The Parâng Mountains are one of the highest mountain ridges in Romania and Southern Carpathians, with its highest peak Parângu Mare reaching 2,519 m. The Parâng mountains are located in the south-western part of the Central-Meridional Carpathians. They are the tallest mountains from the local Parang-Cindrel mountain group and the second largest mountains in the Romanian Carpathians after the Fagaras mountains. They are situated between the Şureanu mountains in the North, Latoritei mountains in the NE, Căpăţânii mountains in the East, Vâlcan mountains in the West and the Petroşani depression in the NW. Located south and east of the city of Petroşani, the Parâng mountains begin form the eastern barrier of the Jiu river valley. The mountains occupy a territory 100 km wide from East to West and 70-80 km from North to South.
Usual tasks will include flights between Parangul Mare Peak, Hateg and Jiu valleys, near the towns of Petrosani, Vulcan, Uricani, Baru.
The main take offs are located not far from the town of Petrosani.
Parag flying site is used mainly from April till end of October. Best flying season is between June and September. It is possible to fly in any other season though little sense in it. Still the local pilots keep to a tradition to have a New Year celebration flights from Parang at 12:00 a.m. every year on the 1st of January.
The flying site is operated by a local club and this place is famous amoung paragliders. Parang take off is also a home of Toma Coconea - the famous X-Alps pilot. He was born here. Moderate mountain climate produces stable thermal activity on most of the days. Also the good road condition in the district makes retrieve organization simple.
Cloudbase is usually at 2500 m ASL but onkf a good day in summer it reaches 3500 m ASL. Average thermal strength in summer is more than 4 m/s. Thermal activity starts in the morning and is present till sunset. The best time to have a start is between 12:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. There are about 5 house thermals with a possibily to climb right after the take off.
In spring the cloudbase is low and take offs are covered with clouds. Same for autumn. In winter you may occasionally expect a good day but no reason to plan it. For example the winters of 2012-13 there was a lot fo snow. So the pilots went skiing, not flying.
Best flights made from this site are over 100 km in all directions with several out and return routes and triangles. Flights of 50 km are very easy.

Take-offs

Bancute take-off
Take off: 45.386078º N; 23.482328º E - Elevation : 1850 m.
Landing: 45.395622º N; 23.443731º E - Elevation : 1090 m.
Exposure: NW, W, S.

Croco take-off
Take off: 45.3892620º N; 23.4592730º E - Elevation : 1520 m.
Landing: 45.395622º N; 23.443731º E - Elevation : 1090 m.
Exposure: W, S.

The launch ground is enough for the start of 2/3 pilots at the same time. Grassy slope, no stones, mud, etc. There is a possibility of top landing. This take off is very easy to reach by a cable lift which operates every day from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.