Sport All Sports

Hang gliding is an air sport in which a pilot flies a light and unmotorized foot-launchable aircraft called a hang glider. Most modern hang gliders are made of an aluminum or composite-framed fabric wing. Pilots usually control the aircraft by shifting body weight, but other devices, including modern aircraft flight control systems, may be used. The pilot wears a harness and is hung beneath a lifting wing by flexible straps.

A Hang Glider has a rigid frame maintaining the shape of the wing, with the pilot usually flying in a prone (lying down) position. The Para glider 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 Para glider. Hang Gliders pack down to about 12 ft long and are capable of being transported on car roof-racks.

Modern gliders are designed to carry pilots within a specified weight range, so make sure the glider size is suitable for your weight and the weight of the harness combined. The harness is another vital bit of kit for hang gliding (this is the bit you strap yourself into, then clip into the hang glider) and it is designed to take a pilot of a specific height range, so you need to make sure that the harness you get is the right size for you. The correct size of the glider and the correct size of the harness are vitally important to get right.

When hang gliders fly from cliffs, they don’t “jump”, despite what most people think. The pilot runs with the glider and flies off - most launches allow the pilot to be in full flying control by the time they reach the edge. Many launch sites have been modified to help safe launches, and help minimize impact on the local environment. Hang gliders can also be towed behind a car using a tow rope and tension meter, and ultra light aircraft have also been used to tow gliders to a height where they can “pin off” and fly free. Lightweight engine and propeller units are also available for self-launching soaring.

The accident rate from hang glider flying has been dramatically improved by pilot training. Early hang glider pilots learned their sport through trial and error. Training programs have been developed for today’s pilot, with emphasis on flight within safe limits. Hang gliders have flown over 20,000 feet in altitude. The furthest recorded hang gliding flight is 438 miles.

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