A. How do you steer?
Hang gliders are controlled by shifting the pilot’s weight
with respect to the glider. Pilots are suspended from a hang
strap connected to the glider’s frame (hence the name
“hang” glider). By moving forward and backward and side to
side at the end of this hang strap, the pilot alters the center
of gravity of the glider. This then causes the glider to pitch
or roll in the direction of the pilot’s motion and thus allows
both speed control and turning.
B. How high/far can a hang glider go?
This depends a lot on the conditions in which they are
flown, but flights in excess of 300 miles in length and
altitudes of well over 17,999 ft. MSL have been recorded.
More typically, pilots in the summer in the western US will
frequently achieve altitudes of 5,000 to 10,000 ft AGL and
fly for over 100 miles.
C. How long do flights last?
Again this depends on conditions, but a high altitude flight
is frequently several hours in duration. On good days, pilots
don’t have to land until the sun goes down.
D. Where can gliders launch and land?
Pretty much any slope that is relatively free from
obstructions, is steeper than about 6 to 1 and faces into the
wind can be used to foot launch a hang glider. The pilot just
runs down the slope and takes off when the air speed reaches
15 to 20 mph. Alternatively, towing by trucks, stationary
winches and ultralight aircraft allows gliders to get into the
air when no hills are available.
Where a hang glider can be landed depends somewhat on
the skill of the pilot. An experienced pilot should be able to
put a glider safely into any flat spot clear of obstructions
bigger than about 50 by 200 ft. This area requirement can
vary somewhat, though, depending on wind conditions and
the surrounding terrain.
E. How safe are hang gliders?
As safe as the person flying them. Like any form of sport
aviation, hang gliding can be dangerous if pursued
carelessly. Gliders in the US are now certified for
airworthiness by the Hang Glider Manufacturers Assn.
(HGMA). Also, hang gliding instruction has been
standardized and students learn from certified instructors
using a thorough gradual training program. Despite these
advances, people still make judgment errors and aviation is
not very forgiving of such. The majority of pilots fly their
entire careers without sustaining a serious injury.
2. FLYING CONDITIONS:
A. How much wind is necessary to launch/fly/land?
Hang gliders can be launched, flown and landed in winds
from zero to about 30 mph safely. Generally, ideal winds for
launching and landing are from 5 to 20 mph depending on
the flying site. Wind speed is less important in flight since
the pilot controls the air speed of the glider whatever the
wind speed may be.
B. How do gliders gain altitude?
While there are many sources of upwardly moving air or
“lift”, the most commonly used by hang gliders are ridge lift
and thermal lift. Ridge lift occurs when horizontal wind hits
an obstruction (like a ridge, for instance) and is deflected
upward. Thermal lift occurs when terrain is heated by the
sun and transfers this heat to the surrounding air – which
then rises. Typically ridge lift exists in a “lift band” on the
windward side of a ridge and pilots get up by flying back and
forth through this band. Thermal lift on the other hand
usually starts at some local “trigger point” on the ground and
then rises as a column or bubble of air. To get up in a
thermal, pilots thus typical circle in this region of rising air.
C. What sort of temperatures are encountered in flight?
Hang gliders are flown in sub-zero conditions in the winter
and in the hottest deserts in the summer. Since the air
temperature typically falls by about 4 degrees (F) for every
1000 ft gain in elevation, however, high altitude hang glider
flights are frequently cold. Pilots expecting to fly over about
12 – 14,000 ft in the summer will generally wear warm
clothing to protect against exposure.
3. PILOT REQUIREMENTS:
A. Is hang gliding physically demanding?
Almost anyone can fly a hang glider. If someone can jog
while balancing a 50 – 70 lb. weight on their shoulders they
can learn to fly. While flying does not require great strength
(since the straps – not the pilot’s arms – hold the pilot up)
long duration flights in turbulent conditions require a
moderate degree of upper body endurance. This typically
develops as the pilot progresses through training to these
longer flights.
Hang gliders are controlled by shifting the pilot’s weight
with respect to the glider. Pilots are suspended from a hang
strap connected to the glider’s frame (hence the name
“hang” glider). By moving forward and backward and side to
side at the end of this hang strap, the pilot alters the center
of gravity of the glider. This then causes the glider to pitch
or roll in the direction of the pilot’s motion and thus allows
both speed control and turning.
B. How high/far can a hang glider go?
This depends a lot on the conditions in which they are
flown, but flights in excess of 300 miles in length and
altitudes of well over 17,999 ft. MSL have been recorded.
More typically, pilots in the summer in the western US will
frequently achieve altitudes of 5,000 to 10,000 ft AGL and
fly for over 100 miles.
C. How long do flights last?
Again this depends on conditions, but a high altitude flight
is frequently several hours in duration. On good days, pilots
don’t have to land until the sun goes down.
