A reserve parachute is the safety equipment every pilot carries, stowed in their harness. At Aerotech, in Gréolières, a new reserve costs from €450, with the Supair Start. You choose it according to your total flying weight, its shape and how it fits in your harness, then have it repacked once a year: Pierrot, the founder of Ailéments, repacks reserves at the Aerotech workshop.
Every pilot's equipmentThe reserve parachute is part of a paraglider pilot's basic equipment, along with the wing, the harness and the helmet: it is stowed in the harness.
It is an extra safety measure, like a seatbelt in a car. It stays packed in its container, with the handle within reach, and is repacked once a year so that it stays ready to open.
In France, the only legal requirement to fly is third-party liability insurance: our paragliding insurance page explains the possible cover. The reserve is not required by law, but it is part of a pilot's basic equipment.
Reserves differ first of all in the shape of their canopy. Here is what Aerotech's product pages say about them, with their starting prices: stability, weight and price change from one shape to another.
The hemispherical, or round, reserve is the classic model. It is also the cheapest in Aerotech's range: from €450 for the Supair Start and from €490 for the Ozone Angel V2, both described as stable in descent and easy to pack.
From €610 for the Supair Fluid and €670 for the Ozone Angel SQ V2. According to its product page, the Angel SQ V2 is more stable than a round reserve and descends more slowly, with a fast opening.
The AirDesign Donut, from €695, combines the square and round shapes. Its product page describes it as stable, light and easy to pack, from 1.3 kg.
A Rogallo can be steered once open. It was not in Aerotech's range when we checked in November 2026, but the workshop repacks it, like every type of reserve.
Round, square or hybrid, each shape comes in lightweight versions. The ultralight ones are made for hike-and-fly: the Supair X Lite starts at 741 g and the AirDesign Donut SL at 810 g with its pod. They cost more: from €840 for the X Lite and €875 for the Donut SL.
No shape suits everyone: it is chosen with your harness, the way you fly and your budget in mind. Talk it over with an instructor or the workshop before buying.
The size of a reserve is chosen according to the load it carries: you and your equipment. Each product page gives the maximum load for each size, sometimes a minimum load too, and your total flying weight must fall within that range.
Example: at 75 kg, count about 90 kg with your equipment. The Supair Start in size M is rated from 70 to 100 kg: you are within its range. The Ozone Angel V2 comes in three sizes, for certified loads of 90, 110 and 140 kg.
The wing is also chosen according to total flying weight: our page to understand the technical data of a wing explains its other figures.
The reserve is stowed in a container in the harness, under the seat or in the back depending on the model, or in a front container, in front of you. Its handle stays within reach.
Not every reserve fits every container: the packed volume has to match. Product pages give it: 2.5 litres for the AirDesign Donut SL in size 90, compared with 6 litres for the Supair Fluid in size L. A light reserve goes with a light harness, for hike-and-fly.
At the Aerotech workshop in Gréolières, where Pierrot repacks reserves, the reserve is fitted into your harness, then the workshop checks the fitting and tests the extraction with the handle. Changing harness? Have your reserve refitted the same way: our guide to choosing a paragliding harness presents the different types of harness.
Aerotech's A1 package, built around the school wing used on our courses, brings together the wing, the Ozone Halo harness, the Ozone Angel V2 reserve fitted in the harness, and the helmet. Our buying a paraglider page gathers our advice for getting equipped with Aerotech.
At Aerotech, the price of a new reserve starts between €450 and €875 depending on its shape and weight, then rises with the size. Here are the ten reserves in its range, excluding models designed for tandem flying, from the cheapest to the most expensive.
