Questions & Answers

Piloting, flight behaviour :

2 In case of collapse ?
16 Does Cage tandem exist ?
17 Mountain flight with la Cage ?
18 How do you manage without brakes especially in strong turbulence ?
20 What happens once your reserve is open ?
21 How does la Cage turn ?
24 Can you winch la Cage ?
26 Did a "paramotorised" Cage exist ?

Equipment :

3 Why don't you use paraglider harness ?
4 Can you adapt a cage under a paraglider wing ?
5 Preparing or folding la Cage isn't more complex than a paraglider ?
6 Do you put the whole equipment (cage, wing, cocoon) in a backpack ?
7 How much weighs this backpack ?
8 Is there several Cage models ?
9 Which are their performance ?
11 Where do you have la Cage repaired ?
15 Did you ratify la Cage ?
19 How and where do you put your reserve ?
23 One single hang point, isn't it dangerous ?

Teaching, discover :

12 Where is flying la Cage taught ?
14 How long does it take before reaching my piloting skill ?
25 Is it possible to try la Cage ?
27 Do you need to be a pilot (hanglider/paraglider) to learn ?

Miscellaneous :

1 Which are the advantages versus a paraglider ?
10 How much does it cost ?
13 Why this name "e; la Cage "e; ?
22 Why there isn't any Cage in competition ?
28 Which are the "motocage" advantages versus a paramotor ?

1. Which are the advantages versus a paraglider ? :

There isn't any opposition between la Cage and a paraglider, la Cage is an hybrid glider as different as a hang glider from a paraglider.
Despite real advantages in strong wind conditions, the main point is the pleasure to fly more naturally, to surf even the smallest bubbles of rising air.
Due to the single hang point, you feel precisely the small changes in the mass of air through which you are flying, directly through your hands rather than to the harness !

2. In case of collapse ? :

When la Cage encounters moderate turbulence, nothing happens, nothing for the pilot. The freeing up of the wing its pitch and roll axis allows the wing to instantly adapt to the   changing conditions, to follow the currents of air. Its movement is transmitted to the cage structure, but as long as he doesn't grasp the lyres, the pilot stays relaxed in his cocoon, and with a light touch allows the cage structure to follow the movements of the wing. Under these circumstances the wing keeps its lift.
In the case of greater turbulence, when the wing collapses due to air movement, the pilot feels (via the snap) the loss of lift; the lyre of the inflated side becomes more resistant and the opposite lyre goes down. As a reflex, the pilot grasp the tougher lyre; this reflex will induce the re-opening of the collapsed side. Due to the single hang point, there is no need to flail arms in a frantic   manoeuvre of "pumping " brakelines, or to try to readjust his weight in the seat.

3. Why don't you use paraglider harness ? :

Of course, you can fit a paraglider harness so that you can hang it under la Cage.
Nevertheless you don't get a good piloting position. The head will be between the two lyres and this will prevent you to tilt the cage enough. The cocoon remains the best solution and the possible economy presents too many drawbacks....

4. Can you adapt a cage under a paraglider wing ? :

Technically, it's possible! the Cage designer, Jean-Louis Darlet, began with such wings but he concluded that you achieved the best result only with a dedicated wing.
It's unadvisable and even dangerous for an amateur to adapt a paraglider wing under a cage.

5. Preparing or folding la Cage isn't more complex than a paraglider ? :

It's equivalent. As untangling the suspension lines is easier, preparing la Cage is quicker; folding la Cage is a little more longer as you need to carefully pack up the wing.
When you need to split off la Cage, to set the wing in place, there is one single snap-in to open. When you hang on again, no risk to forget belly or thigh belts as you didn't unfasten them.

6. Do you put the whole equipment (cage, wing, cocoon) in a backpack ? :

Yes, and even more; helmet, gloves, instruments, water and reserve.
If you like accuracy, have a look at the dimensions.

7. How much weighs this backpack ? :

It depends of wing size, the number and size of the other objects. In general, it's between 16 and 22 Kg.

