Text written by Supair www.Supair.com
Interview Pierre Bouilloux from eriksadventureblog.com on Vimeo.
Pierre Bouilloux who started as a hang gliding instructor in 1979, decided then, to purchase his first sewing machine. The goal was to improve his passenger’s harness comfort for they used to sometimes be close to losing consciousness due to highly restricting compression areas on various parts of their body…
Shortly after, he started fabricating his own school harnesses soon to become commercialized. As a result, Pierre and his wife turned their downtown Annecy apartment into a production shop for the following five years. –
The first products labeled with the Sup’Air logo, dated as early as 1982: we are now celebrating the brand’s 30 year anniversary! –1985 sees the arrival of the first mass-produced paragliding harnesses on the market from a new production shop.
–1988 SUP’AIR invents the first Supair harness with an integrated dorsal reserve parachute container.
–In the early nineties, SUP’AIR develops the first self-locking quick-release leg and chest-strap buckles specially designed for paragliding. The various stages included the initial idea, concept drawings, development, production in partnership with a specialized commercial outfit from the Haute Savoie region.
–Pierre becomes a French champion from 1990 to 1994 and brakes a few FAI world triangle race records. He also undertakes a series of «Hike and Fly» treks across the Alps as one of the precursors for this kind of event. Not to stay idle after the introduction of the quick-release buckle to the public, SUP’AIR invents the first «Safe-T» strap system.
–In 1992 the first ABS concept (Anti Balancing System) is introduced enhancing the harnesses safety level. The entire nineties period takes a huge leap forward in an effort to developing active dorsal protection systems. SUP’AIR invents the first harness with an integrated Airbag device. The subsequent years after the turn of the century, saw SUP’AIR changing gear to target the international markets.
– 2007 brings the arrival of the “Team Supair Acro”.
– 2012 SUP’AIR unveils a totally new harness concept with an integrated paraglider jettisoning system taken over by a steerable reserve parachute «BASE System». www supair com The company today SUP’AIR is the embodiment of a team believes to engineer and develop a complete line of exciting upgradable products for the foot-launch community.
The SUP’AIR brand name is world know today; especially in the paragliding harness arena and its various specialties. As the world-leading designer, SUP’AIR never looses focus on the fundamental basic idea that a harness in an integral part of the entire aircraft, hence adding safety, easier handling, and fun to the piloting experience. SUP’AIR’s comprehensive professional approach to an evolving market is mainly due to a tight cooperative network between various European countries including France. All SUP’AIR harnesses are «Made in Europe» and distributed through an enthusiastic professional dealership network. Nowadays, the team is experiencing a complete transformation while still projecting the image of a solid company thriving on innovative safe quality products.
