Paragliding with the Apple Watch Ultra

On March 23, 2023, we conducted a test flight at the Stella launch site in Bassano – with the Apple Watch Ultra and Vario One. Conditions were excellent: solid thermals, good visibility, and the flight lasted around 2 hours.

The Apple Watch Ultra is the best device Apple has ever built for paraglider pilots – even though they probably don’t know it.

The largest Apple Watch display

The Apple Watch Ultra has the largest display of all Apple Watch models. When paragliding, this makes a noticeable difference:

Variometer display – large, clear numbers
Altitude and speed – readable at a glance
Even in direct sunlight – thanks to 2000 nits brightness

The instruments are significantly easier to read than on the standard Apple Watch. Especially in thermals, when you have to make quick decisions, every millisecond counts.

Double the battery life

The Apple Watch Ultra offers double the battery life compared to the standard Apple Watch:

Two hours of flight barely made a dent in the battery
All-day use – even with intensive GPS tracking
Multi-hour flights are easily possible

For long cross-country flights, this is a decisive advantage.

Standalone without iPhone

Vario One runs on the Apple Watch Ultra completely independently – without iPhone:

Variometer with real-time climb/sink rate display
Acoustic tones directly on your wrist
Flight recording fully automatic
Wind display with direction and speed

You only need the Watch on your wrist – your iPhone can stay in the car.

Acoustic thermal centering

The acoustic feedback works excellently on the Apple Watch Ultra:

Clear tones for climb and sink
Clearly audible even in airspeed wind
Precise centering possible without looking at the display

Wind and speed at a glance

Wind speed and wind direction are displayed directly on the display. This keeps you informed about current conditions at all times – without needing to take your iPhone out of your pocket.

GPS tracking coming in April

At the time of the test flight, GPS track recording on the Watch was still missing. This feature is planned for April 2023 and will make the Apple Watch Ultra a complete, standalone flight instrument.

Try free for 3 days

Vario One offers a 3-day free trial period. Install the app, start the Watch app and see for yourself. No subscription needed, no credit card – just try it.

Paragliding with Apple Watch Ultra