Top Gun Flight School

At iParaglide Top Gun Flight School, we take pride in having taught over 1900 paragliding students in our 26 years of operation.

We are the the longest running school based in Metro Vancouver. Due to our central location, we are the only school that flies all of the relevant kiting parks, training hills and mountains within a 3 hour radius of Vancouver.  This empowers pilots to get to know the key training and flying spots early, optimizes and accelerates learning, and allows them to grow into great future pilots.  

We have the reputation of being an industry leader with an emphasis on engineered safety systems, quality instruction, the finest equipment and a positive learning environment for fun and empowering flying.

We offer the highest level of accreditation, with Senior HPAC and Advanced USHPA paragliding instructors, who coach from first flight to expert paraglider pilots and teach and qualify new paragliding instructors.

Top Gun References

We recently graduated a CF-18 Hornet Pilot from our Top Gun iP2 Novice Paragliding Pilot program.  Read about his impressions of iParaglide.

Social Links

iParaglide Location

Located at 962 - 51st Street Tsawwassen, near Vancouver, BC, Canada, for all your paragliding needs. We are ideally situated just minutes away from the finest training hill at Diefenbaker Park.

iParaglide Flying Sites

We are central to paragliding sites in the Vancouver, Chilliwack, Pemberton, Whistler, Bellingham and Seattle area so students enjoy maximum variety and we can work with weather to optimize selection of the best location each day.

Right Stuff Equipment

We regularly test fly the latest paragliding gear and select only the very finest for our iParaglide Right Stuff Paragliding Equipment Store. This ensures our paraglider pilots enjoy a state of the art performance and safety advantage to accelerate their learning curve.

Paragliding Webcams/Wind Stations

Vancouver Paragliding Webcams - get a view of cloud base to plan your paragliding cross country flight adventure.

Woodside Mtn Webcam

Woodside Wind Station

Bridal Webcam

Bridal Wind Station

Chilliwack Webcam

Hope Webcam 

Pemberton Webcam

Tsawwassen Webcam

Bellingham Bay Webcam

Tiger Mtn Webcam 

Sunday
Jul162017

iParaglide Right Site Weather: July 16

Paragliding weather forecast for Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Whistler & Pemberton area, based on data available at 0500. 

Transitioning pressure with jet stream overhead and mostly cloudy skies, clearing as day progresses.

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft W to 17 km/hr.  Early W inflow valley wind to 15 km/hr increasing to 20 km/hr as the sea-breeze establishes. Advanced peak lapse rate -2.9C/1000ft. 

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft light and variable becoming N to 20 km/hr late in the afternoon. Valley wind E to 10 km/hr.  Advanced peak lapse rate -3.0C/1000ft. 

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

1. Paragliding Bellingham: -2.7C/1000ft advanced peak lapse rate.  Proximity to ocean and lower altitude likely to reduce actual lapse rate.  Heading south also avoids the jet stream overhead. Blanchard for P2 pilots 0800-1400 then watch for increasing wind and lapse rate and P4 conditions. 90% paragliding chances.

2. Paragliding Seattle: - 3.0C/1000ft advanced peak lapse rate.  Tiger for P2 pilots 0800-1300 then watch for increasing N wind aloft to 20m km/hr , lee side conditions and strong thermals.   Chances to paraglide 80% early, paraglidng not recommended in mid to late afternoon. 

3. Paragliding Vancouver: -2.9C/1000ft advanced peak lapse rate. Provided cloud clears summit, Grouse for GMFT P4 team pilots 0900-1200. Watch for increasing W wind aloft.  60% paragliding prospects early, paragliding not recommended late.

4. Paragliding Chilliwack: -3.1C/1000ft advanced peak lapse rate. Woodside with P4 conditions 0900-1200 then watch for increasing W wind and strong shredded thermals.  Jet stream overhead leading to unstable and unpredictable potential for sudden increase in wind speed. Paragliding not recommended this afternoon.  

