Paragliding glide planning with Wildglide

Wildglide is a map-based glide calculator for paragliding and hike-and-fly planning. Choose a start, set your glide ratio and see a terrain-aware heatmap with comparison contours. Draw a flight line to inspect its elevation profile and remaining reach at each waypoint.

What does a glide ratio of 1:8 mean?

Wildglide displays height loss to horizontal distance: 1:8 means travelling 8 metres horizontally for every metre of height lost. Over flat terrain, 1,000 metres of height at this ratio gives a theoretical 8 kilometres of glide distance in still air. Mountains and the distance needed to fly around them change the reachable area.

The model uses remaining altitude = launch altitude − cumulative route distance / glide ratio. It does not add height at intermediate points.

Choose a launch and compare glide reach

1. Allow location access or move the map to your area. Location access only centres the map; it does not choose a launch.
2. Enter your glide ratio and starting altitude. Choose metres above ground or altitude above mean sea level.
3. Click the map. Each click selects a new start until you enable line planning.
4. Read the heatmap and the contours for ratios 1:3 to 1:10. The selected ratio has a stronger outline. Heatmap colour represents remaining height above ground.

A fast preview appears first and is refined using the selected 10 m or 30 m search grid. While “Updating…” is shown, the displayed reach may still be approximate. Grid spacing is different from the resolution and accuracy of the underlying elevation data.

Check a flight line and its elevation profile

Choose Check line, then click to add points. The profile shows terrain and calculated flight altitude over the full route from A. Drag points, click a line segment to insert a point, or use Undo and Clear route.

The map shows remaining reach from the last waypoint. Click an earlier marker or use Reach from to inspect that point. Each comparison ratio includes its own height loss along the preceding route. A terrain collision earlier on the line blocks continuation; reaching lower terrain later does not make that earlier collision disappear.

Why are the contours not circles?

Wildglide checks terrain and searches for routes around ridges using eight neighbouring grid directions. A detour consumes height because it is longer. Contours therefore follow reachable terrain instead of a fixed circular radius. The search expands when necessary; a displayed resource limit means the result may be clipped.

Coverage and limits

The elevation source covers the Alps and many other regions worldwide, with mixed source resolutions. Wildglide currently supports 70° south to 70° north and 179° west to 179° east. Polar regions and date-line crossings are not supported.

The calculation assumes still air and a constant glide ratio. It does not model thermals, real turn losses or reliable obstacle and airspace clearance. A ground launch may be moved up to 25 metres to a nearby terrain edge in the model; that adjustment does not prove a launch site is suitable. Use the results as a planning model, not proof of a safe flight route.

Read the elevation sources, map credits and full model limits.