[HackerExecute]

Hello, I'm 16. Recently, I thought of selling my drum set to buy a hangglider just for fun and to fulfill my 'dream' of flying. [That will never happen].

I've been researching all over the Internet for answers, 'How much will a hangglider cost?'; 'Where can I get one?'. Beginner stuff. I've watched videos on hanggliding for beginners. Basically, I want one to have the feeling of how it is to fly and to fly whenever I want for fun on my own time. The more research I came by, the more I wanted to crumble up my dream of flying and throw it away like garbage.

I read more and more about 'needing professional instruction/training' basically going to school all over again. I wondered, 'Crap do I really need all of this bull sh*t to fly a simple hangglider?' I know I might. But seeing it everywhere a hang glider was mentioned, it also came to mind that these trainers teach people to hang glide for a living. Which means all of these 'professionals' are advertising to earn money. Of course, they need/want money. It may be that I really need a professional but it may just be that they wanna get paid.

I came to ask some simple questions:

1.) I live in the crappiest town populated right now in Texas. El Campo. There is absolutely NO hills or a place where I can jump off a cliff or somewhere elevated, like I see in videos. Can I still get a hang glider for fun and lift from from the ground in a large open field?

2.) Do I REALLY need a damn instructor? Or can I just buy a hang glider and have fun with it with a bit of read instructions online or learn myself like I have done with everything else? If the answer is yes, I will no longer look into hang gliding. Maybe it's just a phase

[jjcote]

[soaring]

[Bobfly]

Stick to the drums. You have the completely wrong attitude to learn to fly anything. Just like anything else that's worth doing, learning to fly (anything) takes commitment and time and a positive attitude toward learning the skills necessary to do it safely. I think a skateboard might be more up your alley. Would you go skydiving without instruction? Scuba diving? Did you learn to drive a car without instruction? Hang gliding is a blast. But it can kill you real quick if you don't know what you're doing.

[CAL]

i have done both,i learned when there wasn't any instruction or ratings, we lost many pilots back then, there are still a few survivors left, i gave it up for several years then took the sport up again, i wanted all the instruction and knowledge i could get, plus i needed to be rated to fly several sites and purchase hang gliding equipment

there have been many changes since i first learned, our equipment and the knowledge we have. hang gliding is so much more fun and i have learned so much more to make my flying dream so much more rewarding,

the good news is all you need to do is show up, the instructor will have all the equipment needed to get you into the sky, you can make your decision from there, my guess is the drums will become history and money used will be used to have the greatest experience know to man, there is know greater feeling then feeling the glider tighten your harness straps, then feeling your feet leave the ground

instructors are passionate about flight and love to share there experience with the world, and yes they need money as everyone does to support themselves

[Nate]

You make it sound like there are no options near you.

Hang Glide Texas regularly tows out of Columbus, just what, 30 miles from El Campo and the were recently doing tow training in Wharton, a whole 12 miles from El Campo.

Most people would call that opportunity to learn and fly with a local club. None is more blind than he who refuses to see.

[ChattaroyMan]

Another thing you'll learn on your own is that you really do need an instructor. Buy a glider and get out in a 20 mph wind on a flat field and see how the glider feels (if you can successfully set it up in a 20 mph wind). You'll soon realize that you've bit off more than you can chew. Oh yeah, buy a good helmet too + have all spectators stand upwind.

[red]

[tom emery]

Build your own glider. Strap a jet pack on to it. Say hi to Elvis for me.

[krizz9]

[$!><]

[Stoubie]

Link

[jyoder111]

Don't let the negative responses above get you down. Many experienced pilots have seen way too many friends get hurt in this sport. Take to heart what they're saying, but stay positive about your dream to fly.

You're 16, you say. Finances are probably a barrier for you right now. Hang gliding has a steep entry cost, but once you're trained and have your equipment, often the only costs are gas money and dinner afterward.

It can be hard to take things slow at your age, but take your time. Go get a lesson or two to get some first hand experience. Save up some money and work at it slowly. Find experienced local pilots to talk to. Don't get too involved in internet discussion boards.

my 2 cents.

Jesse

[jyoder111]

I would bet almost every new pilot has wondered about the need for qualified instruction. Most of us have moments where we think we're special and can just "do it" if we're given a chance.

I remember when I was first learning, I would day dream and muse about launching from trees, launching from house roofs, flying home and landing in my backyard, towing myself up on a rope behind my car. The captivation of flight is great and we can enjoy the experience of excitement!

But, when it comes down to make real decisions about what you're going to actually do, let the musing die for a moment and think about the facts. There are plenty of stories around of people who tried to do it themselves and got hurt or killed.

Plus, think of instruction along the lines of apprenticeship. You can't learn kung fu without a sensei, right?

I am often awed by the abilities of experienced pilots to find lift in the worst conditions, to pull off sublime launches and landings, and to man up and back off launch when conditions aren't right. Why wouldn't I try to take advantage of their instruction and mentorship?!

[HackerExecute]

[HackerExecute]

[gluesniffer]

Not only do you need instruction and to drive a whopping 15 to 30 miles but you also need to be mentally mature enough to hang glide. Some people have the maturity before they are 16 and some people never get it....I ain't nothin but a hound dog

[Skidis50]

[Erik Boehm]

[3ric3288]

A person will do whatever it takes to make a dream come true if they really want it. Honestly, your "dream" sounds more like a phase to me. The fact of the matter is you will be putting yourself in serious danger by not getting lessons. You're thinking about getting into something that can potentially kill you with the smallest mistake. Why would you want to risk your life like that? Is it not wiser to use risk management and spend the extra money to possibly save your life?