Hang gliders are designed to soar. The duration record is over 11 hours and the distance record is over 300 kilometers. In training you will start out just skimming the ground. As you progress and become more skilled and confident you will probably want to go higher and use the wing for its designed purpose -- soaring! Average recreational pilots, utilizing thermal and ridge lift, routinely stay aloft for 3 hours or more, soar to altitudes of 15,000' and travel cross-country for great distances.

Our modern light weight training gliders weigh about 50 pounds and with just a little bit of wind, they weigh nothing at all. See similar questions...

There are a number of ways, but they include using a static line, a payout winch, a stationary winch or aerotow. See similar questions...

A paraglider can fly from all location where a hang-glider can take off but not vice-versa. A hang-glider has a rigid frame, which maintains the shape of the wing, and the pilot usually flies in a prone position. A paraglider's canopy shape is maintained by air pres-sure and the pilot is suspended in a sitting position. The hang-glider is capable of flying at much higher speeds than a paraglider. See similar questions...

This depends a lot on the conditions in which it is flown, but flights in excess of 300 miles in length and altitudes of well over 20,000 ft. MSL have been recorded. More typically, pilots in the summer frequently achieve altitudes of 5,000 to 10,000 ft AGL and fly for over 100 miles. See similar questions...

First, you need to know how to fly, and equipment can initially provided by the school. Some people prefer to purchase their own new equipment and be taught for FREE. Our instructors will discuss appropriate choices with you. See similar questions...

Hang gliding is one of the simplest forms of human flight. A hang glider is a non-motorized, foot-launched wing. A Hang glider has a rigid frame maintaining the shape of the wing, with the pilot usually flying in a prone position. The hang glider wing is constructed of rip-stop nylon or mylar over an aluminum frame. Hang gliders are controlled by shifting the pilot's weight with respect to the glider. See similar questions...

If you're not sure about taking up the sport, you might prefer to book a 1 or 2 day taster course at a school, or simply arrange to meet them on the hill, and see at first hand what the sport is all about. See similar questions...

The pilot may foot launch, platform launch or dolly launch the glider, or even launch the glider from floats on the water. A hang glider is somewhat more difficult to fly under tow, and the pilot must also be aware of the various things that can go wrong in order to react appropriately. The USHPA has tow administrators who can rate people for tow. Most of those are also instructors and can train people to tow safely. See similar questions...

The hang glider has a rigid frame maintaining the shape of the wing, with the pilot usually flying in a prone position. The paraglider canopy shape is maintained only by air pressure and the pilot is suspended in a sitting or supine position. The hang glider has a "cleaner" aerodynamic profile and generally is capable of flying at much higher speeds than a paraglider. See similar questions...

This depends a lot on the conditions in which it is flown, but flights in excess of 300 miles in length and altitudes of well over 20,000 ft. MSL have been recorded. (These last have all been with FAA permission for the rules lawyers reading this). More typically, pilots in the summer in the U.S. will frequently achieve altitudes of 5,000 to 10,000 ft AGL and fly for over 50-100mi, sometimes returning to their starting point. See similar questions...

It's attached to a release at the apex of a specialized tow bridle. The tow bridle attaches to the pilot, the glider, or both. The release is positioned in front of the pilot so he can easily operate it. There is a weak link between the release and towline to protect the glider from overloads. The pilot may foot launch, platform launch or dolly launch the glider, or even launch the glider from floats on the water. See similar questions...

For your own safety we strongly advise you not to try to teach yourself to fly a hang glider or paraglider. These are real aircraft, with complex flight characteristics. Any attempt to teach yourself to fly could all too easily result in serious injury. Professional instruction from a BHPA registered school is the only safe way to gain the necessary knowledge and experience to fly within a recreational club, without being a danger to yourself or others in the air. See similar questions...