Pegas Fly

Pegas Fly
Name	Pegas Fly
Country	Czech Republic
Manufacturer	Pegas Aviation
Role	Paraglider
First flight	2005
Status	Active

Pegas Fly The Pegas Fly is a Czech paraglider designed and manufactured by Pegas Aviation, introduced in the mid-2000s as a recreational and competition wing. It was developed to bridge performance between entry-level wings and advanced competition models produced by manufacturers such as Ozone, Nova, Gin, and Advance. The design attracted attention from pilots associated with clubs and federations including the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Deutscher Hängegleiterverband, Aero Club of the Czech Republic, and Fédération Française de Vol Libre.

Design and Development

Pegas Aviation initiated the Fly program drawing on design trends from manufacturers like Skywalk, Supair, Mac Para, and Swing, while consulting aerodynamic research from institutions such as the Delft University of Technology, Imperial College London, and the Technical University of Delft. Chief designer Petr Novák collaborated with engineers affiliated with Airbus, Boeing, and Czechoslovak institutions to refine airfoil sections influenced by work at the NASA Langley Research Center and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Prototyping involved materials suppliers including Porcher Sport, Dominico, and Teijin, with testing at sites used by Red Bull Air Race pilots and glider teams such as Schempp-Hirth and Jonkers. The development cycle incorporated iterations following input from FAI-certified test pilots and instructors from British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Swiss Hanggliding Association, and Aeroklub Warszawski.

Technical Specifications

The Fly employed a semi-reflex profile inspired by designs from Gin Gliders and Ozone with cell counts comparable to models from Nova and Advance. The wing featured lines from Edelrid and Liros, risers modeled on standards used by Swing and Skywalk, and trimmers similar to systems from UP International and BGD. Structural reinforcements used materials common to Paratech and AirDesign wings; canopy panels were cut using techniques developed alongside companies such as Ten Cate and Coveme. Performance metrics were validated against benchmarks set by competitors including Niviuk, FreeX, and Gradient, and measured in flight test centers used by Airbus Helicopters and Sikorsky test pilots. Instruments for testing included variometers and GPS units from Flymaster, Alti-Variometers from LXNAV, and flight data systems used by Red Bull X-Alps athletes.

Operational History

Since its introduction, the Fly saw service among pilots in clubs like the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, Deutscher Hängegleiterverband, Aero Club of the Czech Republic, and Federación Aérea Uruguaya. It was flown in competitions associated with the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale calendar, including cross-country tasks in the Paragliding World Cup, X-Alps qualifiers, and regional events organized by Asociación Argentina de Vuelo Libre and Associação de Voo Livre do Brasil. Notable test sites included Ölüdeniz, Annecy, and the Dolomites where pilots from the Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom, Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India evaluated its handling alongside wings by Skywalk, Mac Para, and UP International.

Variants

The Fly lineup expanded to include sizes and trims to compete with models from Ozone, Advance, and Nova. Variant development paralleled approaches used by Gin Gliders and Swing, offering designs comparable to gliders from Niviuk, BGD, and Parapente Galaxy. Each variant underwent flight trials in environments frequented by athletes competing in the Red Bull X-Alps, Paragliding World Cup, and national championships overseen by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale and the Confederación Panamericana de Parapente.

Safety and Certification

Certification efforts for the Fly followed protocols used by EN-testing houses and organizations such as Deutscher Hängegleiterverband, British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, and Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile. Testing compared behavior to certified wings from Ozone, Nova, and Gin Gliders under scenarios studied by research groups at Imperial College London and Delft University of Technology. Safety documentation referenced best practices promoted by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, Civil Aviation Authority, and European Union Aviation Safety Agency, with maintenance and inspection guidance reflecting standards from Porcher Sport and Dominico material suppliers.

Notable Users and Competitions

Pilots flying the Fly participated in events organized by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, Red Bull X-Alps organizers, Paragliding World Cup, and national federations including Aero Club of the Czech Republic, British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, and Deutscher Hängegleiterverband. Competitors who trialed the Fly came from teams associated with Gin Gliders, Ozone, Nova, and Skywalk and flew in venues like Annecy, Ölüdeniz, and the Dolomites, joining athletes from organizations such as Red Bull, Fédération Française de Vol Libre, and Associação de Voo Livre do Brasil.

Pegas Aviation Czech Republic Petr Novák (aircraft designer) Ozone Gliders Nova Performance Paragliders Gin Gliders Advance Thun Skywalk GmbH & Co. KG Supair Mac Para Technology Swing Flugsportgeräte Delft University of Technology Imperial College London NASA Langley Research Center German Aerospace Center DLR Porcher Sport Dominico Teijin Airbus Boeing Schempp-Hirth Jonker Sailplanes Fédération Aéronautique Internationale British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association Deutscher Hängegleiterverband Aero Club of the Czech Republic Fédération Française de Vol Libre Niviuk FreeX GmbH Gradient sro Edelrid Liros UP International BDG (paragliders) Paratech AirDesign Ten Cate Coveme Flymaster LXNAV Red Bull X-Alps Paragliding World Cup Ölüdeniz Annecy Dolomites Civil Aviation Authority Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India) Asociación Argentina de Vuelo Libre Associação de Voo Livre do Brasil Federación Aérea Uruguaya Red Bull Air Race Sikorsky Aircraft Airbus Helicopters Parapente Galaxy Confederación Panamericana de Parapente Petr Novák