[bobk]

Ever wonder how an insect with spindly thin legs can walk straight up a wall all day long while dragging a big fat body in proportion to those legs?

It turns out that strength (whether strength of bone or strength of muscle) depends on a cross-sectional area. But weight depends on a full 3-D volume.

Area goes up as length squared while volume goes up as length cubed. So smaller animals (and smaller people) have a better strength to weight ratio than larger animals (and people).

Ever wonder why gymnasts are tiny? They've got the best strength to weight ratio. The same is true when controlling a hang glider (although not for racing one). So you may be better off than you think!!

[Wingspan34]

[Bobfly]

I had 3 women training in my class at Lookout Mountain and 1 of them was very talented. Made all the guys look . As someone else said, I think this sport is perceived as an adrenaline junkies pasttime and not as an actual sport. Don't be shy. Sign up for lessons and get you some. The more women that learn, the better off the sport will be and us (men) too.

[Wingspan34]

As far as why more men are hang glider pilots, . . .

The most technical (?) answer probably involves the evolution of men compared to women. Women tend to be more risk adverse since they, at some point or other, tend to be the most critical care giver for small children (i.e. infants).

At the same time (while his children are defenseless) men can actively work defensively or offensively to protect the family unit. If they don't come back mom is still there to feed the baby - in the most natural way, that is. If women (typically) went out to fight the battles, men simply haven't got the apparatus to feed the infant.

Men are also larger and stronger just for the purpose of defending the family unit. An Anthropology professor once made the point that men are, in a way, disposable. This can be understood if you consider 25 of us men going out on a hunting (or war) party but only 2-3 coming back - there's still enough men left to replenish the village's population (over time). If that many women were lost re-population would proceed much slower.

As the heavy workers and first line defenders, protectors and hunters, (more) men (than women) tend to actually seek risk. I think testosterone probably helps/compells us along those lines. Not that we often need these characteristics in a civilized world, but we (men) still like/need a challenge. And sometimes we want/need that challenge to include a thrill.

As to the women who are drawn to hang gliding, . . . I think they tend to have an adventuresome spirit as well as strong, independent characters. When young they may have been called tomboys. I can't think of a woman who hang glides who I don't respect.

[Mrsposer]

Good points, Wingspan.

[Erik Boehm]

&*^*&% keel touchers!!!!! (in response to the third video of DiarmaidMurphy)

[Tigouille]

nice vid, the one you are in , Murphy.
i am surprised nobody mentioned we needed a wife to drive the car...
Or that nobody else could stand your mood after a sled ride....
Seriously gender does not matter , but there are no light rigid wings.... (i stay flex so far to save my back). the rest is history and has been said.
stick to your dream and welcome.

[SeeMarkFly]

[gasdive]

Jim Rooney said that the club he flies with in NZ has both young people and girls flying hang gliders in large numbers.

I don't know what it is about his club that's different to everywhere I've been. People are saying 15% women but my experience at Stanwell in the 80's was far far less than that. I can't remember any women at all. That may say more about my memory than the reality, but still... I mean I used to see Steve Moyes all the time, but I never once saw Vicky Moyes out there at all. If there was ever someone who could have a custom built glider it would have to be Vicky Moyes surely.

=:)

[DiarmaidMurphy]

"Keel Touchers" is a new one on me........please explain?

[gotandem]

I'd say gender does matter. I can't count the times I've been out-thermalled by a female. Only after I started teaching do I think I understand why:
Women are more sensitive to what the air does. They don't wrestle their gliders in a thermal, they just fly into them.
Anyone else with the same experience? Or am I just lousy at thermalling?
Bart

[DiarmaidMurphy]

I watched a female pilot who used to compete internationally go for her first flight after a decade long layoff. She played with every tiny nuance of the air and stayed up for a good flight. I dont know how she did it, but she did it none the less!

[FPeel]

[pkane]

Give Steve Wendt a call 804-241-4324 at Blue Sky. He teaches w/scooter towing. We get a lot of pilots from Maryland down here. Peter

[hiflioz]

Welcome, Kraine!