5. Paragliding Pemberton: -2.7C/1000ft advanced peak lapse rate.  Watch for early west wind and jet stream bringing strong Whistler express south wind early.  Pilots advisory: Paragliding not recommended in Pemberton today.  

6. Paragliding Whistler: -2.9C/1000ft advanced peak lapse rate. Watch for early west wind and jet stream bringing strong Whistler express south wind early.  Pilots advisory: Paragliding not recommended in Whistler today.  

Saturday
Jul082017

iParaglide Right Site Weather: July 8

Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Whistler & Pemberton area paragliding weather forecast, based on data available at 0500. 

High pressure ridge with mostly sunny skies. 

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft NW to 11 km/hr becoming WNW to 24 km/hr. Valley wind E  to 10 km/hr becoming W to 10 km/hr as the sea-breeze establishes. Novice peak lapse rate -1.5C/1000ft. 

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft NNE to 22 km/hr becoming NNW to 11 km/hr.  Valley wind NE to 10 km/hr becoming NW to 10 km/hr as the sea-breeze establishes. Novice peak lapse rate -2.0C/1000ft. 

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

1. Paragliding Pemberton: -2.8C/1000ft advanced peak lapse rate.  Forecast lapse rate is suspect of being higher than actual. Good day for paragliding at Mt. Mackenzie. Mt. Mackenzie with P2 conditions 0800-1400 then watch for increasing NW winds aloft and P4 conditions 1400-1900. 90% chances to fly.

2. Paragliding Chilliwack: -2.5C/1000ft intermediate peak lapse rate. Woodside with P2 conditions 0800-1300 then watch for increasing NW wind and P4 conditions 1300-1900. Bridal with better alignment with NW winds aloft with P2 conditions 1000-1400 and P3 conditions 1400-2000. 80% chances to fly.

3. Paragliding Whistler: -3.0C/1000ft advanced peak lapse rate. Forecast lapse rate is suspect of being higher than actual.   Blackcomb P4 team pilots 0900-2000 with 70% chances to paraglide. 

4. Paragliding Vancouver: -1.5C/1000ft novice peak lapse rate. Grouse for GMFT P4 team pilots 0900-2000. Watch for increasing NW wind aloft.  60% paragliding prospects.

5. Paragliding Bellingham: -1.9C/1000ft novice peak lapse rate.  Proximity to ocean and lower altitude may overpower N wind aloft influence, however, watch for possible leeside conditions.  Blanchard for P3 pilots 1100-2000. Paragliding prospects 50%.

6. Paragliding Seattle: - 2.0C/1000ft novice peak lapse rate. Watch for N wind aloft exceeding 20 km/hr placing Tiger in lee until late afternoon.  Tiger Mt. not recommended today. 

Saturday
Jun172017

iParaglide Right Site Weather: June 17

Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Whistler & Pemberton area paragliding weather forecast based on data available at 0500. 

Low to North bringing mostly cloudy skies with up to 40% POP.  Jet Stream proximity increasing instability.

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft SE to 17 Km/hr and increasing to 26 km/hr. Valley wind outflow to 15 km/hr becoming easing to light and variable as day progresses. Intermediate peak lapse rate -2.5C/1000ft. 

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft SSW to 17 km/hr.  Valley wind SW to 10 km/hr.  Advanced peak lapse rate -2.8C/1000ft. 

Mostly cloudy with up to 40% POP in Vancouver, Chilliwack and Pemberton Valleys today.

Mostly sunny in Bellingham & Seattle area. 

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

1. Paragliding Seattle: -2.8C/1000ft advanced peak lapse rate. Tiger should be on today with some great flying. P2 conditions 0800-1300 and 1800-2100 with P4 conditions 1300-1800. 80% chances to paraglide.

