How is a hang glider controlled?

A hang glider is a weight shift aircraft. This means the pilot must shift his/her weight to manuever the craft. By moving his center of gravity left/right/forward an back, the pilot causes the hg to turn, speed ujp , slow down, or return to level flight.

There are two axis of control, they are pitch and roll. Pitch is the nose up/nose down attitude and determines the angle of attack as well as the speed of the hang glider. As the pilot moves his weight forward by pulling on the basetube (the bottom tube of the triangular control frame) he lowers the nose and the glider increases its airspeed. By pushing his weight back, the nose of the glider is raised and the airspeed decreases. (If this is done to an excessive amount, the glider may stall) Moving your weight fore or aft controls the pitch, and subsequently, the airspeed of the glider. Roll is the banking of the wings-(one wing is raised, the other lowered) that allows a turn to be made. By moving your weight to one side of the triangle you can effect a turn of the glider. This is more effectively done by blending a pitch and a roll weight shift to produce a more efficient turn. Once a turn is started, most hg will keep turning in that direction until the pilot shifts weight in the opposite direction to bring the glider out of the turn and back to straight and level flight.

Is HG physically demanding? How much strength is required?

The actual flying requires only a minimum level of strength and fitness. Because the pilot is safely suspended beneath the wing there is no need to grip the control triangle tightly. (It’s called hg because we hang beneath the glider, not because we hang on tightly.!) Longer flights in soaring conditions will likely test your shoulders, back, and neck muscles, but these muscle groups are easily conditioned for longer flights in turbulent (soaring) conditions.

Ground handling the glider is not difficult either, once you learn the tricks and proper techniques. Probably the most strenuous aspect of the sport would be carrying the glider back up the training hill- if that’s the training method you select- Loading and offloading your glider from your car top also requires some strength, but you can nearly always find someone to gladly assist you. Finally, the ability to jog and run 8-10 steps maximum will allow you to safely foot launch and land your glider.

How does one take lessons and learn how to hang glide?

It is highly recommended that one takes lessons from a certified hang gliding instructor at a certified hang gliding school. Instructors and schools are certified by the USHPA. They can be contacted at 1-800-632-8000 or at www.ushpa.aero . Learning to hang glide requires persistence and patience. Not all weather conditions will be suitable for training. Depending on the method chosen ( foot launch, various forms of towing to get aloft such aerotow, platform tow, ground based tow, etc.) a student will typically spend about 10 lessons to get the Beginner rating and another 10 lessons to get the Novice rating. The Novice rating allows for solo flight. At this point the student is usually flying from a moderate altitudes such as several hundred to a few thousand feet in mild conditions. Intermediate and Advanced level training follows under the guidance of Advanced instructors and experienced pilots . HG should be thought of as a continuous learning process, as new lessons regarding technique, safety, meteorology, and strategy can be learned on a daily basis.


 

What does it cost to take lessons and then buy equipment to start in the sport?

Lesson packages will vary based on the specific launch method used, generally tow based instruction costs more than Foot launch, and aerotow lessons tend to cost more than other towing methods. Expect to pay between $1, 000 and $1,600 for a lesson package that will take the student to their first high altitude solo. Of course, if the student is able to complete multiple lessons in a relatively short period of time the training becomes more efficient and costs less.

The equipment needed to start in the sport includes a harnness with reserve parachute, you glider, a helmet, and the variometer. The variometer usually includes an altimeter. The vario will indicate by both an audio sound and a digital display the rate of climb, a feature necessary for gaining altitude or soaring. Prices for each of these items varies greatly. The table below breaks the cost down for both new and used equipment. If towing is your launch method, add $50-$100 for various tow bridles and releases.