first tandem lesson today - Hang Gliding Org - Worlds largest Hang Gliding community, discover Hang Gliding

addicted2climbing · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:50 pm Post subject: first tandem lesson today

Hello all,

I had my first tandem lesson today at windsports off of Kagel Mountain. It was great, and we stayed up for 52 minutes and could have stayed up all day, but it was very turbulent and bumpy and after a while I was starting to get a bit queezy. My harness was too tight and it did not help any either. Anyhow, my experience in sailpanes transfered over very well and it did not take long for me to get the hang of thermaling. I am so glad I decided to try HG and look forward to flying again very soon.

Best regards,

Marc

knumbknuts · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 12:39 am Post subject:

congrats!

52 minutes is great for a tandem, especially the first one. I'm sure Greblo was top-notch as an instructor.

Look forward to flying with you.

HuttoRhino · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:38 am Post subject:

52 minutes for the first tandem!! Man, I wish I had that...LOL

Be prepared to be bitten by the bug... HG will be come a way of life for you now.

Lobido · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:30 am Post subject:

Sounds like you had some time to enjoy it! Nice flight.

sg · 3 thumbs up Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 11030

Dont want to sound like a broken record, but 52 mins on the first tandem, you lucky dog. Too bad the air was a bit trashy. Makes a big difference.

designbydave · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:16 am Post subject:

good stuff man. I really enjoyed my tandem flights, even though none of them lasted longer than 20 minutes.

flyinbryan · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 20 Location: Knoxville, TN

You definately got your money's worth!! Don't worry about the airsickness. It is alot easier to get queezy while you are a tandem passenger than when you are solo.

addicted2climbing · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 9:48 pm Post subject:

Hey everyone,

Sorry I took so long to reply to this, but I was away climbing for the weekend. Climbing has been running my life but now I will have to ballance it out with some flying as well. I am definately hooked now for sure, and i had no heights issue in the HG. we could have honestly stayed up all day, but the lift was more bumpy then usual and the thermals were very tight and I was beginning to have issues after 45 minutes of turning so tightly. I got pretty familiar with how the Hg handled and was feeling comfortable thermaling, but my one issue is i would cross controll every now and then when I would lean my head rather then pull the bar. I stopped doing it as i became more familiar.

So since my lesson was so long I was able to learn quite a bit and Joe says i did well and will probably only need a total of 3 tandems before he sends me back to the beach for some more practice and then solo. I cant wait.

So my ultimate weekend to look forward too will be the day when i can fly off of Glacier point, break down the glider then climb the remainder of the day.

Marc

rafaelcjr · 3 thumbs up Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 490 Location: FL

52 mins !! They should charge you for at least three tandems. Rolling Eyes

knumbknuts · Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:16 pm Post subject:

Nice.

My instructor was very nice and let me fly for an hour and ten minutes on my third tandem.

Those long tandems are golden.

Gratz, A2Flying. Look forward to meeting you.

addicted2climbing · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 10:08 pm Post subject: Tndems done, back to the beach!

Hello All,

I have 3 tandems under my belt now and its back to the beach for me to practice crosswind takeoffs and landings. I flew my 3rd tandem today it it was a great day and we climbed 2K over launch or so. Nice strong thermals that were nice and wide in relation to my other tandems. On my second tandem we clipped wing tips with another glider, so I hope that will never happen again. Very random odd occurance. Anyhow, I bought a used Falcon 1-225 and had a chance to play with it at the beach during a club BBQ and I can not wait to get to fly it off kagel solo. Having come from sailplanes things are progressing fairly quickly and I am very happy I decided to pick up HG. Now I need to save up for a harness and Chute? Anyone have a knee hanger for a 6'3" 235lb person they are not using and willing to part with?

Having a great time,

Marc

knumbknuts · Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 10:11 pm Post subject:

Jebu.

Do not buy a fracking knee hanger.

Get a pod.

addicted2climbing · Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2007 11:13 pm Post subject:

I wish i could get a pod, but the knee hanger is what they want me to use while I am in my training. They know it is not the best choice and that I will outgrow it fairly quickly, so they have abuy back program in place. If I buy a new or used knee hanger, i can return it for 75% of the purchase price to put towards a pod at a later date. So in a sense I am paying 25% to rent the knee hanger as long as i need it. Thats not so bad.

Marc

knumbknuts · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:39 am Post subject:

Oh hell no.

At the very least, insist on a cocoon. Knee hangers are for chumps.

You're the customer. Cocoons are comfortable and you can keep one forever. They match well with Falcons.

There are times that the rigidity of the windsports regimen works for you; you get thoroughly trained. There are times it works against you, like they make you use a knee hanger with a "buy back" program.

If they insist, then just rent (which is what you are doing). Trust me, you don't want to buy a knee hanger. Just get your hang 2 and get a pod. If they don't trust you in a pod at that point, then they shouldn't be giving you a hang 2.

addicted2climbing · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:56 am Post subject:

Hey Knumbnuts,

Funny you should mention Cocoon as Joe said I was so tall that maybe a cocoon would work for me. He said he rarely lets people deviate from the Knee hanger, but I am pretty big and the knee hanger is not all that comfortable. It was more of an off the cuff statement, but I will ask him if I can go that route so I can keep the harness rather then trade it in.

Other then that, I like Joes methods. Having come form sailplanes, I like an instructor who is rigid with safety issues rather then the laid back approach. Now is the time that all the flying habits become imprinted so I would rather the habits be good ones rathert hen bad. I have learned a lot thus far and I can not wait to get my last few beach lessons out of the way and jump off kagel by myself.

Marc

Log In / Register

Posts

Search

	Hang Gliding Org Forum Index -> Q&A, Learning to hang glide->first tandem lesson today
	BURY this topic

	Hang Gliding Org Forum Index -> Q&A, Learning to hang glide		All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1