2. Paragliding Bellingham: -2.4C/1000ft intermediate peak lapse rate.  Blanchard often has a blue hole when other areas do not, in addition the proximity to ocean dampens actual lapse rate. 0800-1400 and 1700-2000, Blanchard for P2 pilots 0800-2000. Paragliding prospects 90%.

Paragliding not recommended in Vancouver, Chilliwack, Pemberton and Whistler areas today. 

Sunday
Jun112017

iParaglide Right Site Weather: June 24

Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Whistler & Pemberton area paragliding weather forecast, based on data available at 0500. 

High pressure ridge with blue skies. 

YVR 3000 ft winds aloft light and variable.  Valley wind light outflow to 5 km/hr becoming W to 10 km/hr as sea-breeze establishes.  Novice peak lapse rate -1.8C/1000ft. 

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft light SE 22 km/hr and increasing to 30 km/hr.  Valley wind NW to 15 km/hr. Intermediate peak lapse rate -2.4C/1000ft. 

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

1. Paragliding Pemberton: (-3.1C/1000ft advanced peak lapse rate.)  Forecast lapse rate is suspect of being higher than actual. Great day for paragliding at Mt. Mackenzie with light and variable winds aloft yielding XC routes in all directions. Mt. Mackenzie with P2 conditions 0800-1400 and 1800-2000 with P4 conditions 1400-1800. 90% chances to fly.

2. Paragliding Chilliwack: (-2.9C/1000ft advanced peak lapse rate). Forecast lapse rate is suspect of being higher than actual. Woodside with P2 conditions 0800-1300, P3 conditions 1300-1800, and P2 conditions 1800-2100. Bridal 0900-1300 and 1800-2100 for P2 pilot with P3 conditions 1300-1800. 90% chances to fly.

3. Paragliding Whistler: (-3.3C/1000ft advanced peak lapse rate.) Forecast lapse rate is suspect of being higher than actual.  Light and variable winds aloft make for a great day of flying. Blackcomb P4 team pilots 0900-2100 at Whistler with 90% chances to paraglide. 

4. Paragliding Vancouver: -1.8C/1000ft novice peak lapse rate. Grouse for GMFT P4 pilots 0900-2100. 90% paragliding prospects.

5. Paragliding Bellingham: -1.5C/1000ft novice peak lapse rate.  Proximity to ocean and lower altitude likely to overpower SE wind aloft influence. Blanchard for P2 pilots 0800-2000. Paragliding prospects 90%.

6. Paragliding Seattle: - 2.4C/1000ft  intermediate peak lapse rate. Watch for SE wind aloft exceeding 20 km/hr. Tiger for P4 pilots 1000-2100. Chances to paraglide 60%.

 

Saturday
Jun102017

iParaglide Right Site Weather: June 10

Vancouver, Chilliwack, Bellingham, Seattle, Whistler & Pemberton area paragliding weather forecast based on data available at 0500. 

Low to SW bringing mixed skies and instability.

YVR 3000 ft winds alfot light nad variable. Valley wind outflow to 10 km/hr becoming W to 10 km/hr as sea-breeze establishes late. Advanced peak lapse rate -2.8C/1000ft. 

SEA 3000 ft winds aloft light and variable becoming NW to 11 km/hr in afternoon. Valley wind S and becoming west to 15 km/hr. Advanced peak lapse rate -3.1C/1000ft. 

60% POP and mostly cloudy with cloudbase at 3000ft in Vancouver, Chilliwack and Pemberton Valleys today.

Rain expected in afternoon in Seattle area. 

iParaglide Right Site Ranking:

1. Paragliding Bellingham: -3.2C/1000ft advanced peak lapse rate.  Blanchard often has a blue hole when other areas do not, and if so, it should work well today for P2 pilots 0800-1400 and 1700-2000, with P4 conditions 1400 - 1700.  Paragliding prospects 70%.

Paragliding not recommended in Vancouver, Chilliwack, Pemberton and Seattle areas today.