buggie and attach , as normal, so there is no need for any specialist equipment. To make it even more comfortable and protective I suggest you insert a back protector between the pilot/ passengers back and back of the buggie.

The buggie should be lined with good quality Kari-mat type sponge and if possible a silicon cushion should be placed under the pilot/passenger for added comfort and protection. The paragliding bag should also be placed under the knees and care must be taken to check the blood supply to the legs is not restricted by the leg-straps as if they are stationary for a long time the pilot/passenger does tend to slide down especially if you have just been manoeuvring it on the ground.

The buggie is designed with the pneumatic tyres in a position to allow it to sit and fly in a slightly "feet up" position. This keeps the pilot back, maximising comfort and circulation, and if there were a fast landing, it deflects the force from the front, and back to the tyres which absorbs the impact very well.

For Take-off, assistance is required, and if you are flying tandem, the pilot has to bend down a little before the run. However the moment the glider is inflated it supports the passenger allowing the pilot to manoeuvre himself into wind. This also applies to landing. It is always the pilots feet that touch down first allowing him to gently lower the passenger onto the ground under the support of the glider. In nil wind landings you can come in quite fast and

Any club or school can use the buggie providing you have an experienced tandem pilot and instructor. If you are interested in the buggie click here to talk to me, and play your part in enabling anyone with a physical disability to have access to the sky. Feel free to print out the drawing and get someone who's experienced with moulding fibre-glass to make it. The only additional things you need are two tyres and a piece of up-right for the axle, which you can get from most HG suppliers, and two adjustable straps. If you can't make it then just click here and we will arrange for one of ours to be sent to you FREE. So far we have 6 in the UK, 4 in Australia, and 6 more scattered around the globe, so let's make that more buggies and therefore more pilots.