Go for it! At 5'7", you will have no issues of fit with a glider as small pilots do, unlss your shoulders are exceptionally narrow. Also, for some time you'll be learning on a glider that weighs no more than, say, 22 kg (if that). It's only more advanced wings that are heavier. Frankly, paunchy older unfit male office workers are likely to have more trouble with training than a fit woman has!

Good technique trumps brute strength every time in this sport, which is completely unsurprising when you consider the physics of wind, surface area and force.

I have many ideas on why there are fewer women in the sport, and those ideas have already been mentioned in this thread. The same kind of discrepancy in numbers exists in all sports *perceived* to be high risk - motor racing, sky diving, aerobatics, FE. Why are there proportionally more female PGers? You alluded to it in your initial post - it doesn't *look* as dangerous or scary. It's perceived as being less risky, IMO incorrectly.

In any case, I'd reiterate what others have said regarding no disadvantage for women in this sport, just as in rock climbing (in fact, I gather there are a few famous climbs that have only been done by women, whose hands are smaller and able to fit into cracks that men's hands cannot!). The world champion female pilot, Corinna Schwiegershausen, is tiny, and outflies most men.

I believe women can and should compete alongside men but I also feel very strongly that there is a definite place for women's competitions and gatherings that support and encourage us in this sport. There's a particular atmosphere generated at an all- women pilot gathering that is significantly different to one where men and women gather (equally fun, just different).
Male pilots, who are not in the minority group, are unlikely to recognise the value of such gatherings.

Kraine, please post your training experiences here when you begin. Once you've started learning, you'll get plenty of support from other pilots (male AND female) here to help you deal with the challenges. Have fun!

[FPeel]

[Alfie Norks]

men want to fly, drink, then have sex in that order. Tops off a day. I used to enjoy watching chics jump off the hill in hang, yeah baby!

[hgflyer]

Got to give a shout out to my friend, Hiflioz. It's been a while Helen! I do miss your perspective writings!

I'm gonna add my 2 cents...and "try" keep it short.

Women and Men, both have physical and mental awareness. Some more than others (not gender specific). Activities that were mentioned earlier on this thread. Demand physical awareness. In our case, awareness of a physical wing and equipment. So now, we have 3 elements to be aware of. Our physical bodies, our mindset, and now a wing. And while learning....simultaneously keeping all of these aspects in control (Like juggling, the more balls you add. The tougher it gets). Now, let's add another aspect....Let's say a boyfriend, instructor, or just simply awareness of somebody watching! This can add as a mental distraction. So now we have 4 elements, that can add to difficutly. Creating physical and or mental tension. Still with me so far? Ok, let's add a 5th element, Adrenaline! I consider adrenaline an emotional feeling (like fear or excitement). Adrenaline is kind of why we do this. It's like a drug or powerfull sensation. So now we have 5 aspects to maintain. All the while haveing awareness of wind and topography. Wow! 7 things to be aware of simultaneously. All of this without becoming overwhelmed or tense!

So to simply answer your question as to why more female pilots don't fly? My simple answer is......Idiot men!

[kraine]

Ah, thank you all so much! This is really encouraging, and it makes me want to join your flock even more. :p

[DanTuck]

Silver Wings out of Arlington, VA. http://www.silverwingshanggliding.com/
John shares some of the same training hills as the MD school. I'd recommend either school to anyone but I know from my own foot launch training a couple years ago that Silver Wings is great. He may be a little more responsive, too.
You can also do some aerotowing at Highland Aerosports in Ridgely, MD. http://www.aerosports.net/
Blue Sky is another great choice as others have mentioned.
Here's a couple links to the local clubs -
http://www.chgpa.org/
http://www.marylandhanggliding.org/
Check out the forum on CHGPA website and come on out sometime when we're going flying, like tomorrow at Woodstock, VA. See what you're working towards! Or if you want, join us at the National Air & Space Museum - Udvar-Hazy on June 19 for Become a Pilot Day. We'll be up there with gliders and stuff if you feel like coming out then. If you've never been to Udvar Hazy, it's very, very cool. - http://www.nasm.si.edu/becomeapilot/

Welcome, and enjoy your training. Take it slow, the mountains aren't going anywhere.