| Reserve | Shape | Maximum load per size | New price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supair Start | Round | 100 and 125 kg | From €450 |
| Ozone Angel V2 | Round | 90, 110 and 140 kg | From €490 |
| Supair Shine | Light round | 85, 105 and 125 kg | From €550 |
| Supair Fluid | Square | 85, 100 and 125 kg | From €610 |
| Ozone Angel SQ V2 | Square | 100, 120, 140 and 180 kg | From €670 |
| Supair Fluid Light Evo | Light | 90, 105 and 125 kg (220 kg for tandem) | From €670 |
| AirDesign Donut | Hybrid | 100 and 120 kg (220 kg for tandem) | From €695 |
| Ozone Angel SQ Pro | Light square | 85, 100 and 120 kg | From €800 |
| Supair X Lite | Ultralight | 80, 95 and 110 kg | From €840 |
| AirDesign Donut SL | Ultralight hybrid | 90 and 110 kg | From €875 |
Aerotech's product pages for these reserves, with the price of each size: Supair Start, Ozone Angel V2, Supair Shine, Supair Fluid, Ozone Angel SQ V2, Supair Fluid Light Evo, AirDesign Donut, Ozone Angel SQ Pro, Supair X Lite and AirDesign Donut SL.
These prices were checked on 10 November 2026 and may change: the product page of each model is the reference.
A new reserve has a known history. Second-hand, it can be a good deal, as long as you have it opened, checked and repacked before your first flight with it: the workshop offers a visual and hands-on inspection of the reserve, with a report. Aerotech also has a section of serviced second-hand gear.
The lifespan of a reserve depends on the model: its manufacturer states it in the manual. At each yearly repack, the reserve is opened out completely and its elastics are replaced; to have the fabric and lines checked in detail, ask for the reserve inspection. For the wing, see our guide on the lifespan of a paraglider.
Even if it has never been used, a reserve should be repacked once a year, and also if it has got wet or whenever you change harness. The workshop's procedure and turnaround times are on our paragliding reserve repacking page.
Bring the wing along with the reserve: the workshop services it, and repairs a tear or a damaged line. Our section on repairing a paraglider explains how it works.
At Ailéments, every course includes a reserve briefing, including the Beginner paragliding course: the reserve parachute is part of learning to fly.
Tell us your weight, which harness you have and how you fly: we will point you in the right direction, and the Aerotech workshop will advise you on models and fit the reserve in your harness.
For the full set of gear, our page on paraglider prices covers the wing, the harness, the reserve and the helmet.
Ask for adviceChoice, legal requirement, price, size, lifespan, weight.
Choose the size first: its certified load must cover your total flying weight. Then check that its volume fits the container of your harness. Shape comes next: according to Aerotech's product pages, the round reserve is simple and the cheapest, the square one more stable, the hybrid in between, and the ultralight models are for hike-and-fly. Have your choice approved by an instructor or the workshop.
In France, the only legal requirement to fly is third-party liability insurance. The reserve parachute is not required by law, but it is part of a pilot's basic equipment: stowed in the harness, it is repacked once a year.
At Aerotech, in Gréolières, a new reserve costs from €450 for a round one, the Supair Start, and from €610 for a square one, the Supair Fluid. Ultralight models start at €840. The price goes up with the size: each reserve's product page gives the current price.
Yes: the reserve parachute is part of a paraglider pilot's basic equipment. It is stowed in a container in the harness, with its handle within reach. It is basic safety equipment, like the helmet. At Ailéments, every course includes a reserve briefing.
One whose certified load covers your total flying weight, that is you and your equipment. Take your own weight, add about 15 kg, then read the model's product page: the Supair Start in size M, for example, is rated from 70 to 100 kg. If you are between two sizes, ask an instructor or the workshop for advice.
Its lifespan depends on the model: its manufacturer states it in the manual. The yearly repack at the workshop gives a close look at it, and a visual and hands-on inspection, with a report, can be added to check the fabric and lines. If it is second-hand, have it checked and repacked before your first flight.
According to Aerotech's product pages, from 741 g for the Supair X Lite in size 80 to 2,150 g for the Supair Start in size L. Ultralight reserves, made for hike-and-fly, cost more: from €840 for the X Lite. Packed volume matters too, so that it fits in your harness.
3 points to remember.
A certified load that covers your total flying weight, and a volume that fits your harness.
Round, square, hybrid or ultralight: starting prices range from €450 to €875 depending on the model.
In Gréolières, even if it has never been used, with the fitting checked and the extraction tested.