D. Where can gliders launch and land?
Pretty much any slope that is relatively free from
obstructions, is steeper than about 6 to 1 and faces into the
wind can be used to foot launch a hang glider. The pilot just
runs down the slope and takes off when the air speed reaches
15 to 20 mph. Alternatively, towing by trucks, stationary
winches and ultralight aircraft allows gliders to get into the
air when no hills are available.
Where a hang glider can be landed depends somewhat on
the skill of the pilot. An experienced pilot should be able to
put a glider safely into any flat spot clear of obstructions
bigger than about 50 by 200 ft. This area requirement can
vary somewhat, though, depending on wind conditions and
the surrounding terrain.
E. How safe are hang gliders?
As safe as the person flying them. Like any form of sport
aviation, hang gliding can be dangerous if pursued
carelessly. Gliders in the US are now certified for
airworthiness by the Hang Glider Manufacturers Assn.
(HGMA). Also, hang gliding instruction has been
standardized and students learn from certified instructors
using a thorough gradual training program. Despite these
advances, people still make judgment errors and aviation is
not very forgiving of such. The majority of pilots fly their
entire careers without sustaining a serious injury.
2. FLYING CONDITIONS:
A. How much wind is necessary to launch/fly/land?
Hang gliders can be launched, flown and landed in winds
from zero to about 30 mph safely. Generally, ideal winds for
launching and landing are from 5 to 20 mph depending on
the flying site. Wind speed is less important in flight since
the pilot controls the air speed of the glider whatever the
wind speed may be.
B. How do gliders gain altitude?
While there are many sources of upwardly moving air or
“lift”, the most commonly used by hang gliders are ridge lift
and thermal lift. Ridge lift occurs when horizontal wind hits
an obstruction (like a ridge, for instance) and is deflected
upward. Thermal lift occurs when terrain is heated by the
sun and transfers this heat to the surrounding air – which
then rises. Typically ridge lift exists in a “lift band” on the
windward side of a ridge and pilots get up by flying back and
forth through this band. Thermal lift on the other hand
usually starts at some local “trigger point” on the ground and
then rises as a column or bubble of air. To get up in a
thermal, pilots thus typical circle in this region of rising air.
C. What sort of temperatures are encountered in flight?
Hang gliders are flown in sub-zero conditions in the winter
and in the hottest deserts in the summer. Since the air
temperature typically falls by about 4 degrees (F) for every
1000 ft gain in elevation, however, high altitude hang glider
flights are frequently cold. Pilots expecting to fly over about
12 – 14,000 ft in the summer will generally wear warm
clothing to protect against exposure.
3. PILOT REQUIREMENTS:
A. Is hang gliding physically demanding?
Almost anyone can fly a hang glider. If someone can jog
while balancing a 50 – 70 lb. weight on their shoulders they
can learn to fly. While flying does not require great strength
(since the straps – not the pilot’s arms – hold the pilot up)
long duration flights in turbulent conditions require a
moderate degree of upper body endurance. This typically
develops as the pilot progresses through training to these
longer flights.
B. Do pilots need to be of a certain
age, gender, weight or
size range?
Hang glider pilots range in age from teens to octagenarians.
The limits are more mental than physical. If someone is
sufficiently mature to make decisions significantly affecting
their safety and has sufficiently good reflexes to make such
decisions promptly, then they probably are of a reasonable
age for flying.
Flying depends more on balance and mental acuity than
strength. Woman and men make equally good pilots. While
the fraction varies regionally, about 10 – 15 % of the hang
glider pilots in the US are women.
While pilots of virtually any size can fly, the limits here are
mostly dictated by available equipment. Heavier and lighter
pilots require commensurately bigger and smaller gliders.
Since most hang glider pilots weigh between 90 and 250 lbs,
however, it may be difficult to find equipment appropriate
for pilots beyond this range. Specially designed tandem
gliders are available, however, and may be used for extra
heavy pilots.
While height per se does not determine who can fly, again,
equipment tends to be most available for those between
about 5 and 6.5 feet tall. Harness and glider modifications
may be necessary for individuals outside this range.
C. Do pilots need to be licensed to fly hang gliders?
Not really, but a program analogous to FAA licensing exists
and is administered by the USHPA (U.S. Hang Gliding &
Paragliding Association). This program consists of a specific
set of flying skills corresponding to a series of pilot
proficiency ratings (Beginner through Master) each of which
carries a set of recommended operating limitations. Beginner
rated pilots, for instance, should only fly from hills under
100 ft in height in mild winds and under the guidance of an
instructor.
While these ratings don’t carry the force of law in quite the
same way as FAA pilot’s licenses do, the majority of flying
sites in the US require that pilots hold some specific USHPA
rating to be allowed to fly.
