My names Chandler Papas and I turn people into paraglider pilots. More specifically, the types of paraglider pilots that know how to manage risk, have an incredible feel for their glider and go on to be the type of pilot other pilots and clubs love to fly with.

I was President of Arizona Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (AZHPA) from 2010-2015 & 2017-2022 as well as Safety Director for many years. I am so grateful that it is my students, now flying friends, that have taken most of the roles as officers on The AZHPA Board of Directors.

I have always been involved with the local pilot community/AZHPA as well as other States on an extensive level. Not only for the fun, community and to help organize flying events but to help open and preserve our amazing flying sites all over this incredible State and country.

United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding # 81661

USHPA Advanced Tandem Instructor P4 Tow Tech 2 Tow Observer with all special skills endorsments.

I’m known for getting into the mind training aspect and highly individualized type coaching. I love the psychology of getting into the flow state and discerining between fear and adrenaline in adventure sports. I love cultivating pilots that really “feel” and are truly connected to their glider as well as have the confidence and humilty to keep practicing proper judgment as they grow in this amazing aviation based adventure sport. Keeping up with the current training methodologies and experiences that make us grow as instructors is deeply engrained in me. I work hard to remain teachable and to create a safe and fun atmosphere for you to learn in. I’ve been flying paragliders since 2001 and have been training people right here in AZ for over 12 years now. I am an United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding (USHPA) P4, Advanced Instructor, Tandem Instructor and Tow Tech 1, 2 & observer with all special skill endorsements. I have played around in the acrobatics realm as well as in the competition scene but truly found my home teaching and guiding my students as well as other pilots Cross Country (XC) at flying sites all over the world.

I still compete a couple or few times a year with my students. I have been a surface tow pilot and a tow tech since I began flying and pilots from all over have joined my courses to become proficient tow pilots and tow technicians. I have flown in numerous countries and have managed to fly a single flight for just under 8 hours as well as have flown over 100 miles in a single flight 3 seperate times now. That’s not breaking records by any means in the paragliding world nowadays. I am more of a get up there, stay up there and fly slower than a lot of my friends and have a whole lot of fun. What’s important is that I have managed the risk well and used all my experience to cultivate an incredible training sylabus that helps people to learn in the appropriate place, atmosphere and equipment. I really do love using my individual mastery approach to teaching paragliding so I can tune into whatever type of student you are. It’s so important to your safety that your instructor really works for you as an individual and on a schedule and payment plan that works for you as well. I really love turning the doubt that some people have that they could never be “that good of a pilot” into a better pilot. My students are most of the Arizona pilot community so my references are easy to check. Most pilots that learned out of State are happy to jump in and have me dial them in to our local conditions and sites to further their training and be a part of the Desert Wind Team and join all our training sessions as well as learn to tow. I think this speaks volumes for my commitment to our amazing sport.

I have chosen the highly reputable Prime Insurance Team to insure Desert Wind Paragliding.

I have Basic, Advanced Instructors, Tow Techs as well as Tandem Instructors that I refer and join my team for training. I will be posting thier amazing bios here soon.