8. Is there several Cage models ? :

Yes, there is 3 models: Lagon (entry level), Seagull (intermediate), Paradigme (performance)

9. Which are their performance ? :

Have a look here, you will learn to distinguish the different models.

10. How much does it cost ? :

It depends of both model and size. A Lagon starts at €2.900 and a Paradigme at € 3.350.

11. Where do you have la Cage repaired ? :

The manufacturer (JLD-Cage) overhauls la Cage (wing + cage). However, to do some smal repairs, tears, broken suspension lines, a craftman used to repair paraglider will be the suitable man.

12. Where is flying la Cage taught ? :

You can attend a dedicated course within some schools. The first school was Thang-Ka in Dienne. You will find whereabouts here .

13. D'où vient ce nom "la Cage" ? :

It results from the uncontrolled abbreviation of an expression employed in the patent obtained in 1990  : "aircraft with flexible aerofoil inflated by kinetic pressure controlled by cage of piloting ".

14. How long does it take before reaching my piloting skill ? :

It isn't longer than to learn paragliding.
Generally, as soon as you leave school you reach your previous piloting skill. And more, you discover new sensations, which provide an added pleasure.

15. Did you ratify la Cage ? :

No. There isn't any ratifying tests dedicated to la Cage, then la Cage isn't ratified!
The cage has been structurally tested to 6 Gs positive and the wing to 8Gs positive at the maximum wing loading !

16. Does Cage tandem exist ? :

It seems difficult as cocoons are single seat. Some would think to use a tandem paraglider harness, but this would reduce the surfing pleasure, have a look at answer n°3. The paraglider remains the best solution to fly tandem.

17. Mountain flight with la Cage ? :

It's possible, but it's better to use a simplified cocoon.

18. How do you manage without brakes especially in strong turbulence ? :

Not a all ! Have a look at answer n°2. Due to the single hang point, you let the wing "live". With a paraglider you only "hold" the wing through brake lines.
With la Cage, you act on both roll and pitch axis; then you can adapt finely your piloting according to the aerological conditions.
With the single hang point, yaw and roll movements of the harness and pilot like in a conventional paraglider in turbulence are eliminated. The single hang point filters the aerology and induces great comfort though you don't need to absorb wing movement....

19. How and where do you put your reserve ? :

The reserve bag is located either on the right or the left side of the cocoon according to your choice. Have a look here to understand where is the best location whichever reserve you have.

20. What happens once your reserve is open ? :

You pilot the main wing with the cage to avoid a mirroring effect and to act on the falling point.

21. How does la Cage turn ? :

Pitch and roll are controlled directly as with an airplane or a glider. You directly incline the wing in the interior of the turn when you tilt the cage, then you rose up progressively.
        C'est  ce cabré qui inscrit le pilote sur sa trajectoire circulaire. En         augmentant l'action à cabrer, on resserre le virage.
It's a real two axis piloting.

22. Why there isn't any Cage in competition ? :

Compared to the paraglider, there is few Cage pilots, so there is still less Cage competitors among them!
The potential is in theory favorable: the performances of a caged inflatable structure are intrinsically higher than those of the same structure controlled with brakes. A brake application, even soft, consumes energy, by producing trail dissipated in turbulence while an action of piloting on the cage consumes infinitely less energy and does not generate such a turbulence.
Let us recall nevertheless that the pleasure of piloting with la Cage is primarily related to its qualities of active security and surfing the air. Improvement of the performances being only the cherry on the cake.

23. One single hang point, isn't it dangerous ? :

André gives an answer (with humour):
"with la Cage trere is a single hang point. If it's broken, you have problems.
with a paragliderthere is two hang points. If one is broken, you have problems.
Conclusion: then with a paraglider there is twice more problems than with la Cage."