D. How does a student go about learning to fly?
The USHPA certifies hang gliding instructors and schools.
All students should learn from a certified instructor. (See
contact info on this site)
The time required for training varies considerably with the
student’s innate skills and with the type of training
conditions. Typically, though, a student will spend 5 – 10
lessons to obtain each of the first two USHPA pilot ratings
(Beginner and Novice) – a process which generally takes
from 3 to 6 months.
At the end of this primary training process, the student is
usually flying from moderate altitudes (several hundred to a
few thousand ft) in relative mild conditions.
Progression to more difficult flying conditions continues
from then on under the supervision of more experienced
pilots or Observers/Advanced Instructors.
E. How much does all this cost?
If a student goes to a certified school in a large urban area
and buys all new equipment at retail prices, learning to fly
can cost $5000+. If one purchases used equipment, however,
this price can easily drop to around $2500. Whenever used
equipment is purchased, however, it is IMPERATIVE that
an experienced pilot familiar with the equipment inspect it
thoroughly.
Costs vary a lot, but as of 2010 figure on:
Training through the Novice level: $1200 – $1600
Training glider: $800 – $2800 (used) $2900 – $3750 (new)
Harness $50 – $450 (used) $550 – $950 (new)
Parachute $200 – $300 (used) $600 – $850 (new)
Helmet $80 – $300 (new)
Fortunately, this can be purchased in stages. Equipment will
be provided for training as part of the students package
through the Beginner rating, but will expect students to
eventually obtain their own equipment beyond this point .
size range?
Hang glider pilots range in age from teens to octagenarians.
The limits are more mental than physical. If someone is
sufficiently mature to make decisions significantly affecting
their safety and has sufficiently good reflexes to make such
decisions promptly, then they probably are of a reasonable
age for flying.
Flying depends more on balance and mental acuity than
strength. Woman and men make equally good pilots. While
the fraction varies regionally, about 10 – 15 % of the hang
glider pilots in the US are women.
While pilots of virtually any size can fly, the limits here are
mostly dictated by available equipment. Heavier and lighter
pilots require commensurately bigger and smaller gliders.
Since most hang glider pilots weigh between 90 and 250 lbs,
however, it may be difficult to find equipment appropriate
for pilots beyond this range. Specially designed tandem
gliders are available, however, and may be used for extra
heavy pilots.
While height per se does not determine who can fly, again,
equipment tends to be most available for those between
about 5 and 6.5 feet tall. Harness and glider modifications
may be necessary for individuals outside this range.
C. Do pilots need to be licensed to fly hang gliders?
Not really, but a program analogous to FAA licensing exists
and is administered by the USHPA (U.S. Hang Gliding &
Paragliding Association). This program consists of a specific
set of flying skills corresponding to a series of pilot
proficiency ratings (Beginner through Master) each of which
carries a set of recommended operating limitations. Beginner
rated pilots, for instance, should only fly from hills under
100 ft in height in mild winds and under the guidance of an
instructor.
While these ratings don’t carry the force of law in quite the
same way as FAA pilot’s licenses do, the majority of flying
sites in the US require that pilots hold some specific USHPA
rating to be allowed to fly.
D. How does a student go about learning to fly?
The USHPA certifies hang gliding instructors and schools.
All students should learn from a certified instructor. (See
contact info on this site)
The time required for training varies considerably with the
student’s innate skills and with the type of training
conditions. Typically, though, a student will spend 5 – 10
lessons to obtain each of the first two USHPA pilot ratings
(Beginner and Novice) – a process which generally takes
from 3 to 6 months.
At the end of this primary training process, the student is
usually flying from moderate altitudes (several hundred to a
few thousand ft) in relative mild conditions.
Progression to more difficult flying conditions continues
from then on under the supervision of more experienced
pilots or Observers/Advanced Instructors.
E. How much does all this cost?
If a student goes to a certified school in a large urban area
and buys all new equipment at retail prices, learning to fly
can cost $5000+. If one purchases used equipment, however,
this price can easily drop to around $2500. Whenever used
equipment is purchased, however, it is IMPERATIVE that
an experienced pilot familiar with the equipment inspect it
thoroughly.
Costs vary a lot, but as of 2010 figure on:
Training through the Novice level: $1200 – $1600
Training glider: $800 – $2800 (used) $2900 – $3750 (new)
Harness $50 – $450 (used) $550 – $950 (new)
Parachute $200 – $300 (used) $600 – $850 (new)
Helmet $80 – $300 (new)
Fortunately, this can be purchased in stages. Equipment will
be provided for training as part of the students package
through the Beginner rating, but will expect students to
eventually obtain their own equipment beyond this point .
Hang Gliding Faq