24. Can you winch la Cage ? :

André gives an answer :
"Before passing to la Cage, I flew much to the winch (2/3 of the flights). I began the paraglider with the winch. I thought that to winch la Cage that would perhaps not be obvious, but good, one would see well. In fact, la Cage is really fabulous for winching.
_ there is at least three advantages:
* With takeoff one have not to himself centre under the wing if it leaves laterally. One brings back it above the head without deviating of his trajectory on the ground. Appreciable when one takes off on a small path between two corn fields.
* No risk of locking. The wing holds the course alone vis-a-vis the cable during the rise. No tendency to leave laterally.
* The rate of rise and the tension of the cable are optimized by the control of the wing in pitching. It is enough to look at the vario and to regulate the plate of the wing to obtain the best rate of rise. I obtain 5 to 7 m/s at the beginning and still 2m/s almost at the vertical of the winch (with 80 kg of traction).Avec la Cage one goes up higher than in paraglider with the same winch.
And a disadvantage (small!) :
As you go up the cable becomes vertical. The position legs horizontal can pose a problem. Two solutions:
* To put itself a little in skew under the cage so that the cable can pass on the side of the cocoon.
* To fold the legs and to let pass the cable between the knees. I prefer the first solution.

25. Is it possible to try la Cage ? :

If to carry out a test, it is certainly a little inflation followed by a more or less ballistic flight... definitely not!
La Cage is not a paraglider and its piloting asks for a minimum of training (would one test a delta or a sailplane without preliminary training?) To test la Cage, it is to agree to become again a pupil (see list of the schools) , to be opened with new feelings, in short to set out again to zero during some time. Then to spend time in flight to tame the sail and to seize the catches which will make it possible to refine its practice (in particular to roll up the thermals).
If is to discover the machine, to handle the cage on the ground and to make inflations to feel the first feelings, then it is quickly necessary to contact one of the Aspic correspondents which will be glade to share its passion. Another possibility is to take part to a CC (Fly-in) where patented Cage initiators can if the conditions are good, bring you until the great flight. But in no case this will exempt you to pass then by a school to refine its practice.

26. Did a "paramotorised" Cage exist ? :

Yes, it was proposed to speak rather of "motocage". The motocage is practised, but in a still confidential and experimental way, for the moment with paramotors designed for paragliding (built on the basis of of a harness and not a cocoon). While waiting, a made device of a bar (or a strap) fixed on the links of the arms of a paramotor (at low point preferably) on the middle of which is fixed a hoist makes it possible to fix it at the cage. Read the interview (in french) of one of the first motocagists of the history!

27. Do you need to be a pilot (hanglider/paraglider) to learn ? :

No, it is not longer than to learn paragliding and in general, several trainings are acquired more quickly than with a paraglider. And one discovers in addition new feelings which constitute an additional pleasure. The disconcerting facility of la Cage made possible for a paraplegic to suspend its armchair and to fly in full safety.

28. Which are the "motocage" advantages versus a paramotor ? :

Consult the page (in french) made by an instructor of paramotor to have a complementary opinion.
the advantages:
- to find the feeling of glide and other pleasure of piloting specific to la Cage (deadened turbulences, wing which speaks by the quadrants and not by bolster etc.)
- very clear reduction of the engine rotation torque (one maintains the thrust axis with two fingers)
- the most decisive advantage could not be highlighted for the moment: the access to the control of the incidence should in theory make it possible to fly level at speeds much more significant than under a paraglider wing: increase in power of engine not resulting in one rise if one pricks the cage
the disadvantages:
- no specific hardware was still developed: it's a question of reconsidering the motorization around a cocoon and not around a harness
- takeoff: it is necessary to make there coexist two cages! that of the propeller turning in the absence of electric starter or clutch centrifuges with the cage of piloting. For this reason,
- the diameter of the cage propeller cannot exceed 1m or 1.10m, which limits the push of the machines usable,
- the dynamic reversal after inflation requires a very great rigour. (the hoist was designed to facilitate this handling),
- In flight, without being too uncomfortable, the position of the pilot (head and legs forwards centring the weights) is not very academic!